Valtteri Bottas cycled 350 kilometers to Singapore instead of flying
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 5, 2026
The ride to Singapore
Bottas chose the road over the airport and cycled 350 kilometers to Singapore ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. The Cadillac Formula 1 driver started the multi-day ride after retiring from a recent race and planned to cover the trip in stages. He aimed to reach Singapore in time for Thursday’s mandatory media commitments, and he completed the first stretch with a 56.6-kilometer ride toward Port Dickson. The ride drew on the endurance work he uses in training and led into the Singapore race weekend.
Bottas rode in heat
The ride unfolded in difficult conditions. Temperatures were above 30 degrees Celsius, humidity topped 70%, and thunderstorms were forecast for the week of the trip. Those conditions added to the demands of the ride, and they matched the endurance work Bottas uses in training. He regularly races in elite gravel events and uses long rides as part of his training. He is also a co-founder and partner of FNLD GRVL, a gravel cycling event in Lahti, Finland, which gives him a role in the sport he turns to away from Formula One. Bottas has said he likes cycling because it is the opposite of Formula One, where the car matters far more than the driver. Cycling puts the burden on the rider’s legs, pacing and patience, in contrast to the engineering and setup that shape his day job.
Bottas race context
The ride also came after a Formula One retirement. Bottas started on slick tires in the race where he retired, spun into the gravel and dropped out on lap nine. A safety car was deployed after his retirement, and Bottas later said the tire gamble on a drying track did not work. He finished third at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2017. This season has been much tougher. His best finish in 2026 is 13th in China, he has not scored any points and he sits 22nd in the standings.
