Valtteri Bottas' stolen car sparks FBI investigation during Miami GP weekend

Valtteri Bottas' recent Miami Grand Prix weekend took an unexpected turn when his rental Cadillac Escalade was stolen from the driveway of his Airbnb, leading to an FBI investigation. The car, which contained his paddock pass and a VIP parking permit, was later found abandoned in a high-crime area.

Why it matters:

The incident highlights the unique security risks F1 personnel face when traveling to high-profile race weekends. With paddock passes and VIP access potentially compromised, the theft could have allowed unauthorized track access, though the thieves appeared uninterested in the race itself.

The details:

• The theft occurred Saturday morning before sprint qualifying. Bottas discovered the car missing after a friend noticed it was gone.
• The keys were still inside the house, and the car was locked, suggesting sophisticated car theft technology was used.
• FBI involvement: Because of the security implications, the FBI launched a full investigation, as confirmed by Bottas.
• The car was found dumped the next day in a high-crime area, likely used as a getaway vehicle for another crime.
• Security response: For the rest of the weekend, Bottas hired an armed security guard to watch the Airbnb overnight.

The big picture:

Bottas, now driving for Cadillac F1 (soon to be Audi), joked that he had never experienced anything like this. The theft forced him to arrange alternative transport to the track and obtain a new paddock pass. Fortunately, a replacement Escalade was provided, and Bottas continued his race weekend without further issues.