From being straight on the phone to Mercedes the moment Nico Rosberg announced his retirement, to what he really thinks about Lewis Hamilton and Niki Lauda, to his talents outside the car, get to know Valtteri Bottas a little bit better on and off the track with ltxcn.top's quickfire '10 Minutes with...' quiz.

ltxcn.top
Let's start with the big one - becoming F1's newest F1 race𒀰🐓 winner...

Valtteri Bottas:
Getting the first win is something special. You always believe in yourself because there's no point being here or doing this if you don't believe in yourself, if you think that you are ღnot able to win then definitely you should stay home. But, actually getting the confirmation, getting the actual result matters in this world. How many points, how many races you can win, how many times you be on the podium. That's the name of the game. And getting that first win, gives me confidence that I can do it even though I've always knew I had the ability. But now it's done, I just want to do it a💃gain and again!

ltxcn.top
It must seem a whil😼e ago now... but when did it truly sink in that you'd be replacing Nico Rosberg in a w♛orld championship winning team?

Valtteri Bottas:
When I managed to sign the contract, it was the moment I realised.... it's difficult to explain but I was obviously very happy. And then driving the car for the first time, then you actually realise that this is happening. For sure it is a dream coming true for me, driving for a team like this. Very very happy times.

ltxcn.top
Who contacted who initially?

Valtteri Bottas:
I was quite soon on the phone to them!

ltxcn.top
Do you think you were first on the call?

Valtteri Bottas:
I don't know. I think I was quite quick!

ltxcn.top
Now you're sat there with the three-pointed star on your chest...

Valtteri Bottas:
I'm very pr🐲oud to be part of this team. It has done an amazing job in the last few years, but even the whole history of Formula 1 and motor racing. Now I have learned a lot more about Mercedes and Daimler, so I feel very proud, and I'm very keen to ma💧ke history with the team as well.

ltxcn.top
Tell m🤪e about the W08 - what make𝄹s it such a formidable package?

Valtteri Bottas:
Seeing the process of making the ca⭕r and seeing all the details what's behind it, how much work is behind it. I think the thing is in all the details. It's all the small details. I was smiling hard when I drove it for the first time - it was something I have never experienced before, the amount of grip, the amount of stability in the car. I was very happy after the first few laps with the car.

ltxcn.top
How does M൩erced෴es compared with Williams operationally?

Valtteri Bottas:
It's a much larger team, lots more people and that means more resources, more possibilities to dig deeper into the details with everything in the car. When the team is bigger, when the resources are bigger, you can reacಌt to things quicker as well.

ltxcn.top
You have your first win, how about being champion in ꧃🧸2017?

Valtteri Bottas:
Then I will be happy!

ltxcn.top
What's it like working with Mercedes F1 boss (and foꦺrmer manager) Toto Wolff

Valtteri Bottas:
He's the boss! I have known him♔ for a long time, he was helping me with my career for a long time. He's not anymore involved in my management obviously, could be a little bit of a conflict of interest otherwise. I think he's a great leader.

ltxcn.top
Lewis Hamilton...

Valtteri Bottas:
Driving alongside him is a great challenge, I like it. I always wanted to be alongside a very quick teammate and tough teammate. So I'm actually very happy to be Lewis' team-mate and I look forward for the re♚st of the year.

ltxcn.top
Niki Lauda...

Valtteri Bottas:
Well he's a legend. Obviously a big racing hero, mega sense of humour, really funny guy. I didn't know him that well befor🦩e I moved here. But he's a very nice guy. Very supportive.

ltxcn.top
The entire Mercedes team...

Valtteri Bottas:
Th𓆉e welcome to the team was really warm. It was kind of very easy to get to know the team. I feel I'm not alone in this big challenge and opportunity in my career. I'm not at all alone. I feel like I have very good support f𝓀rom everyone and everyone wants to help me to perform.

What makes the Valtteri Bottas of 2017 so much better than the Valtteri Bottas of 2013

Valtteri Bottas:
I'm quicker! More experienced. I've definitely been in dꦺifferent kinds of situations on and off the track in which I've learned massively. I've learned from my mistakes. I'm not a rookie any more. I have a few years under my belt. The main thing is that I feel I'm getting quicker and quicker, and I think especial🦄ly during this year.

ltxcn.top
If you could go bac🎉k to 2013, what bit of advice would you give yourself?

Valtteri Bottas:
Good question [long pause]. I don't know to be honest. I would just s🍃ay keep doing what you're doing ♊and belief in yourself

ltxcn.top
🌺Other than your win, do you have a race that you look back on particularly fondly?

