Breaking news:Popular Formula One star warned against making another nude calendar by his…Read more
Popular Formula One star warned against making another nude calendar by his new team boss
Fans of Valtteri Bottas hoping to see another installment of his famous nude charity calendar may be in for a disappointment, at least for now. The Finnish Formula One driver, known for his quirky and free-spirited image, has become a cult figure in the sport after leaving Mercedes in 2021. During his time away from the team, Bottas embraced a more relaxed lifestyle, and one of his most memorable endeavors was the release of the Bottass 2024 calendar. In this cheeky photoshoot, Bottas posed nearly nude to raise awareness for prostate cancer research, an initiative that unexpectedly became a huge success, reportedly raising more than £120,000 for the cause.
Despite this, Bottas is now back at Mercedes as a reserve driver ahead of the 2025 Formula One season. His return to the Silver Arrows has sparked new discussions about his public persona, and team principal Toto Wolff has hinted that the Mercedes brand may not align with the more racy elements of Bottas’s past. In a lighthearted interview with RacingNews365, Wolff joked that a continuation of the nude calendar may not be on the horizon due to Mercedes’ polished image. However, he also emphasized that while some things might need to be toned down, the team would still encourage Bottas to maintain his authenticity.
Bottas’s authenticity is something that has made him a fan favorite in the sport. Since leaving Mercedes, he has reinvented himself in the public eye. Known for growing out a mullet, wearing cowboy hats, and engaging in playful photo shoots, Bottas has become one of the more entertaining personalities on the grid. His laid-back approach to life has resonated with fans, and Wolff has even joked that Bottas should feel free to keep his “ugly mullet” if he wants to, indicating that the team values his genuine self, even if it occasionally clashes with Mercedes’ typically refined public image.
Bottas initially joined Mercedes in 2017, partnering with Lewis Hamilton and playing a significant role in the team’s dominance during that era. He helped Mercedes secure multiple Constructors’ Championships over the five seasons he spent there. However, in 2021, Bottas made the decision to leave the team at the end of the season and move to Alfa Romeo, which later became Sauber. At Sauber, Bottas led the team through a rebuilding phase, significantly contributing to their best result in over a decade by helping them finish sixth in the 2022 Constructors’ Championship standings. Despite this promising start, the team struggled in subsequent seasons, slipping further down the grid as they faced tough competition from other teams.
As Sauber prepares for its transition into Audi’s works team in 2026, Bottas chose to part ways with the team at the end of the 2024 season. This decision led him back to Mercedes, although his new role will not involve full-time racing. Instead, Bottas will be taking on responsibilities related to testing, car development, and mentoring Mercedes’ rising star, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli, a talented teenager, has been fast-tracked into F1 and is seen as one of the team’s future stars. Bottas’s role as a mentor to Antonelli will likely be crucial in helping the young driver adapt to the competitive environment of Formula One.
Bottas’s return to Mercedes in this new capacity marks a new chapter in his career, where he will contribute to the team’s future success, even if he’s no longer on the grid as a full-time driver. His playful nature and offbeat sense of humor will likely continue to make him a beloved figure in the F1 paddock, regardless of the more polis
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