Valtteri Bottas gifted former Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton a signed bare-bottom picture ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix and the Brit promised to follow suit
Valtteri Bottas had a special gift for former Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton ahead of this weekend’s Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, gifting the Brit a signed bare-bottom photo.
The Alfa Romeo driver went viral following the inaugural Miami Grand Prix earlier this month after taking some time to travel in the United States with his partner and taking a dip in a Colorado stream in his birthday suit.
That sparked a charity idea for the Finnish driver, who partnered with photographer and creative Paul Ripke to do a special one-day-only print run of his social media storm – and raised a whopping amount of over £42,000 in the process.
Over 5,000 images were sold and Bottas has confirmed that there won’t be a re run of the release – but he made sure he had a special gift for former teammate Hamilton, presenting it to him ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.
“I just wanted to come and give you something. I heard that you liked the picture I posted, so I signed it ‘to Lewis’ and this is for you. You can put it in your apartment or something, your motorhome, it’s just a small gift,” Bottas said when handing him the picture.
“Oh God. Not that I don’t have stuff to remember you by but this one, what are you doing? It’s so good. I love it man, thank you so much for that. Next time I’m in Colorado, I’ll get my buns out and repeat the same image and I’ll send you one!” Lewis Hamilton replied.
The promise from Lewis Hamilton could spark hope that the seven-time world champion could do his own release to raise money for charity, though it remains to be seen whether the Mercedes man will stick to his word.
Lewis Hamilton heads to Monaco looking to continue the upward trajectory that Mercedes hit last weekend in Barcelona following the introduction of their new upgrades, which seemed to have finally solved the ‘porpoising’ issues that have plagued his season.
Bottas, meanwhile, has quickly settled into life at Alfa Romeo, securing a points finish in every race he has completed in 2022 – with the one disappointment being retirement in the second round of the season in Saudi Arabia.
That has put Bottas just eight points behind his former teammate Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship, while Alfa Romeo are fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.
