DECEMBER 21, 2015

Bottas hopes to attend Rio Olympics

At least one F1 driver will be at the Olympic Games next year.

At least one F1 driver will be at the Olympic Games next year.

UOL, a Brazilian source, reports that Valtteri Bottas will travel to Rio de Janeiro during next year's F1 calendar break in August.

There, he will watch his girlfriend Emilia Pikkarainen - a top Finnish swimmer - compete.

"To go to Rio is the plan," said Williams driver Bottas. "It is not confirmed yet, hopefully she gets in but I think it will happen and it will be cool to go there.

"I've only been in Sao Paulo in Brazil, so it will also be a good opportunity to experience Rio," he added.

Bottas also told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat that even though F1's winter break gets shorter every year, he will be ready to return in early 2016.

"A bit of a smaller break is enough for me," he said. "I always feel pretty ready to get back to driving fast again when the new cars come out."

(GMM)