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This article first appeared in GP Racing magazine.
"Here, take a rock," says Valtteri Bottas, inviting F1 Racing to perch on a boulder at the edge of this tranquil Finnish lake. We've travelled a long way north to track down the Mercedes man, who is recuperating from the sturm und drang of the first half of the season, at his idyllic summer hideaway.
With the lake shimmering in the foreground, the backdrop is a forest of pine and spruce trees - a calming vista that's a world away from the city lights, bustling airport terminal corridors and the intense spotlight of a Formula 1 weekend. This is where Valtteri comes to relax; it's his childhood home.
We're here on the third and final free weekend of F1's summer break, a much-needed respite for teams and drivers after the intensity of five grands prix in six weeks. By the time you read this, the long-haul races will be under way and the pressure of the world championship run-in starting to spike.
