Valtteri Bottas
FILE - Simone Biles watches gymnasts perform at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka were not the first elite athletes to struggle with their own mental health, but their public admissions this year spotlighted a crisis not often addressed in the sporting world. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Mental health among athletes spotlighted in tumultuous 2021

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 22, 2021 09:56 AM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends a news conference at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Thursday, June 24, 2021. The Styrian Formula One Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, June 27, 2021. (Christian Bruna/Pool via AP)
Verstappen strives for season-best 4th win at Styrian GP

Jun. 24, 2021 01:30 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Sebastien Nogier, Pool via AP)
Verstappen leads title race, with focus on Red Bull's wings

Jun. 03, 2021 09:58 AM EDT

The car of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco is taken off the track after a crash during the qualifying session at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Saturday, May 22, 2021. The Formula One race will take place on Sunday with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco in pole position. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Ferrari's Leclerc takes pole for Monaco GP, Verstappen 2nd

By Jerome Pugmire May. 22, 2021 07:29 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leads followed by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Red Bull seeking more race pace to stay close to Mercedes

By Tales Azzoni May. 10, 2021 11:13 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands tries to overtake Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, during the Portugal Formula One Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit near Portimao, Portugal, Sunday, May 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Hamilton and Verstappen to resume title fight in Barcelona

By Tales Azzoni May. 05, 2021 06:30 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 file photo, Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland celebrates after clocking the fastest time during qualification ahead of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy. The new season starts Sunday March 28, 2021 with the Bahrain Grand Prix and ends in December 2021 at Abu Dhabi. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, Pool, File)
Driving diversity: Hamilton ready to chase 8th F1 title

By Jerome Pugmire Mar. 22, 2021 01:21 AM EDT

Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland steers his car during the second free practice at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. The Emirates Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (Brynn Lennon, Pool via AP)
Bottas leads 2nd practice while Raikkonen puts out flames

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 11, 2020 12:59 PM EST

Racing Point driver Sergio Perez of Mexico celebrates wining the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. (Brynn Lennon, Pool via AP)
Perez stays calm to win chaotic Sakhir GP for 1st F1 win

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 06, 2020 03:00 PM EST

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third free practice at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (Brynn Lennon, Pool via AP)
Bottas takes pole position for Sakhir GP ahead of Russell

Dec. 05, 2020 10:21 AM EST

Haas driver Romain Grosjean of France, right, shares a fist bumps after his arrival to paddock to thank the marshals Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, in Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Grosjean escaped with only minor burns when his Haas car exploded into a fireball after crashing on the first lap at last weekend's Bahrain GP. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Russell gets chance to shine for Mercedes at Sakhir GP

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 03, 2020 12:56 PM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 file photo Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain participates in a media conference prior to the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. World champion Lewis Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the Sakhir Grand Prix this weekend, his Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team said Tuesday Dec. 1, 2020. (Mario Renzi, Pool via AP, File)
Hamilton positive for COVID-19, will miss F1's Sakhir GP

Dec. 01, 2020 02:41 AM EST

Racing Point driver Lance Stroll of Canada celebrates his pole position after the qualifying session at the Istanbul Park circuit racetrack in Istanbul, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. The Formula One Turkish Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (Clive Mason/Pool via AP)
Stroll takes pole position in chaotic Turkish GP qualifying

Nov. 14, 2020 09:31 AM EST

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during a practice session at the Istanbul Park circuit racetrack in Istanbul, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The Formula One Turkish Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (Murad Sezer/Pool via AP)
Verstappen best on a Turkey track Hamilton calls 'ice rink'

By Jerome Pugmire Nov. 13, 2020 09:10 AM EST

FILE - In this Saturday, May 4, 2018 file photo, Jamie Chadwick, center, celebrates with Alice Powell, left, and Marta Garcia after she wins the inaugural car race of the new all-female W Series at Hockenheim, Germany. Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton praised the decision to host eight races of the all-female W Series alongside F1 races next season, calling it an important step in the push for greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport. “When we talk about diversity people often think that we’re talking about having more people of color. It’s not just that," Hamilton said Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 at the Turkish F1 GP in Istanbul. “It is having more women involved. At the moment it is a male dominated sport and that does need to change.” (Hasan Bratic/dpa via AP, file)
All-female W Series to feature at 8 F1 races next season

By Jerome Pugmire Nov. 12, 2020 06:49 AM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steps out of his car after clocking the second fastest time during qualification ahead of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, in Imola, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, Pool)
Hamilton qualifies 2nd and predicts a 'boring' race in Imola

By Andrew Dampf Oct. 31, 2020 12:44 PM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, right and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steer their cars during the Russian Formula One Grand Prix, at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Bryn Lennon, Pool via AP)
Bottas wins in Russia as Hamilton misses F1 win record

Sep. 27, 2020 09:21 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands attends a media conference prior to the Russian Formula One Grand Prix, at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. The Russian Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Mark Sutton, Pool via AP)
Hamilton aims to match Schumacher's F1 win record in Sochi

Sep. 24, 2020 11:43 AM EDT

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany attends a media conference at the Mugello racetrack, in Scarperia, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, ahead of Sunday's Formula One Grand Prix of Tuscany. (Clive Mason, Pool Photo via AP)
Ferrari's 1,000th F1 GP no cause for celebration in Tuscany

By Jerome Pugmire Sep. 10, 2020 02:23 PM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends a press conference ahead of Sunday's Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 3 , 2020. (Mark Sutton, Pool via AP)
Ferrari's struggles unlikely to end at home race at Monza

By Daniella Matar Sep. 03, 2020 12:30 PM EDT