Poleman Bottas puts a feather in his very special lid

©Mercedes

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©Mercedes

Valtteri Bottas conquered his 19th career pole in Formula 1 on Saturday in Mexico City, an achievement marked by a very special prize bestwoed upon the Finn.

After blasting to the top of the time screens in qualifying, the Mercedes driver was handed by Sir Jackie Stewart a replica of the iconic Herbert Johnson helmet used by the great Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1950's as well as a pair of period goggles.

The special artifact also marks the 70th anniversary of the first of the five crowns won by Argentina's legendary El Maestro during his career in F1.

After being honored with the exclusive accolade, Bottas just couldn't resist trying on the headgear for size, blending the past with the present.

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.