Stolen Bottas Cadillac Led to FBI Investigation During Miami GP

Valtteri Bottas has revealed his Cadillac Escalade was stolen from his Airbnb driveway during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, prompting an FBI investigation. The vehicle, which contained paddock passes that could have allowed unauthorized track access, was later recovered in a damaged state and is believed to have been used as a getaway car.

Why it matters:

The theft of a driver's vehicle with credentials capable of granting access to restricted F1 areas raised immediate security concerns. Although the thieves appeared uninterested in the race itself, the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in how sensitive items are handled away from the circuit.

The details:

• Bottas opted to stay at a quieter Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale, away from central Miami, during the race weekend.
• After Friday's on-track running, he parked the Escalade in the driveway and left the keys inside the property before going to bed.
• Saturday morning, a friend alerted him the car was missing — despite the keys still being on the table.
• The stolen SUV also contained Bottas' paddock pass, which theoretically could have allowed entry into restricted areas.
• Officials escalated the situation once they realized the security implications, bringing in the FBI for a full investigation.
• The car was eventually found in a high-crime area of Miami, damaged and abandoned. Authorities suspect it was used as a getaway vehicle.
• Bottas noted that the vehicle's tracking systems were disabled almost immediately, suggesting sophisticated technology was involved.

What's next:

Following the incident, additional security was stationed at Bottas' Airbnb for the remainder of the weekend. The Finn finished the Miami Grand Prix in 18th place, calling the experience "pretty cool" despite the disruption. No arrests have been reported, and the investigation remains ongoing.