F1 star banned from releasing naked picture as team chief hits out at X…read more
Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish Formula 1 driver, has been instructed by Mercedes to stop releasing naked calendars, despite his previous efforts to raise funds for charity with such projects. Bottas, who has rejoined the Silver Arrows as a reserve driver, has been known for his bold and unconventional approach to self-promotion. While driving alongside Lewis Hamilton in the past, he gained attention for his appearances in the Netflix series Drive to Survive and for sharing photos of himself swimming naked in a river. Last year, Bottas released a nude calendar called “Botass 2024,” with all proceeds donated to Prostate Cancer Research, raising £121,000 for the cause.
However, Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff, has made it clear that while the team values Bottas’ authenticity, the nude calendar is not appropriate for the image they want to project. Wolff remarked that such a calendar does not align with Mercedes’ professional environment, saying, “We are Mercedes, so maybe the nude calendar is not on anymore.” Despite the ban on future naked calendars, Wolff emphasized that Bottas should remain true to himself, jokingly adding, “If he wants to keep the ugly mullet, then he should.”
Bottas spent the last three years with Alfa Romeo and Sauber, but the 2024 season has seen him return to Mercedes in a reserve role. Bottas had an eventful career at Mercedes, achieving ten race wins before leaving the team, but he struggled in recent seasons without scoring points last year. The Finnish driver’s return comes amid changes at Mercedes, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli now on the grid alongside Hamilton, who departed the team. Bottas’ experience and knowledge of the team are seen as valuable assets to the Silver Arrows, as they work to continue their success in Formula 1.
Reflecting on his return to Mercedes, Bottas expressed his excitement about rejoining the team where he had previously experienced numerous successes. He acknowledged the challenges of the past few years but stated that he still had a lot to offer. “Since I was a five-year-old kid growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport,” Bottas shared. “I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 so far. As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships.”
Despite the ban on his calendars, Bottas remains determined to contribute to Mercedes’ success as they aim for future championship victories.
