A history of F1's 'Flying Finns'

After a rapid rise through the junior single seater ranks, Bottas was signed as a test driver by Williams back in 2010 while in Euro Formula 3. Progressing and ultimately winning the GP3 Series in 2011, the Finn spent a year as third and reserve driver to Williams in F1 before getting his break in 2013. Despite a thoroughly uncompetitive car, Bottas weathered a tricky start to claim six podiums in his second year on his way to fourth in the F1 drivers’ world championship. Two solid but less successful campaigns have followed at Williams before being called upon as the retiring Nico Rosberg’s replacement at Mercedes in 2017.

A total domination of the Formula Renault 2000 UK series in 2000 paved the way for a jump to F1 with Sauber and the Finn was immediately challenging for rostrums with two near-misses of fourth places in Austria and Canada. His efforts earnt him a call up to McLaren in 2002, where he’d become a title contender in just his third year in F1, finishing runner-up to Michael Schumacher by two points. Despite multiple wins and podiums with the British team, Raikkonen became Schumacher’s successor in 2007 and stormed to a dramatic world title by beating Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen was never able to replicate the form with an underperforming Ferrari in the following two years and left the sport altogether to pursue rallying in 2010 and 2011. An F1 return in 2012 with Lotus saw him return to winning ways before leaving to re-join Ferrari in 2014 but the same level of success has failed to materialise like in his first stint.

A prolific junior series driver, with the 2004 World Series by Nissan title and a runner-up in GP2 in 2005, Kovalainen secured an F1 race seat at Renault when Fernando Alonso left for McLaren. His impressive rookie results saw him switch to McLaren a year later in place of Alonso and became an F1 Grand Prix winner in Hungary in just his second season in the sport. However, an underwhelming 2009 saw him dropped by McLaren and he eventually slipped down the F1 pecking order with Lotus/Caterham before switching to Super GT in Japan – claiming the series title in 2016.

A relatively late bloomer in F1 after two tricky years with Lotus, Hakkinen made his mark when Mario Andretti left McLaren and the Finn was handed the final three races in 1993. His podium at Suzuka clinched a new McLaren deal which would see him stay at the British team until his retirement in 2001. After promising results but unyielding consistency, it all came together for Hakkinen in 1998 as he stormed to the F1 world title before defending the championship a year later. Despite his best effort for a third straight title he was trumped by Michael Schumacher and Ferrari in 2000 and retired from the sport altogether a year later. The Finn made a brief return to racing with a stint in DTM between 2005-2007.

After breaking on to the F1 scene for the fading Lotus squad for the final two rounds of 1994, Mika Salo became a regular points scorer during his three years at Tyrrell before a fruitless year at Arrows in 1998. Salo found himself without an F1 drive at the start of 1999 but quickly returned to action for three races at BAR replacing the injured Ricardo Zonta. The Finn was to repeat the role at Ferrari after Michael Schumacher broke his leg with Salo stepping in for six races. Salo looked set for a maiden F1 win in Germany but was forced to concede to team-mate Eddie Irvine who was fighting fellow Finn Mika Hakkinen for the world title. Salo's results were critical to see Ferrari win its first F1 World Constructors' title since 1983. The following year Salo returned to full-time F1 action with Sauber before another year out to help Toyota prepare for its F1 debut but retired at the end of 2002. The Finn is regularly seen as an FIA F1 race steward these days.

After fleeting F1 appearances in 1978 and 1979 for a number of teams, Rosberg, who was born in Sweden, landed a drive with Fittipaldi Automotive which led to him joining Williams in 1982. Just a single win and five additional rostrums was enough to see Rosberg clinch the F1 drivers’ world title which led to three more successful campaigns with the British team before switching to defending world champions McLaren in 1986. With Alain Prost as his team-mate, Rosberg ultimately couldn’t compete against his pace and left F1 after a nine-year career.