Top 62 Quotes & Sayings by Valtteri Bottas

I studied to be a car mechanic. That was my plan B. Servicing cars and changing tyres in Finland.

How many points, how many races you can win, how many times you be on the podium. That's the name of the game.

I'm a naturally very competitive person and I've been competing in triathlons throughout 2012 to keep fit and keep my mind sharp.

I think with racing, you never stop improving. If you want to improve, you will.

Let me tell you something, never, ever give up your dream.

I know what level my skills are and what I am still yet to be capable of by getting better.

I honestly think the reason I've been able to improve year by year is work. Work with the team, work with my ability, focus on all the single details.

You dream about winning since a kid and when you get that first win it took some time to realise it. But once I realised it, it was so cool.

Racing can still be good even though you don't push others off the track.

When you feel like you are performing at your best, it's a beautiful feeling.

When I was 12 there was a big shift in mindset and I realised that if I want to get something out of it then I need to work hard and focus all my energy just for this sport and that's when I started training and taking things more seriously. I became a lot more self-critical and analysed the driving more and more, and that was when I was 12.

What we need to make sure we do as a team is build the quickest car on the grid - if we have the quickest car, we can do it!

I have plenty of good people around me I can talk to and for me it's the man in the mirror that gives the answers if I have hard times or if I doubt.

I have found for me, and it should be the same for everybody, that it is easiest just to be how you are. Be the true you and there is no need to act differently. It has always been like that.

You never want to be behind your team-mate at the end of the year, that's definitely always going to be my goal.

I always remind myself the only thing that matters is I perform on track and that's all I need to do.

There were many things in my childhood I sacrificed: I started travelling quite young, compromising school in terms of learning and time with friends doing normal stuff as a kid you want to do. But obviously I wouldn't change a day.

Of course, there are races that have been boring but overall it's been really good so I'm not complaining.

During my childhood my family risked a lot financially. They put every single penny they could into my racing and also their free time was completely compromised.

Every year you learn as a person, about yourself, what works for you and what doesn't.

I know what is best for me.

Of course, when you start in pole, winning is the only target you have.

I always wanted to be alongside a very quick teammate and tough teammate.

If you work hard it's only a matter of time before things start to go right.

For sure, some things have changed with the way I feel about things, like my mindset and everything. But you always learn every year about your mindset and what works for you.

In Formula 1, the neck is really important. There's a lot of force that's going to your head. We also have a helmet and it's not that light. When it's all about g-force, all of that extra weight in the helmet compounds and puts more and more pressure.

In sport, and especially in this sport, the confidence you get from the results is a massive help.

If there are differences in the race pace it is normally because the tyre is overheating on my side.

We Finns don't show much emotion but it doesn't mean we don't have any.

It's good to get a good lap and get pole.

We need to make sure F1 stays the quickest category of all, and GP2 is not that far away, so that's a little bit worrying.

In this sport if you want to win you need to be selfish, it is that kind of sport, even though it is a team sport you need to think about yourself.

Every time I jump in the car I feel very happy. Racing is what I love to do and I am very lucky I can do it.

My approach to the race is definitely just trying to win the race.

I focus on organic foods and I also don't eat any wheat or gluten.

I've learned that the first half of the season is always very important.

With F1, it's really a combination of many things. You have to have good endurance, good strength in certain muscles, you need to be fast, have good reactions and good decisions. It's not as simple as one thing. You need to be a complete athlete.

Finns love if their athletes do well, then they support.

In general, I like healthy foods. Everything that's natural and clean.

Every athlete, every person is individual.

I think Finns in general, we are quite calm and I think we're mentally in general quite strong, and we don't mind to be alone. We are lonely wolves, a lot of us.

Sometimes it would be nice not to be recognizable!

It was when I first tried a go-kart in '96. I saw a go-kart race locally, and that got me excited about it, and I wanted to try one. When I got to try one, I just loved the speed and after that it became more about how to improve the lap time and all the details and that.

I can be nice - I don't need to be rude for no reason.

I've had a lot of support from back home, starting way back in karting and since then I have been lucky to have been supported by some great Finnish companies.

It's always good to have different plans.

There are many people around me, supporting me. There are always ups and downs, and you can really see the true support quite easily.

I think I am very lucky to meet so many people and go to cool places and nice events. I am lucky to be in partnership with Hugo Boss and the team so I enjoy doing these events.

My goals in the future is to not just be in Formula 1. I want to be really successful, World Champion, though I guess this is like everyone! But that is what I'm targeting.

All the questions, all the speculation, No. 2 driver and so on, it doesn't get to me. It doesn't matter.

When I drive there is not much emotion in there. I'm just trying to get everything right and get every lap, every corner perfect.

I know when I am in the car I am always doing my best.

Maybe there is something wrong with me as I don't feel any pressure or fear.

For me, it's just me trying to be the best me I can be inside and outside of the car.

You never know. One point can make a difference in the end.

Improving, for me, is quite natural as I'm always critical of myself.

I am pleased with the race and happy with fourth position. It was a real shame for the team that Felipe had an issue at the start. It was a lonely race but the final 20 laps were very tough. Sebastian was quicker than me, and closed up behind very fast, but the fight was really good fun. I know a few tricks that can really help to defend and they all worked today, and I am delighted to come out on top today.

Normally with any of the races, we go a bit early to get used to the time zone and acclimatize. We'll have a couple of days to see the places. My favorites so far are Montreal and Abu Dhabi. With Abu Dhabi, the facilities are excellent and the weather is always good.

In Formula 1, the neck is really important. There's a lot of force that's going to your head. We also have a helmet and it's not that light. When it's all about g-force, all of that extra weight in the helmet compounds and puts more and more pressure. To be able to maintain your head in a straight position - especially around the corners and while braking - you need to have strong neck. To train that, it's difficult.

When we're coming up to the race, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I always have the same lunch. So that's before the second practice, before qualifying and before the race, I always have a tuna vegetable risotto. The chef makes it slightly spicy, so there's a bit of a kick.