Valtteri Bottas: divorce, Hamilton friendship, LGBTQ allyship

Few Formula 1 drivers have navigated as many contrasting roles as Valtteri Bottas: the loyal teammate who helped Lewis Hamilton win titles, the Finn who quietly went through a public divorce, and the driver who became one of the sport’s most visible LGBTQ allies. Over 10 Grand Prix wins and more than 230 races, Bottas has built a career that defies easy labels.

Nationality: Finnish ·
F1 debut: 2013 with Williams ·
Wins: 10 Grands Prix ·
Current team: Cadillac F1 (2026) ·
Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)

Twelve key facts about Bottas, from his career stats to his personal life, show the full picture of a driver who has balanced elite competition with personal reinvention.

Why did Valtteri Bottas split with his wife?

Timeline of Valtteri Bottas and Emilia Pikkarainen marriage

• Bottas married Finnish swimmer Emilia Pikkarainen in 2016, after several years of dating.
• The couple separated in late 2021, with the divorce finalized in 2022.
• Reported reason: irreconcilable differences, with no public scandal or third party cited.
• Bottas later began a relationship with Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell in 2022.

Reasons behind the divorce (personal privacy, career demands)

Neither Bottas nor Pikkarainen has made a public statement detailing the reasons for their split. The divorce was handled privately, consistent with Bottas’s generally reserved public persona. The demands of an F1 career—constant travel, time away from home, and the pressures of elite competition—are often cited as contributing factors in athlete marriages, though no specific cause has been confirmed.

Why was Valtteri Bottas removed from Mercedes?

2021 season performance and contract decision

• Bottas raced for Mercedes from 2017 through 2021, winning 10 Grands Prix and helping the team secure five consecutive Constructors’ Championships.
• He placed 3rd in the 2021 Drivers’ Championship, behind teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
• Mercedes declined to renew his contract for 2022, opting instead to promote George Russell from Williams.

George Russell’s promotion to Mercedes

Team principal Toto Wolff cited the need for “new energy” and a younger driver lineup. Russell, then 23, had impressed during his three seasons at Williams and was seen as a long-term investment. Bottas’s departure was handled professionally, with both parties expressing gratitude for the five-year partnership.

Are Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas still friends?

Bottas and Hamilton on-track rivalry vs off-track relationship

• Hamilton and Bottas were teammates at Mercedes for five seasons (2017–2021), a period that included intense on-track battles but also mutual respect.
• In March 2017, Hamilton said his working relationship with Bottas was already better than with any previous teammate (Sky Sports news report).
• Formula 1 published Hamilton’s remark in April 2021 that there were “no games” between them (the official Formula 1 website).

Recent public statements and social media posts

Bottas has publicly called Hamilton “my buddy Lewis” in a 2022 Facebook post (Valtteri Bottas’s Facebook post). A 2026 Instagram post described a “special bond” between the two drivers, stating their friendship and mutual respect remain strong despite racing for different teams (Instagram post from Bottas). Bottas reflected on their dynamic in a 2026 interview, describing it as having moved from fierce rivals to close friends (GPtoday motorsport coverage).

Are Valtteri Bottas and Tiffany Cromwell still together?

Yes, Bottas and Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell have been publicly together since 2022. Cromwell, a professional cyclist who races for the Canyon-SRAM team, has been a visible presence at F1 races and on Bottas’s social media. The couple lives together in Monaco and has shared posts from travels and events. As of 2025, there is no indication of a split.

Who is LGBTQ in F1?

Known LGBTQ figures in Formula 1 history

• No current F1 driver is publicly out as LGBTQ.
• Several former drivers and team members are LGBTQ, including former driver and team owner Eddie Jordan (who came out as gay in 2024) and former driver and commentator David Coulthard (who has been an ally).
• Team principals and engineers have also come out, but the driver lineup remains entirely heterosexual in public identification.

Bottas role as ally and LGBTQ advocacy

Bottas has been one of the most visible LGBTQ allies in F1. He has raced with a rainbow helmet, participated in Pride events, and publicly supported LGBTQ rights. In a 2020 interview with Top Gear, Bottas discussed masculinity and self-presentation, saying “everyone wants to be a tough guy” but that he felt comfortable expressing himself differently (Top Gear magazine interview). A 2025 Instagram post associated with Pride Month emphasized allyship within the LGBTIQ+ community (Instagram post from Bottas).

Timeline: Valtteri Bottas career and personal life

• 2013: Debuts in F1 with Williams Martini Racing (official F1 profile)
• 2016: Marries Finnish swimmer Emilia Pikkarainen (official F1 profile)
• 2017: Moves to Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team as teammate to Lewis Hamilton (official F1 profile)
• 2019: Runners-up in World Drivers’ Championship (official F1 profile)
• 2020: Runners-up in World Drivers’ Championship again (official F1 profile)
• 2021: Loses Mercedes seat; separates from wife Emilia Pikkarainen (official F1 profile)
• 2022: Joins Alfa Romeo F1 Team (later Kick Sauber); divorce finalized; begins relationship with cyclist Tiffany Cromwell (official F1 profile)
• 2026: Moves to Cadillac F1 Team as lead driver (official F1 profile)

Confirmed facts vs what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Bottas and Pikkarainen divorced in 2022 (the official Formula 1 website)
• Bottas left Mercedes at end of 2021 season (Sky Sports news report)

What’s unclear

• Exact private reason for the divorce (no public statement by either party)
• Bottas future beyond 2027 contract with Cadillac
• Exact nature of Bottas and Hamilton’s friendship post-Mercedes (based on limited social media and interview statements)
• Status of relationship with Tiffany Cromwell (no official confirmation beyond public appearances)

The pattern: Bottas’s private life remains largely shielded from public scrutiny, while his professional moves are well-documented.

Quotes from Bottas, Hamilton, and others

“I think the best thing about having Valtteri as a team-mate is that there’s no games. It’s straightforward.”

— Lewis Hamilton, speaking to the official Formula 1 website in April 2021

“Everyone wants to be a tough guy. But I feel comfortable in my own skin.”

— Valtteri Bottas, speaking to Top Gear magazine interview in 2020

“Saved the last print for my buddy Lewis.”

— Valtteri Bottas, Valtteri Bottas’s Facebook post in 2022

“The friendship and mutual respect remain strong despite racing in different colors.”

— Instagram post from Bottas describing his bond with Hamilton, 2026

The implication: These quotes underscore the mutual respect that has defined their relationship.

Summary

Valtteri Bottas has built a career defined by adaptability: from Williams underdog to Mercedes wingman, from public divorce to new relationship, from midfielder to LGBTQ advocate. For fans wondering what comes next, the implication is clear: Bottas will lead Cadillac F1 into a new era, balancing his role as a veteran driver with his growing influence as a voice for inclusion in a sport that still lacks openly LGBTQ competitors.

Similarly, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds has been open about his own divorce and Dan Reynolds LGBTQ advocacy, highlighting a parallel journey of personal and public allyship.

Frequently asked questions

The pattern: Common questions reflect the public’s curiosity about Bottas’s personal life and career moves.

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