Valtteri Bottas is open about his eating disorder on TV

F1 driver Valtteri Bottas talks openly about his eating disorder. Weight became an addiction for him.

Valtteri Bottas talks to Maria Veitola about the challenging moments of his career and, among other things, his eating disorder. Miikkael Pakarinen

F1 driver Valtteri Bottas opens his life and also the doors of his home in Monaco in the new season of the Maria Veitola program in Yökylä.

A successful Finnish athlete openly tells how he has “put his health on the line” for his dream career. For example, he refers to how he last lost a former teammate in 2015.

Fast speeds increase risks, Bottas knows.

By putting Bottas’s health on the line, it alludes to something else. He says that he trained himself mentally and physically in 2014.

– I wanted to train like crazy and then I had to lose weight. Then things got a little out of hand. I became addicted to that weight, Bottas says.

Veitola asks if Bottas had an eating disorder.

– Never confirmed in any way, but definitely. I remember that I went for a run that I had in my training program. I came home, steamed some broccoli to fill my stomach a little – and set off again for a similar run without any meters. It was a bit like a secret from the coach. It’s not very healthy now, Bottas says.

When Veitola asks why Bottas acted like that, the answer comes as if from a pharmacy shelf.

– I wanted to be the best. I somehow thought that I had to do that, Bottas says.

Maria Veitola and Valtteri Bottas chat with Mika Häkkinen in the episode. Miikkael Pakarinen

Avun Bottas found a psychologist on the run. The F1 star needed someone to whom he could talk and open up about everything. The psychologist had his view on Bottas’ situation.

– His first assessment of me was that I’m almost like a robot who wants to reach a certain goal and who has no feelings at all. It was startling that, okay, it’s totally true. I didn’t have any other life then than F1, says Bottas.

Asking for outside help has been challenging for Bottas. Later, he has proven that a professional can open many types of locks.

Tiffany

Bottas also introduces his lover, a racing cyclist, in the episode Tiffany Cromwell. The episode covers the history of Bottas’ love life and, of course, his current relationship.

Bottas reveals that he has never been single. His life partner has brought him security.

Tiffany Cromwell also appears in the episode. Ida Kentala

In Yökylä Maria Veitola on Thursdays 2.2. starting at 21:00 on the MTV3 channel and in MTV Katsomo. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.

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