Valtteri Bottas skips the flight and cycles around 350km from Sepang to Singapore for the next F1 race

Most Formula 1 drivers leave Sepang for Singapore on a one-hour flight. Valtteri Bottas has chosen the long way round. Within hours of his race at Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, 4 October, the Cadillac driver climbed onto a gravel bike and began pedalling south towards Marina Bay, a journey of around 350 kilometres that takes him through Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor.

The 37-year-old Finn announced the plan on Instagram with a short message: "Yes, I'm riding to Singapore. On the gravel roads less travelled." He is due in the city state in time for the drivers' media obligations on Thursday, ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend from 9 to 11 October.

The route so far

Bottas, whose rides are being logged on the fitness app Strava, started from the Sepang area and covered 56.6km on his opening leg to Port Dickson, a stint of just over two hours at an average of roughly 28km/h. The second day was far more demanding: 161.91km to Muar in Johor, with close to six hours in the saddle.

Reports in Malaysia and Singapore describe a route that deliberately avoids the main highways. Bottas has posted clips of dirt tracks, oil palm plantations and riding after dark with bike lights, and he was spotted near Sungei Udang in Melaka on the way south. He is riding a Canyon Grail gravel bike, and Malay Mail reported that his partner, the professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, is riding with him. Estimates of the total distance vary between outlets, from just over 320km to around 350km, depending on the exact route taken.

A tough season on four wheels

The ride comes at the end of a difficult weekend. Sunday's race, run at Sepang under the Bahrain Grand Prix name this season, ended early for Bottas when he spun into the gravel in wet conditions after gambling on slick tyres. According to AP, it was his eighth retirement of 2026.

Bottas returned to a full-time race seat this year with the new Cadillac team, alongside Sergio Perez, but points have been hard to come by. His best result so far is 13th at the Chinese Grand Prix in March, and he sits 22nd in the drivers' standings without a point after 16 rounds. Malay Mail described the bike trip as a physical and mental reset during a gruelling debut campaign for the American outfit.

Not just a hobby

Cycling is a serious second sport for Bottas. He races in elite gravel events, co-founded the FNLD GRVL gravel series in Finland and uses long endurance rides as a core part of his F1 training. He recently earned a place at the Gravel World Championships by finishing fifth in his age category at a qualifying event in the Czech Republic, but the world championships clash with the Singapore race weekend, so he cannot take part.

This is also not the first time he has swapped a race weekend for a bike. When the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled, he went off-road racing in Scotland instead. In comments quoted by AsiaOne, he described the appeal of the bike as the rider being both engine and machine.

What it means for Malaysian fans

For Malaysian riders and F1 fans, the journey is a rare chance to see a Grand Prix driver on familiar roads. The stretch from Port Dickson through Melaka to Muar is popular with local cycling groups, and Bottas's route has made it onto social media as people share sightings along the way.

Singapore holds special memories for Bottas: he finished third there with Mercedes in 2017, his only podium at Marina Bay. With Cadillac still chasing a first point of the season, a repeat is unlikely, but the street circuit's walls and high attrition rate have produced surprises before.

Key takeaways

• Valtteri Bottas is cycling roughly 350km from Sepang to Singapore instead of flying to the next F1 race.
• His first two legs were 56.6km to Port Dickson and 161.91km to Muar, much of it on gravel and plantation roads.
• He retired from Sunday's race at Sepang, his eighth DNF of 2026, and is still without points for Cadillac.
• He must arrive in time for Thursday media duties before the 9 to 11 October Singapore Grand Prix.

FAQ

Why is Valtteri Bottas cycling to Singapore? He is a keen competitive gravel cyclist who uses long rides as training and a mental reset, and he chose the ride over a short flight between the two races.

Which route is he taking? He started near Sepang and has ridden via Port Dickson, Melaka and Muar, mostly on back roads and gravel tracks, before crossing into Singapore.

When is the Singapore Grand Prix? The race weekend runs from 9 to 11 October 2026, with driver media duties on Thursday, 8 October. Singapore and Malaysia share the same time zone.

Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, AsiaOne, Crash.net, Associated Press