Valtteri Bottas and wife Emilia have gone their separate ways, the couple announcing on Thursday the end of their three-year marriage.
Bottas took to Twitter to confirm the news to the media and to his fans, invoking "career and life situation" challenges.
The seven-time Grand Prix winner and the 27-year-old former Olympic swimmer had been together since 2010, well before Bottas' graduation to F1 with Williams in 2013.
"I will be forever thankful for all the sacrifices she had to make for me, for her support during many years and for all the experiences that we have had together," Bottas wrote.
"I trust that you will respect both of us and our privacy regarding this matter. This will be all I have to say and comment regarding our divorce."
Fans of the Finn saddened by the news also learnt that their man's prospects of finishing the season on a high took a hit following Mercedes' decision to change the power unit in Bottas' W10 following an engine failure in Brazil.
The component changes will send Bottas to the back of the grid on Sunday.
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Sebastian Montoya, the 19-year-old son of former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, is set…
When former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto took on the role of Chief Operating Officer…
Charles Leclerc concluded the 2024 F1 season with a sense of satisfaction, the Ferrari driver…
Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has voiced his dismay at FIA president Mohammed Ben…
Super Aguri's application to join Formula 1 became a reality on this day in 2005,…
Ferrari roared back into contention in 2024 to deliver their strongest season in years, thanks…