Has Valtteri Bottas started his own podcast, What's Next?

      Valtteri Bottas decided to launch his own podcast, titling it What’s Next — fans should remember that slogan from 2024, when the Finnish driver, then still racing for Sauber, publicly mused about what awaited him at the next stage of his career, doing so in a very varied and inventive way.

      Now, together with Paul Ripke, his long-time comrade-in-arms and coach, starting in January 2026 he, now a Cadillac F1 driver, promised to publish a new episode of his podcast every Thursday, the premiere of which has already taken place on all the major streaming platforms.

      For example, Valtteri said that he has now also become something of a hotelier, because his new estate in McLaren Vale in southern Australia can accommodate tourists — there are six rooms for that. By the way, the three varieties of grapes that grow on the estate are all sold to outside wineries, since there is no winery of his own there.

      “I’m 36 years old, and although I’m not planning to race in Formula 1 for another 14 years, I do have a few seasons left in the bank, that’s for sure! — Bottas reflected. — But I also always try to plan what I’ll do at the next stage. Now (with the purchase of the Australian estate) I’ve come one step closer to that.

      By the way, we don’t yet have a sauna for guests, but we’ll definitely build one, and it will be quite spacious, and there will also be a cold plunge pool. In general, there’s a lot to do, but that’s always the case when you move to a new place. I’m taking care of all these things, but I have to take my hat off to Tiffany Cromwell, who is even busier than I am! At the same time she’s under a bit of stress, but that’s understandable…”

      The podcast episode lasts about half an hour, and Valtteri intends to keep that format. By the way, Formula 1 was hardly mentioned in the first episode, and the conversation ranged over any topics except motorsport. One would suppose that will change going forward, although the accompanying text to What’s Next? says the following:

      “Here you’ll hear two friends simply chatting, discussing the events of their previous week, important and not-so-important moments, sharing amusing observations, personal experiences and anything else that comes to mind. Contrary to expectations, they talk surprisingly little about the future.”