Few drivers have arrived in Formula 1 in recent years with as much expectation surrounding them as Finland's latest young charger, Valtteri Bottas.
The 23-year-old was last year described by Sir Frank Williams no less, the man who has handed him his race debut in 2013, as "quite simply one of the most talented young racing drivers I have come across". The veteran team owner is a very well-qualified judge, too, having launched the F1 careers of race winners Juan Pablo-Montoya, David Coulthard and Nico Rosberg along with World Champions Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill. Praise doesn't come any higher than that.
Bottas' nationality also offers plenty of reasons for encouragement given that Finland, with a population of just over five million, has produced seven previous F1 starters with no fewer than three of them going on to become World Champion.
All in all that's quite some reputation to live up to...
The new Williams driver began his single-seater career in 2007 and had an immediate impact with two victories in Formula Renault NEC on his way to third place in the standings. That winter Bottas gave a further indication of his pace when he contested four races in the Formula Renault UK Winter Series and claimed three victories.
The following season saw Bottas dominate in Formula Renault. He won the North European Cup and the Eurocup, beating Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne (both now at Toro Rosso) along the way.
Bottas stepped up to F3 in 2009 with ART, where he finished third in the Euroseries, taking victory in the prestigious Masters race at Zandvoort. He managed to repeat both of those results in 2010 and was named as reserve driver for the Williams F1 team.
He moved to GP3 with ART in 2011, replacing reigning Champion and fellow 2013 F1 rookie, Esteban Gutierrez and continued the team's success with four victories to secure his own title win.
Bottas opted to concentrate on his role as Williams' reserve rather than contest another junior category last season, a decision that allowed him to take part in 15 first practice sessions during the year in place of regular race driver Bruno Senna.
With Senna struggling for consistency and qualifying pace, Bottas' impressive Friday morning performances meant that he was never far from Frank Williams' thoughts and it was little surprise when he was named as Pastor Maldonado's team-mate for 2013.
While his year away from wheel-to-wheel racing may mean he starts his debut year a little ring rusty, Bottas certainly appears to have all the tools to follow in the line of Finland's past F1 heroes.
