Bottas primed for 'Finntastic' debut

HELSINKI - Valtteri Bottas was just six years old when he started go-kart racing - a Finnish kid dreaming of one day winning a Formula One title.

On Sunday that dream will move a step closer to reality when he takes his place on the grid in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Mercedes.

In January, the all-conquering German team cherry-picked Bottas to replace retired champion Nico Rosberg, giving the 27-year-old Finn the added horsepower he needs to become the fourth driver from his country to win an F1 world championship.