Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 driver Valtteri BottasPlayer·Valtteri Bottas faced an unusual challenge during the recent Miami Grand Prix weekend when his CadillacTeam·Cadillac Escalade was stolen from his temporary residence in Fort LauderdaleVenue·Fort Lauderdale. The incident, which prompted an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), saw the luxury SUV recovered the following day.
Bottas, who returned to Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 in 2026 with the new CadillacTeam·Cadillac team, had been staying in an Airbnb in Fort LauderdaleVenue·Fort Lauderdale with his girlfriend. On Friday evening, after completing his practice sessions at the track, he parked the CadillacTeam·Cadillac Escalade in the driveway of the rental property. The keys were left inside the house.
“On Friday I parked the car in front of the house, locked it, left the keys on the table,” Valtteri Bottas recounted in the 'What's Next' podcast. “On Saturday morning I was in the shower a little before leaving for the track, Paul Harris called me. I say to him: ‘Why are you calling me from the next house?’ And he: ‘To ask you where you went?’ I: ‘What do you mean?’ He: ‘Your car is gone.’ I couldn’t believe it, I go outside, the car is gone, and the keys are on the table. Our car, which was in front of the house, was stolen.”
The theft created immediate logistical and security concerns. Bottas's personal paddock pass and a VIP parking pass for the circuit were inside the stolen vehicle. This raised the possibility of unauthorized access to restricted areas of the Miami International AutodromeVenue·Miami International Autodrome, leading to the involvement of law enforcement, including the FBI, in a full investigation.
Fortunately, the CadillacTeam·Cadillac team promptly provided Bottas with a replacement Escalade, ensuring he could travel to the circuit for the remainder of the Grand Prix weekend. The stolen vehicle was located and recovered the next day, abandoned in an area known for high crime. Authorities suggested the car might have been used as a getaway vehicle before being discarded.
“Luckily my team sent me another Escalade and when we got to the track, I remembered that my pass was left in the stolen car. The FBI took over the case, a full investigation,” Bottas stated. “The next day they found it, abandoned in a high-crime area. With those passes, they could have entered the track, but apparently, they were not interested in Formula 1. They probably used the car for some crime and then abandoned it. Great story.”
Bottas, who partners with Sergio PerezPlayer·Sergio Perez at CadillacTeam·Cadillac, has been working to establish the new team in the competitive Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 landscape. His 2026 season has seen him finish 19th in the Grand Prix of AustraliaCompetition·Grand Prix of Australia, 13th in the Grand Prix of ChinaCompetition·Grand Prix of China, 19th in the Grand Prix of JapanCompetition·Grand Prix of Japan, and 18th in the Grand Prix of MiamiCompetition·Grand Prix of Miami. His stated objective for the season is consistent "progress," aiming for continuous improvement throughout the year.
Valtteri Bottas in his Cadillac-Ferrari F1 car at the Miami Grand Prix. Icon Sportswire/IMAGO
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