Alfa Romeo F1 charger Valtteri Bottas has unexpectedly pulled out of this weekend's Race of Champions event in Pite Havsbad in Sweden.
The former Mercedes driver and ten-time Grand Prix winner was on site at the venue this week and preparing for this weekend's event in which he was scheduled to take part alongside two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen for Team Finland in the Nations Cup competition.
"Valtteri had commitments and a last-minute cancellation," revealed Hakkinen, commenting on his countryman's absence at the pre-event press conference on Friday.
Bottas has been replaced in Team Finland's lineup by W Series racer Emma Kimilainen, much to the 32-year-old's delight as she'll be competing alongside her childhood hero.
"He [Hakkinen] is my childhood hero," enthused Kimilainen.
"His kids are turning eight today and I was remembering when I was their age, watching every Sunday when there was F1, watching the racing.
"I could always remember Mika overtaking a couple of times around the outside, so watching him racing and now being here, it's an honour."
Hakkinen and Kimilainen will kick off their weekend with a quarter-final Nations Cup round against Team GB and a pair of familiar faces for both drivers, with the British tandem comprised of Hakkinen's former McLaren teammate David Coulthard and two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick.
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