Before F1, Bottas was a sniper — Inside the Finnish army past of Mercedes' ex-star

Izuchukwu Akawor 15:45 - 18 July 2025

Before hitting top speed in Formula 1, Valtteri Bottas trained as a sniper in the Finnish army. Here’s how military discipline shaped the Mercedes star’s F1 journey.

Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas revealed that before entering Formula 1, he trained as a sniper during his mandatory military service in Finland between 2008 and 2009.

Finland requires all male citizens to complete military service upon turning 18. The length of service varies, with the shortest being 165 days, which is how long Bottas served.

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"I spent six months in the army because I was racing. But during those six months in the Finnish winter, I became a sniper. I was a good shooter, so they made me a sniper," Bottas said on The Red Flag podcast, hosted by former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner.

In a separate interview, the Finn elaborated on his brief military service. During his six months, Bottas achieved the rank of Lance Corporal.

"Looking back, it was actually fun. Certainly, there were moments while I was there that weren't so enjoyable. Like when I was exhausted and sleeping in the cold forest for two weeks. But for me, it turns boys into men."

"It's a transformative period, and that's what happened to me. You develop resilience and a sense of teamwork because in such extreme conditions and situations, you need a team around you."

You also learn discipline and to respect everything. It also put the small things in life into perspective. Having a warm, soft bed after some of those army camps felt like a luxury," Bottas said.