Valtteri Bottas on the tax row in Italy: “I wasn’t quoted in full”

Controversy surrounds GP veteran Valtteri Bottas. The 37-year-old Finn had suggested that Formula 1 drivers did not want a World Championship finale at Imola because of issues with the tax authorities there.

The 2019 and 2020 runners-up in the World Championship said in the paddock at the Sepang International Circuit: “I don’t know if you’ve heard about Italian taxes. No driver wants to race in Italy because of recent events. In Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, there’s no tax. And everyone would love to race somewhere warmer. For the moment, from what I’ve heard, we’re still heading to Qatar and Abu Dhabi.”

Background: Formula 1 intends to conclude its season as planned with two World Championship races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but the conflict in the Middle East remains unpredictable. Consequently, preparations are underway in Imola to host the World Championship finale.

Background 2: The comments by ten-time Grand Prix winner Bottas reflect reports that Formula 1 drivers have received letters from Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, asking them to submit tax returns for income earned in the country.”

Background 3: Drivers pay income tax in most of the countries in which they work.

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Valtteri Bottas now clarifies: “This is a classic example of me explaining a situation, and then only the juiciest bits are taken out of context to make me look really bad.”

“We drivers have no problem paying tax – as long as we’re aware of the situation. We race in many countries, and in most of them there’s a specific percentage that we pay. And that’s fine, as long as we know about it. But it’s somewhat frustrating for the drivers that, in this case, they’ve gone back seven or eight years for their investigation.”

“We were always told we didn’t need to file anything for Italy; otherwise, we would have done so. So this somehow came to light with this matter, and obviously it’s a substantial sum. I’m sure it would annoy anyone if claims were made retrospectively, but that’s just how it goes.”

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is, as ever, pragmatic about the matter: “There’s no tax problem. You just have to pay your taxes and that’s that.”