Bottas has the gravitas

When the Williams Formula 1 quartet were introduced on stage at Zouk last night, Valtteri Bottas stepped up third - behind racing teammate Felipe Massa.

If anyone chose to read into that, it would have meant that the 25-year-old Finn was the British racing team's "second" driver, after the veteran Brazilian Massa.

With six races left on the calendar, including this weekend's Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, it is clear to most who the Williams' star is.

Bottas, along with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, has been the outstanding young driver of the season.

And he is expected to be the next driver to win a first Grand Prix after four podium finishes so far this year - compared to Massa's one.

Massa has already tipped him as a future world champion, many observers agree, and while it may be too early to label him the next "Flying Finn" - after Kimi Raikonnen - Bottas is clearly the real deal.

When each of his colleagues - deputy team principal Claire Williams, Massa, and test driver Susie Wolff - spoke to the 150-strong crowd at the Williams-Martini racing event last night, Bottas was respectful and attentive.

He listened and nodded along.

SOAKING IT IN

In only his second season as an F1 driver, Bottas is still soaking it all in, learning from his teammate Massa, who has seen it all over a 13-year career, winning 11 GPs wearing Ferrari red.

When it was his time to answer a question, Bottas talked about the challenge of racing along the streets of downtown Singapore at night.

"Racing in Singapore is much more challenging that other places," said Bottas, who finished 13th in his Singapore debut last year.

"It's a street circuit, so it's quite slippery, the corners are really close, and the weather is very humid.

"It's a test on both the car and the driver... but I really like the challenge, every driver does."

So far this season, Bottas has taken on the challenges thrown at him.

He is a heady fourth in the drivers' standings, and surprised many with back-to-back second-placed finishes at the British and German GPs.

Already, rumours are rife that rivals McLaren are keen on the Finn, and perhaps that is why they have been stalling on offering veteran Jenson Button a fresh contract for 2015.

Williams know the potential they have on their hands.

The team have been galvanised after a poor 2013, and are currently in third place in the constructors' championship, behind leaders Mercedes and Red Bull, and ahead of traditional giants Ferrari and McLaren.

Wolff cited the drivers' partnership this year as a key reason behind the team's success.

"Felipe has all the experience, and Valtteri is proving himself as the future," she said.

"They are incredibly fast and we are lucky to have them as our drivers."

Not just on the track.

MARTINI MAKER

Bottas also wowed a few in the crowd last night with his ability to make Martinis.

Paired with one of Singapore's top bartenders, the Finn came out on top in the Martini challenge, with his raspberry Martini spritzer.

Bottas didn't mind the least bit when his bartender went heavy on the gin.

"I think it's going to be good," he said, with his boyish smile.

Later, after a sip of his own recipe, he declared "it's perfect".

Obviously, with two days to qualifying - crucial in the Singapore race because overtaking on race day is at a premium due to the tight corners - Bottas knows he will be fit and ready to show his stuff to a brand new audience in the various grandstands along the street circuit.