Photo: AsiaOne/Danial Zahrin
Finnish Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas chose an unusual way to travel between two Grand Prix races in Southeast Asia: he cycled nearly 420 kilometres from Malaysia to Singapore.
Instead of taking a short flight after the race at Sepang, the 37-year-old Cadillac driver spent four days cycling through Malaysian countryside, plantations and jungle roads before arriving in Singapore on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.
The journey turned out to be considerably longer than the originally planned 350 kilometres. Along the way, Bottas encountered snakes, lizards and dogs, and experienced stretches of cycling through the jungle after dark.
Bottas, who is an enthusiastic endurance cyclist, said the journey gave him an opportunity to experience a different side of Malaysia. He was particularly impressed by the friendliness and encouragement of local people.
“I’m really glad I did it because I saw pretty much the whole of Malaysia in a few days,” Bottas told reporters after arriving in Singapore.
His adventure attracted attention on social media, where he shared updates from the journey, and he arrived in time for the Singapore Grand Prix on 9–11 October.
Sources: Formula 1 and Newswav Malaysia.
