In an unforeseen crossover, Valtteri Bottas has shared in the joke surrounding him and US Winter Olympian Matt Hamilton.
While Formula 1 is on its winter break between seasons, the off-season provides the perfect opportunity for drivers to sit down – when they are not training or working with the team – and watch some of the action taking place in Beijing.
The Winter Olympics are being held in the Chinese capital this time around, 14 years after they hosted the Summer Olympics.
Matt Hamilton is in Beijing competing in the curling event as he seeks to defend his nation’s gold medal earned in Pyeongchang, and while a resemblance to Ron Swanson instantly comes to mind, Formula 1 fans were sent into hysterics upon realising he also looked uncannily similar to Bottas.
During his match, Canadian TV channel CBC tweeted: “Seriously, Valtteri Bottas and Matt Hamilton look like long-lost brothers.”
The Finn replied to the tweet with “Bro!” before the American also waded into the banter, posting “I knew I had a brother!”
Bottas has signed with Alfa Romeo ahead of the new season following five years at Mercedes, with whom he claimed 10 race victories in 101 grand prix.
The 32-year-old helped the Silver Arrows to the Constructors’ Championship in all five of the seasons he spent with the team, and their tally now sits at a record eight consecutive.
He will now be partnered by Guanyu Zhou, who claimed four wins en route to a third-placed Drivers’ Championship finish in Formula 2 last season.
The Chinese driver is a loanee from the Alpine academy and, given his youth at 22 years old, Bottas has previously stated that he is looking forward to his leadership role in the Swiss team.
Sir Lewis Hamilton will be partnered at Mercedes by George Russell who, like Bottas in 2017, has been signed from Williams.