After loosing his F1 starting grid seat for the 2025 season, Valterri Bottas, is now focusing on his true passion – gravel bike racing.

Since competing in the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships, finishing 133rd in his age group, the 35 year-old ten time F1 winner hired a cycling coach and set his sights on seeing how much he can improve this year.

In a recent Soy Motor interview, the Finnish rider said he is cycling more than ever, training 15+ hours per week and has over 8000 kilometers in the saddle so far this year.

“Now I do more cycling. I feel like I need that adrenaline, that feeling. I have been riding more and this year I also want to see how much I can improve by doing a more specific job, with more time available,” he said.

Bottas also revealed his power data: 60 minute Functional Threshold Power (FTP) of 340 watts or 4.8 w/kg. Numbers good enough for him to earn a bronze medal at the Australian Gravel National Championships in April.

On Tuesday he posted to his 5 million Instagram followers that he was in Boulder, Colorado USA for some high altitude training (and Coors Beer), accompanied by fiancé, pro cyclist and Australian National Gravel Champion Tiffany Cromwell.

Although Bottas still hopes to pilot an F1 car next season, he is toying with the idea of starting a new team – pro cycling team.

“Never say never,” he commented. “Right now I’m a little too busy, but in the future… It’s one of my great passions. We’ll see. Not worthy of not. It’s a sport that I love to follow and do.”

Photo Credit: Instagrm/valterribottas

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