Alfa Romeo F1 star Valtteri Bottas anointed a true blue Australian bogan with VB longneck
F1 star Valtteri Bottas has long been labeled an honorary Aussie, and that has really been confirmed now that he has a personalized VB longneck that reads ‘true blue Aussie bogan’.
Hailing from Finland, the 33-year-old is dating Aussie pro cyclist Tiffany Cromwell and outside Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri is undoubtedly the most popular driver on the grid Down Under.
Bottas spent much of his last off-season in Australia, wearing a mullet and VB shirt as he and Cromwell enjoyed a long holiday.
And the honorary Aussie, who is eleventh in the drivers’ standings with Alfa Romeo this season, likes to drink the iconic VB beer with which he happens to share initials.
The 2019 Australian Grand Prix winner was lucky enough to score himself the decidedly Aussie portion of a longneck, labeled with his name instead of Victoria Bitters.
Valtteri Bottas says he’s a big fan of ‘refreshing’ VB when he’s in Australia, even wearing a VB shirt while donning an iconic Aussie mullet in his off-season Down Under
The Finn revealed he received a personalized longneck from VB that bears his face and anoints him as a ‘true blue Aussie bogan’
Bottas is dating Aussie pro cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, and the pair are spending most of their off-season in Australia
A shot of him wearing a VB shirt along with a mullet while Down Under was in the middle, captioned, “A true blue Aussie bogan.”
The 10-time F1 race winner is an unabashed fan of Australia’s most iconic beer.
In a video posted to his social media earlier this month showing him getting his Nordic hair styled into a mullet, he said he found it “refreshing.”
“The mullet certainly helps. And I like VB – for me it’s light, it’s a refreshing drink,” he said.
“There aren’t many mullion windows in Finland, but there are a few coming up, so it’s starting to become a trend. I think I’m seeing a few now in Europe in general where I didn’t see any last year.’
Bottas is a huge fan of his bottle green VB singlet and says he feels he fits ‘into’ Down Under well
Bottas celebrates his victory in the 2019 Australian Grand Prix with a slightly more expensive alcoholic drink
The laid-back Bottas certainly fits in when he’s on the Australian coast, even unleashing his inner bogan when he did a hot lap on Mount Panorama in a V8 Supercar while Down Under for the recent Grand Prix.
He and Cromwell have been cruising all over the country for the past three seasons, and he says that means he’s easily the most popular driver when he comes to Albert Park.
“I get a lot of support (in Melbourne). I think it’s probably the most I get. It’s almost a home race for me,” said Bottas.
I think of course because I’ve been with my Australian girlfriend (Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell) for three years now and spend a little more time here.
“I’ve definitely learned not to take certain things too seriously, and I’ve learned to be a little more forgiving of myself and not put too much pressure on myself.
“The way of life – the most important thing for people [in Australia] is that they want to have fun, which is a great way to live.”
He has embraced that way of life so well that he even wore a helmet designed by Aboriginal artist Ricky Kildea at the Australian Grand Prix, which was then signed and auctioned to raise money for two Indigenous charities: Save the Children and Koorie Academy Basketball.
Bottas is eleventh in the drivers’ standings for Alfa Romeo this season
Bottas wore this special Indigenous helmet at the Australian Grand Prix before autographing it and another and auctioning them off for two Aboriginal charities
Bottas and Alfa Romeo unveiled the striking blue helmet ahead of the race and he said he felt a connection to Australian culture and wanted to give something back.
“I have a great interest in design – this should come as no surprise – and I like to express myself through my special helmets,” he said Speed cafe.
‘Australian culture and history is something I’ve taken a great interest in over the years, especially through my partner, Tiffany (Cromwell), and we were determined to pay special tribute to the Indigenous community.
‘That’s how the collaboration with Ricky was born.
“He is a very talented artist and I enjoyed the creative process behind the helmets. I think they are two of the most beautiful designs I’ve ever brought to the track, and I’m delighted to be able to auction one off for charity.”