Still hungry to succeed, Valtteri Bottas continues to prefer to let his driving do the talking

With an ice-cool gaze and a remarkable ability to keep calm in high-pressure situations, Valtteri Bottas is not unlike other famous Finns that have come before him in Formula 1.

Of course, there is Mika Hakkinen, can boast winning back-to-back world titles in 1998-99 at a time when Michael Schumacher was threatening to dominate the sport, but the most recent F1 star that Finland produced — prior to Bottas’ arrival on the scene — was Kimi Raikkonen.

A world champion with Ferrari in 2007, Raikkonen first caught the attention by displaying similar traits to the compatriot that came before him, and likewise, Bottas’ racing ability — and personality — has also proven comparable to his Finnish predecessors.

But while Raikkonen at times seemed disdainful of the scrutiny that came with being an F1 driver, Bottas’ similar avoidance of the attention — and the perception that he is likewise a man of few words — is one that perhaps stems more out of indifference.

While his counterparts are emotional, even theatrical, and cater to a whole new generation of fans with other interest off the circuit, Bottas remains quite happy to simply let his driving do the talking for him.

“I see no reason (for it be otherwise),” he told ESPN. “Other drivers have other interests and that’s fine but (for me) driving is the thing that matters in the sport.”

The Alfa Romeo driver was speaking to ESPN ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, on the sidelines of a closed-door event at the flagship store of PUMA — the team’s official race gear supplier — situated along the country’s famed Orchard Road shopping belt.

This weekend’s Singapore GP marks the first time Formula 1 will grace the Asian nation since the coronavirus pandemic forced the 2020 and 2021 races to be cancelled.

Since then, glamorous new venues have been introduced, threatening to usurp what was once called “the crown jewel” of the F1 calendar but also a race that has faced criticism for not exactly being a racing spectacle — given overtaking on the Marina Bay Street Circuit is notoriously difficult.

So is Bottas a fan of the Singapore GP?

“It’s definitely nice to be back,” said the 33-year-old. “When I arrived and saw the scenery of the city with the lights and the…