F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Bottas cools off with secret rally test with M-Sport

Valtteri Bottas isn't basking on the beach in Mykonos or Ibiza during F1's summer break, or snoozing on the sunny shores of a Finnish lake, but perfecting out of public view his rally technique.

While the Mercedes driver awaits his fate for 2020, he took a Ford Fiesta for a spin a few days ago, running the M-Sport WRC beast in the forest near Ferisen in Germany.

Bottas made his rally debut with the Fiesta in the Arctic Lapland Rally back in January, also testing more recently a Toyota Yaris.

A video of the 'secret' test has emerged and shows the five-time Grand Prix winner - helped by co-driver Jarmo Lethinen - pushing himself and his mount to the limit and beyond.

Check out the video of Val's raucous rally test.

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Five years on: Grosjean reunites with fiery Bahrain GP helmet

Many F1 drivers have stared danger in the face, but few moments in the sport’s…

10 hours ago

Before Shelby's days of taming the Cobra

Carroll Shelby was born on this day in 1923, and while the great Texan is…

12 hours ago

Cassidy stands tall in Mexico City – and so does Citroën

Nick Cassidy delivered to Citroen Racing its maiden ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in…

12 hours ago

Alpine to give Colapinto ‘all the support he needs’ to deliver in F1

Franco Colapinto endured a tough season with Alpine in 2025, but inside Enstone the message…

13 hours ago

The long game: Williams still building as Vowles looks beyond 2026

As Williams continues its steady ascent under the leadership of James Vowles, the Grove-based outfit…

14 hours ago

Audi’s Wheatley thought team principal role in F1 was ‘unattainable’

In the world of Formula 1, where career ladders are often climbed with ruthless ambition,…

16 hours ago