Valtteri Bottas was involved in obtaining Olympic gold medalist Hannes Björn from Lahti.
Valtteri Bottas took over the wheel of Alfa Romeo this season. AOP
At that point, the league bosses had to make quick decisions.
Vladimir Putin the war of aggression against Ukraine made the Jokers in Helsinki virtually a follower. KHL was no longer an issue for the Finnish puck team, and the overnight players were left completely empty overnight.
The phones of the Pelicans management immediately went hot. The target was a striker with a Lahti background Hannes Björninen.
– Of course I was in those meetings, but I didn’t have to put my hand in my pocket. It was a common thing, the big owner of the club Valtteri Bottas assured Iltalehti in a remote interview with Alfa Romeo.
– Positive thing. It was not an economic disaster, although the investment, of course.
“Promising guy”
Bottas already glowed with Björninen’s hit in the Olympic finals. Even then, it was not known that the Pelicans breeder would soon play again in his home Isku Arena.
– Of course it motivates the whole team. A really promising guy, and it’s interesting to see how he’s doing with the rest of the group.
The story continues after the picture.
The acquisition of Hannes Björninen clearly raises Pelicans’ profile. AOP
Bottas lives in Monaco and has little time to visit his home country. Nevertheless, the F1 driver is aware of the membership of the Lahti team.
– I always get a team bulletin about matches and weekly meetings. There are always board meetings. They can, of course, be involved remotely.
– Unfortunately, I have only had time to go to the games once during the winter break. I try as much as I can to deal with.
New stable
The year of formula 2022 will actually start on Friday when the first free practice runs on the Sakhir track. For Bottas, it also means the beginning of a new era when he takes on the first driver’s cloak with Alfa Romeo.
– Things ran out a few days before Christmas. I exported it to Finland, and then as usual we left for Australia. After a two-year hiatus, the girlfriend got to see the family, Bottas bought a job change.
– Work on Alfa Romeo began immediately after mid-January.