Bottas cycles 260-mile route from Malaysia to Singapore for Grand Prix

Valterri Bottas cycled from Malaysia to Singapore and arrived on Wednesday to be at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix after choosing a 260-mile (419km) ride instead of flying from last weekend's race in Sepang, outside Kuala Lumpur. The trip followed his spin in Sunday's chaotic Grand Prix and included both daytime and night riding on mixed terrain.

Valterri Bottas is closely involved with FNLD GRVL, a cycling race held each summer in his native Finland, and the 37-year-old undertook the journey just hours after his incident in Sepang. He negotiated off-road and gravel trails and completed sections of the route at night, deliberately avoiding air travel between the two races.

On the ride he encountered wildlife and described the experience in his own words: "I saw some snakes, which I was a little bit worried about, but actually they were pretty chill. They were just doing their thing," said Bottas.

He elaborated on specific animals on the route: "I saw one cobra, one python just crossing the path in front of me. I saw some of those big lizards that you also see here, one was on the path."

Bottas recounted other hazards on the trail: "I had to jump over it on a bike because I saw it last minute. I got chased by one dog, I got stuck behind a group of cows on one small track." He has an established cycling profile, having earned a spot at the Gravel World Championships after finishing fifth in his age group at a qualifying event in the Czech Republic during Formula 1's summer hiatus.

Unfortunately for Bottas the World Championships take place this weekend as well, so he will be competing on four wheels instead of two; he previously used a cancelled 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to race in a gravel event in Scotland. Bottas has endured a difficult return to Formula 1 with new team Cadillac this season: he is 22nd in the drivers' standings, is yet to score a point after 16 Grands Prix and has failed to finish eight races.

"The wildest part was the riding at night in the jungle. The noise in there, your mind starts to play games," added Bottas. "What is out there? Who knows what is out there?" "But then you just need to crack on and keep going."

Bottas will contest the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend for Cadillac, foregoing participation in the Gravel World Championships to race on the F1 grid.