As has been known for some hours now, Gabriel Bortoleto will join Nico Hulkenberg at Stake in 2025, with Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas concluding their respective F1 careers at the end of the current season.
However, while the Chinese driver simply thanked his fans through a brief message on his X profile, the Finnish driver found a way to put on a show even on this occasion.
Number 77, soon to return to the Mercedes family as a reserve driver, confirmed the end of his career as an official driver but did so in a rather unique way, to put it mildly.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the support you’ve given me in the past, now, and in the future. I also thank the team for everything,” Valtteri Bottas said via his social channels.
“When one door closes, another opens. I’m really excited about the future and what’s ahead for me.”
Nothing unusual so far, at least on the surface. However, in the final moments of the video, the camera, initially framing the Finn only up to his chest, suddenly zoomed out to reveal Valtteri Bottas in just his underwear. Intentional or not, it added a unique and inimitable touch of style.
As previously mentioned, the 35-year-old from Nastola is expected to remain in the paddock next year, with Toto Wolff ready to welcome him back to Brackley after Valtteri Bottas’s departure at the end of the 2021 Formula 1 season.
Leave a Reply