From Sepang to Singapore: F1’s Valtteri Bottas swaps race seat for 350km bike ride

Cadillac’s Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas rides an electric scooter during the qualifying session of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang on October 3, 2026. — AFP pic

By Malay Mail

First Published: Tuesday, 06 Oct 2026 9:11 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Cadillac Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas has chosen the “road less travelled” to reach this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, skipping the routine short flight to cycle the 350-kilometre distance from Malaysia instead.

His cross-country ride kicked off just hours after he spun out of Sunday’s chaotic race at the Sepang International Circuit, outside Kuala Lumpur.

On Instagram, the Finnish driver posted videos from the journey, which includes extensive off-road stretches and gravel tracks, alongside his partner, Australian professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.

“Yes I am riding to Singapore … On the gravel roads less travelled,” he wrote.

Bottas is scheduled to arrive in the city-state ahead of his mandatory media obligations on Thursday.

During stage two of the trek on Monday, Bottas spent nearly six hours in the saddle, clocking 161.91 kilometres across the Malaysian countryside.

Trading the cockpit for the saddle before confronting the punishing heat and humidity of the Marina Bay street circuit is the latest in a long line of cycling pursuits for Bottas, BBC reported.

The 37-year-old recently secured qualification for the Gravel World Championships after clinching a fifth-place finish in his age category at an off-road event in the Czech Republic during F1’s summer break. However, with the World Championships clashing directly with this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, he will be unable to take up his grid spot.

Bottas is deeply embedded in the competitive cycling scene as a co-founder of FNLD GRVL, an annual gravel race hosted in his native Finland. When the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled due to floods, he redirected his weekend to compete in an off-road cycling race in Scotland.

Gravel cycling has evolved into Bottas’ primary competitive outlet away from the paddock, with the driver frequently documenting training camps and high-mileage rides alongside Cromwell.

The cross-border cycling trek provides a physical and mental reset during a gruelling debut campaign with the new Cadillac outfit.

Bottas currently sits 22nd in the drivers’ championship standings, remaining without a championship point after 16 Grands Prix while logging eight retirements so far this season.