Valtteri Bottas reveals shocking Miami theft incident involving the FBI. Valtteri Bottas’ stolen SUV triggered a major security alert at the Miami Grand Prix.

F1 | Cadillac’s Bottas robbed in Miami: FBI also involved

Valtteri Bottas has revealed a highly unusual and alarming incident that took place during the 2026 Miami Grand Prix weekend, after his Cadillac Escalade was stolen while he was staying at an Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale—an event that reportedly escalated into an investigation involving the FBI.

The Finnish driver explained that his Formula 1 paddock pass was also inside the vehicle at the time, immediately raising serious security concerns for authorities given the level of access such credentials could provide.

Bottas said the theft happened while he was in the shower.

“I was in the shower when they called me and told me the car had disappeared. I came out and the Escalade was gone. I couldn’t believe it,” Valtteri Bottas said.

The Cadillac driver also highlighted the potential security implications of the stolen paddock pass.

“The thief could easily have entered the paddock, used the VIP parking area and potentially reached the team,” he added.

The SUV was found the following day

Fortunately, the stolen Cadillac SUV was recovered the next day in an area reportedly known for high levels of criminal activity.

According to Valtteri Bottas, investigators believed the vehicle may simply have been used as a getaway car following another crime, rather than being specifically targeted because of its connection to Formula 1.

Security measures increased after the incident

Following the theft, additional security precautions were reportedly introduced around the accommodation where the team was staying.

Bottas explained that the response included the arrival of an armed security guard during the night to monitor the replacement vehicle provided to the team, underlining how seriously the incident was taken once the missing paddock credential became known.