“Bottas 2 is pushing. Bottas now, and then Leclerc in eight seconds.” The young French driver’s response was immediate and amused: “Yes, mate, enough with Bottas. There’s no Bottas on track.”
The dialogue quickly went viral on social media, generating laughter among fans. In fact, the engineer had made an error: Valtteri Bottas is not registered in the 2025 championship and therefore could not have been on track under any circumstances.
Bottas is improving—but he’s not even at Austin
The Finnish driver, after his contract with Sauber ended at the conclusion of 2024, did not secure a seat for this Formula 1 season. Valtteri Bottas currently serves as Mercedes’ third driver, supporting simulator work and technical programs for the Brackley team.
At the same time, he is preparing for his competitive return in 2026, when he will race with the new Cadillac Racing alongside Sergio Pérez in Formula 1, marking the official debut of the American brand in the championship.
The small communication error between Isack Hadjar and his engineer turned into a viral moment during the free practice session, lightening the tension of a crucial weekend for the young French driver, who is fighting to secure a future as a full-time team driver.
Between jokes and irony, the “phantom Bottas” of Austin became one of Friday’s most talked-about incidents, showing once again that in Formula 1—even in the most technical moments—there is always room for a little lightheartedness.
Leave a Reply