Valtteri Bottas:
I think Caღnada last year, being on the podium with Williams. The car wasn't that great, it wasn't a regular podium finisher. So I think that was definitely one of my best races.

ltxcn.top
A moment you want to forget.

Valtteri Bottas:
Spinning under th🐈e safety car in China [this year]! [laughs] I would like to forget that. I forgot it pretty well already. I'm fine with it. Mistakes happen and it happeꦡned. And it's time to move on.

ltxcn.top
First memories of motorsport

Valtteri Bottas:
Watching on TV, I think it would be 1994 or 1995. I really lik🌠e𒈔d the speed. For me the guys were like heroes. And then I was playing video games, Super Nintendo. I had a Formula 1 game. That was cool. I was playing and watching every race on TV.

ltxcn.top
Turning your first motorsport wheels

Valtteri Bottas:
It was when I first tried a go-kart in '96. I saw a go-kart race loca✱lly, 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.

ltxcn.top
Your first win

Valtteri Bottas:
I think it was maybe mꦰy second race. First race I was third. I have the trophies still! I didn't have a big party after the race, I am sure! There was no party🅺ing... Maybe at that age I had an ice cream or something.

ltxcn.top
Your hometown, Nastola

Valtteri Bottas:
It's a small town, but it was a good place to grow up. Nice nature, plenty of lakes. A very typical Finnish place, quite quiet, easy♑-going. I still go back there, I have family still lives around there and my friends are there. I've got a place as well, a Lakehouse place. When I have a chance to go back to Finland, yes.

ltxcn.top
Monaco

Valtteri Bottas:
It's great for training. It's very good for cycling with the hills and stuff. Running is possible anywhere. 🍸I use the stadium of the football team for the gym, it's mega, I use the stadium as well. The weather is amazing. You go there and it's always sunshine. The location is good you know. Within Europe, you can drive to Monza or Barcelona.

ltxcn.top
Being married to a fellow elite athlete (Finland national team swimmer Emilia Bottas, nee Pikkarainen)

Valtteri Bottas:
For me, it helps. We sometimes train together, but this is quite a tough sport because in terms of relationship, you're travelling so much and far away from home. The🥃 other person needs to understand it. You need some commitment if you want to succeed, and she definitely does. She's done a lot of sacrifices for her own career. Sh💫e knows what all the training and everything is all about. To succeed you need to suffer a bit, that's how it goes.

ltxcn.top
Any good at swimming?

Valtteri Bottas:
I'm alright, I'm alright. For sure I've got some g𝐆ood tips for the technique and I have a good coach. I h𓄧ave no chance against her, it's just a different league.

ltxcn.top
Being the supporter rather than the supported

Valtteri Bottas:
It helps. Those are the most exciting things I've felt, always. 𒆙I'm never nervous in here preparing for the race and qualifying and whatever, I never feel nerv🦩ous. But when I'm watching her competition, that's when I'm nervous. I know how she feels.

ltxcn.top
If you competed at the Olympics as well...

Valtteri Bottas:
E💞ither winter Olympics with ice hockey, or summer Ol🌜ympics with shooting. I do shooting. Skeet. Or triathlon.

ltxcn.top
Define what 'Sisu' means to you

Valtteri Bottas:
A box of candies...

ltxcn.top
Oh...

Valtteri Bottas:
[Laughs] That is the name thing. It's a saying. 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. ဣThat kind of means the mental strength, the will power, that means 'sisu'.

ltxcn.top
A weekend off

Valtteri Bottas:
With no sport? Hmmm... sometimes I ne🌠ed to see my wife! I do cooking, go to restaurants, see my friends, go to play ice hockey with my friends - well that's sport. Go to lakeside🐈 sauna with my friends and have a few beers, stuff like that.

ltxcn.top
Your signature dish...

Valtteri Bottas:
Risotto. I can do mushroom or asparagus, or pretty much anythin𒁃ꦇg. I'm pretty good at it.

ltxcn.top
What are you 'binge-watching' at the moment?

Valtteri Bottas:
Eastbound and Down, TV series. ✨If you ha🧜ven't seen it, you have to look it up!

ltxcn.top
What's your 10k best time?

Valtteri Bottas:
Well I've never done it as try🥃ing to make a proper result,🌊 training for it. I've always kind of done it with my training route or done it as a training. But I've done 38mins. Best so far. But I can do much better than that.

ltxcn.top
The last 5 emojis you sent

Valtteri Bottas:
[Pulls out phone] Thu♛mbs up, a love heart for my girlfriend, boom (fist), I went for a ൲swim this morning (swimming man)... and a trophy for this weekend!

ltxcn.top
Kiitos (thanks) Valtteri!

Valtteri Bottas
You're welcome...