Race and classic pictures

Bottas brings it home among the top-10 in Lapland

For the second year running, Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas indulged in a winter rally escapade, the Finn taking part in this weekend's Arctic Lapland Rally.

Bottas had finished fifth in the event in 2019, driving a Ford Fiesta. This year, he was on-board an older 2016 Citroen DS3 WRC car entered by PH Sport.

The 30-year-old enjoyed a good start on Friday but was caught out by the snow-capped road on the final stage, hitting a tree and falling down the order.

Bottas and co-driver Timo Rautiainen fought back on Saturday however, climbing as high as 8th in the penultimate stage but eventually finishing P9.

The Finn has already announced that he'll be back for more in 2021, because they say that good things come in threes!

In the interim, enjoy a spectacular blast from Bottas in the Lapland countryside.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Verstappen puts Bathurst 1000 Supercar event on bucket list

Max Verstappen’s racing curiosity has never been confined to Formula 1 – and now, one…

2 hours ago

Vowles warns 2026 weight limit will catch F1 teams out

When F1’s radically redesigned 2026 cars finally roll out in Barcelona at the end of…

17 hours ago

Why Verstappen isn’t expecting much running at F1’s first test

Max Verstappen has never been one to sugar-coat reality – and as Formula 1 braces…

18 hours ago

Revolut’s CMO slams Ferrari: ‘How can you put blue on a red car?’

Ferrari have survived decades of criticism about strategy calls, driver politics and pit stops that…

19 hours ago

Mercedes 2026 advantage in doubt after concerning claim

While the paddock has been whispering for months that Mercedes might be holding the winning…

21 hours ago

Our salute on this day to Big Dan

Dan Gurney passed away on this day in 2018, and here at F1i we'll never…

22 hours ago