Bottas' two-wheel limited edition consoliation prize

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It wasn't the opening race of 2021 that Valtteri Bottas was hoping for in Bahrain, with the Mercedes enduring a botched pitstop that didn't enable him to take part in the final shootout between teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

But the Finn did receive a consolation prize for his efforts at Sakhir, being gifted a special Mercedes-AMG F1 Team V12 Carbon Edition N+ road bike to help him tuck into the slipstream of girlfriend and pro-cyclist Tiffany Cromwell on the roads above Monaco.

Fitted with premium componentry, the bike's bespoke chassis utilises the latest in aerodynamic design and is available to only the very few with just 100 units to be sold worldwide.

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.