Valtteri Bottas reveals Miami Grand Prix theft scare – The Cadillac F1 driver revealed that his car was stolen during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, an incident which escalated to the point where both local police and the FBI became involved in the investigation.
In an interview with the “What’s Next?” podcast, the Formula 1 driver explained that a Cadillac Escalade provided for the race weekend was stolen outside his Airbnb accommodation in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. The luxury SUV reportedly had a value of close to $150,000.
According to Bottas, the vehicle disappeared overnight despite being locked, with the keys remaining inside the apartment. Bottas said he only discovered the theft after receiving a call from his assistant the following morning.
“I came home as usual on Friday, parked the car in the driveway, had dinner, and then went to bed early,” he explained. “The keys were inside, and the car was locked.”
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Bottas said he “couldn’t believe it”.
The former Mercedes, Williams and Sauber driver described the confusion surrounding the incident, explaining that he had initially thought his assistant’s phone call was unusual because they were staying close to one another during the race weekend.
“I said, ‘Hello? Why are you calling me? I’m just next door,’” he recalled. “And he said, ‘I wanted to ask where you are. Your car is gone.’”
The Finn admitted that he was stunned by the situation.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he added. “I went outside, opened the door, and the Escalade had disappeared. The keys were still on the table inside.”
Despite the disruption, Bottas was still able to reach the Miami International Autodrome after arranging alternative transport. However, the theft created an additional complication because his Formula 1 paddock pass had also been left inside the stolen vehicle.
This ultimately led to a far more serious security concern during the Grand Prix weekend.
FBI became involved due to fears about paddock security
Bottas revealed that the FBI became involved alongside local law enforcement because the stolen paddock credentials could theoretically have allowed unauthorised access to restricted Formula 1 areas.
The Cadillac driver explained that investigators were particularly concerned about someone attempting to use his pass to gain entry to the paddock or other secured sections of the circuit.
“He had every opportunity that day,” said Bottas. ‘He could have got a VIP parking space, walked through the paddock and gone to the team.’
Fortunately, no such breach occurred
According to Bottas, the stolen Escalade was eventually recovered the following day in an area he described as run down with a high crime rate. The Formula 1 driver added that the thief appeared to have little interest in motorsport or in using the access credentials for the paddock.
“But obviously they had no interest in Formula 1,” he said.
Why does the incident matter for Formula 1 security?
While car thefts involving athletes and celebrities are not uncommon in major cities, this incident highlights the increasingly complex security challenges surrounding Formula 1 events in the United States.
Modern Formula 1 paddocks operate strict accreditation systems, particularly at high-profile events such as the Miami Grand Prix. Team credentials and paddock passes provide access to sensitive operational areas, so any theft involving official accreditation poses a potential security risk.
While the incident appears to have ended without further complications, Bottas’ account provides an unusual off-track narrative from one of Formula 1’s most glamorous race weekends.
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