F1 driver Valtteri Bottas cycles 260 miles from Malaysia to Singapore instead of flying between race weekends
Published on Oct 09, 2026 at 9:30 AM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 09, 2026 at 9:31 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Rather than catching a flight between race weekends, F1 driver Valtteri Bottas has decided to cycle 260 miles from Malaysia to Singapore.
It certainly was an unorthodox travel choice.
The Finnish driver took the path less traveled when he biked for more than 200 miles for make it to the Grand Prix in Singapore after competing in a Formula 1 race in Sepang, just outside the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
What kind of experience did he have along the way?
Road trips like this are usually undertaken in a car
We’ve seen plenty of people take on epic road trips.
But more than often, journeys of such length are taken on four wheels, not two.
One man took his Toyota Hilux on an epic 3,728-mile trip from Saudi Arabia to Norway.
Another drove the length of South America in his Tesla Model X.
And it’s not always fancy cars – as demonstrated by this Reliant Robin trip.
Bottas could have driven his journey from Malaysia to Singapore – or hopped onto a flight.
But he decided to cycle there instead in a move that’s garnered headlines around the world.
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Valtteri Bottas had quite the experience cycling from Malaysia to Singapore
Bottas arrived in Singapore on October 7, having cycled 260 miles to get there.
He began his trip just hours after participating in the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Rather than take it easy on a plane, he opted for off-road and gravel trails, not to mention biking through the night.
Along the way, he got well acquainted with the wildlife.
“I saw some snakes, which I was a little bit worried about, but actually they were pretty chill. They were just doing their thing,” he told the BBC.
“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.
“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.”
How did this all come about?
It started with a joke from his partner, Tiffany Cromwell, who remarked ‘You could just ride from there. It’s not that far’, The Athletic reported.
He split the journey up into 100-mile days.
“If people follow my activities (on fitness tracking app, Strava), they know that it’s not like something super extreme to me,” he said.
“I love the endurance stuff anyway.”
Valtteri Bottas isn’t just a pro on four wheels – he’s got form on two
In addition to his success in motorsports, Bottas is an accomplished cyclist, having earned at the Gravel World Championships after finishing fifth at a qualifying event in the Czech Republic.
However, he won’t be able to attend as the Championships take place this weekend – at the same time as his F1 race in Singapore.
At the very least, he got to experience the thrills of cycling through the jungle at night.
To many people, that will sound like something straight out of a horror film.
But to others, that’s the epitome of an adventure.
Different strokes for different folks, right?
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
