This year, Formula 1 will . The calendar is intense for teams and drivers as it packs in back-to-back races, long travel and . To unwind during the “hectic” schedule, has found solace in the saddle and spends hours riding his bike whenever he can.

The out on his gravel bike countless times in recent years. He’s often spied riding the track ahead of a grand prix and has spent his spare time undertaking some wild races around the world.

“For me, it comes to the balance in things,” says Bottas when we caught up over Zoom ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “[Cycling] is a great tool to disconnect.”

This year alone, Bottas has covered more than 5,500 miles, and he’s spent a total of almost 14 days in the saddle. Along the way, he’s climbed more than 336,000 feet in elevation, according to data after every ride. Clearly, he has a lot of disconnecting to do in between races.

“It’s a great tool for me to stay fit and to challenge myself,” he says. “I feel like it’s quite good for managing stress. Just to get out in nature and explore new places is quite enjoyable.”

On his bike, Bottas has explored places like Colorado, where he entered a , and the hills around his home town of Lahti in Finland where he helped organize the .

Along the way, he’s often been supported and coached on his mammoth rides with the help of his partner and . The Australian pro rider won this year’s Unbound Gravel race in the U.S. and has taken on .

“Obviously it’s been her job for a long, long time. So she’s very strong on the bike, especially when the terrain becomes more hilly,” says Bottas.

“But it’s motivating and I’ve obviously got to know the sport a lot better than I did before. So that makes an extra interest for me.”

Bottas is . As such, he says he isn’t planning on making the switch to two-wheels full-time any time soon.

“During F1, the travel schedule is not easy to fit your mileage goals for over the year,” he says. “I still feel like in F1 I have quite a few more years. I still have goals in the sport, definitely, so the cycling part needs to wait a bit longer.”

As well as his , Bottas works as brand ambassador for tech firm Hyland. The company, which provides management software for businesses, features on his race suite and the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 car.