Under Oath

This is my faith, my path, my ground, A missing piece of land I found. oil to turn, fruits to share, We’ll make the most of what is there. So take this gin, this mill, this will And never sin for grain in bin. But celebrate the seeds we sow, And be kind to what we’re letting go. Come rain, come shine, We’ll strive for growth, You have my word, you have my... OATH

YOU MIGHT WONDER about the poem. “OATH” is a powerful word. It speaks to something simple but enduring. The promises we make to ourselves, to the people closest to us, and to the places that shape us. It carries weight, not because it is spoken loudly, but because it is meant to be kept.

The idea behind OATH did not begin as a business. It began as something more personal. My partner Tiffany and I wanted to create something that reflected where we come from. A way of bringing two different landscapes, two different cultures, into one shared expression. It became a process of combining what felt familiar to each of us. Apples from the Adelaide Hills, oats from Finland.

I grew up with oats. It is a small detail, but it stayed with me in a very particular way. When I was a child, I wanted to become a racing driver. I wanted to start with go-karts as early as possible. My grandfather used to tell me that I had to eat porridge so I could grow strong enough to fit into a kart. It became a kind of story in the family, something simple but motivating. Looking back, it makes sense that oats would find their way into something I would create later in life.

My family has a small farm in southern Finland, and that connection to land, to routine, never really leaves. Tiffany’s background is different, but just as rooted. Stirling, in the Adelaide Hills, is known for its apples. Bringing these together felt natural, almost inevitable.

We had spent years collecting gins from around the world. Wherever we travelled, we would look for something local, something that carried a sense of place. Over time, the idea shifted. Instead of searching for it, we decided to create it ourselves. I remember sitting outside one day, thinking about what would feel right, what would feel like us.

The process required patience. Oats are delicate. They burn easily, and that changes everything. So we used a temperature controlled vacuum distillation process, something precise, something that allowed us to preserve the character of the ingredients. The result is something rare, the first oat based gin of its kind. Even the water plays a role. It comes from naturally filtered spring sources, known for their purity. It is not something you notice immediately, but it is there.

You can now find OATH in Monaco, in places that value craftsmanship, where people take time to appreciate what they are drinking.

I have always enjoyed good food and good drinks. Coffee is a big part of my day, something many people already know. Wine as well. We created Ihana Wine, a small production, about five thousand bottles a year. The word “ihana” means wonderful in Finnish. It felt like the right name. It is my own blend, another way of sharing something personal, something that carries a bit of who I am.

There is a perception that Finns are reserved, maybe even distant. That passion is something we do not show. The truth is, it is there, just expressed differently. It is quieter, perhaps more internal. Whether I am in a forest in Finland, in Monaco, or at a race track, I remain the same person. I do not adjust depending on where I am. That consistency matters to me.

You could call it stubbornness. Finns are known for it. We have a word, sisu. It is difficult to translate directly, but it speaks to resilience. To inner strength. It is about continuing forward, even when things are not easy, even when there is no immediate reward. It is also about clarity. Knowing what you are working toward and staying with it.

In racing, that mindset is essential. Things do not always go the way you want. Results take time. Progress is not always visible. But if you stay focused, if you keep moving, you get closer.

If I had children, I would want them to have the freedom to choose their own path. To follow what they care about, not what is expected. Passion makes a difference. It shapes how you approach things, how much you are willing to give. It does not matter if it is writing, sport, or something entirely different. What matters is that it feels real.

One project that reflects that spirit in a different way is the Bott-Ass calendar. It raised one hundred and fifty thousand euros for Movember. It started as something lighthearted, something unexpected. Paul Ripke brought a creative perspective to it, and Tiffany contributed as well. But behind it was a purpose. To raise awareness, to support something meaningful.

In Finland, there is a different relationship with the body. It is not something hidden. Sauna culture, for example, is part of everyday life. It is normal. That perspective influenced the project. It was about being comfortable, about not taking things too seriously, while still contributing to something important.

Daily life, for me, is about balance. I try to make the most of each day, but not in an exaggerated way. Staying fit matters. Staying sharp matters. Racing is still the thing I love most. That has not changed. But outside of racing, I try to experience as much as possible.

Travelling plays a role in that. Even outside of the Formula 1 calendar, I like to explore. To see different landscapes, different environments. It gives perspective. It reminds you that there is more beyond the track.

Through Tiffany, I have come to appreciate aspects of the Australian lifestyle. There is a certain openness, a lightness. It has influenced how I approach things, how I spend my time. It adds a different rhythm.

I am looking forward to Miami. It will be special, especially as a home race for the Cadillac Formula 1® Team. Racing in the United States brings a different kind of energy. There is enthusiasm, a sense of scale. I plan to spend more time there, exploring places like California, including Joshua Tree, and possibly Colorado. I am drawn to landscapes that feel open, that offer space.

I grew up surrounded by lakes and forests. That sense of quiet stays with you. Even now, I look for it. Sometimes you find it in unexpected places. Even in Monaco, just outside the city, there are areas where everything slows down.

Cycling has become an important part of that. The terrain here is demanding. There is elevation, long climbs, steep gradients. It challenges you physically, but also mentally. I train often. Not at a professional level, but enough to keep improving, to keep pushing.

There is a contrast between racing and cycling that I value. In the car, everything is intense. Every moment requires focus. There is pressure, noise, expectation. On the bike, things are quieter. It becomes a way to reset. To clear your mind. You still think, but differently. It is more positive, more reflective.

That balance is important. Without it, everything becomes too intense.

I also support Tiffany in her races. Being there, standing at the side of the road, handing her a bottle as she passes. It matters. Support goes both ways. I find that I am often more nervous watching her race than I am when I am racing myself. It is a different kind of pressure, one you cannot control.

Being part of the Cadillac Formula 1® Team is a new chapter. It is rare in Formula 1 to join something at the very beginning. Usually, you step into an established structure, something that already has its rhythm. Here, everything is being built from the ground up.

It takes time. It requires patience. Nothing happens overnight. But that is part of what makes it meaningful. You see the progress, step by step. You feel the team becoming stronger, more cohesive. There is a shared sense of purpose.

Everyone is learning together. That creates a different kind of energy. It feels fresh. It feels open.

There are small routines that keep me grounded. Sauna is one of them. I try to do it daily. It has a calming effect, both physically and mentally. Ice baths as well. The contrast between hot and cold brings balance. It is simple, but effective.

These are small things, but they matter.

In the end, everything connects. Racing, projects, places, people. It is not about separating them, but about allowing them to exist together, to inform each other.

That, in a way, is what the oath represents. Not just a promise, but a way of living. A commitment to what matters, even when it is not always visible.

You have my word.

By Valtteri Bottas