Valtteri Bottas 'getaway car' theft sparks FBI investigation

Valtteri Bottas has remarkably revealed that the FBI was forced to investigate following the theft of his car over the recent Miami Grand Prix weekend.

Bottas was staying in an Airbnb in Ft Lauderdale when he was alerted to the theft by a friend on Saturday morning, ahead of that day's sprint race and grand prix qualifying at the Miami International Autodrome.

The vehicle, a Cadillac Escalade, even had a parking permit in the window, and Bottas' paddock pass inside.

Taking up the story on the What's next? podcast, Cadillac F1 driver Bottas said: "So got back Friday as normal, drove our car onto the driveway, had a quick dinner, early bed. Car keys are inside the house. Car is locked."

After discovering the car had been stolen, he added: "I couldn't believe it. I went outside, opened the door. The Escalade has vanished. Keys are still inside, on the table. I can see them. I'm like, 'How has our car been stolen from the driveway of our Airbnb?'

"Obviously, I was going to be late for the track because we had to find another way of transport. Luckily, they sent another Escalade that took us to the track, and then I was like, 'Oh, my paddock pass was in the car'. I didn't have a paddock pass.

"So anyway, found a solution for that."

Jokingly suggested by co-host, Paul Ripke, that the thief could have pretended to have been Bottas for the day, as they could easily have gained access to the paddock and race track, the Finnish driver replied: "Yeah, he had all the opportunities for that day - the VIP parking, walk to the paddock, sign in, go to the team.

"But no, the next day the car was found dumped."

Bottas confirmed that the FBI "got involved" and that there was "a full investigation".

Revealing the car was discovered in "a high-crime area", Bottas continued: "So the police and FBI got involved just because of this reason.

"What you mentioned, we had the parking pass, so somebody could have driven the car to the track. They had my pass. But they obviously weren't interested in the F1 race.

"Apparently, they probably just did a crime with a car and dumped it. So in my mind, it must have been like a getaway car or something. It's sad that we lost the car, but it's pretty cool. It's never happened to me in my life."

The theft resulted in the hiring of a security person to remain stationed in front of the Airbnb overnight for the rest of the weekend, "armed, with a full vest, kit, everything", said Bottas.

"There must be a lot of technology involved. Like, how do you get into a car and immediately shut down the tracker, all these things? Impressive!"