WATCH: Valtteri Bottas 'hurts himself' while completing the 7-hour long Iron Man Challenge at his home

Amid a rare break in the Formula 1 calendar, Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas chose endurance over relaxation, completing a full Iron Man challenge at home. The challenge, which Bottas proudly documented on social media, involved swimming, cycling, and running—a test of physical and mental strength that the Sauber driver embraced with full dedication.

Bottas, a known fitness enthusiast, did not just participate in any triathlon; he took on the full Iron Man triathlon. Notably, it is a renowned endurance challenge consisting of a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a 42.195-kilometer marathon. 

While most drivers took advantage of the downtime before the Las Vegas Grand Prix to rest, Bottas plunged into this daunting personal feat, demonstrating an impressive commitment to peak performance both on and off the track.

'The Iron Man was no joke,' says Bottas 

In an Instagram post, Bottas gave fans a glimpse into his demanding day. The 34-year-old shared his recorded times for each leg of the challenge: an hour and five minutes in the pool, a grueling 5.5-hour cycling stint, and the marathon run to cap off his day of extreme exertion. The result? A remarkable 7,000 calories burned and, as Bottas admitted, a little self-inflicted soreness.

Here is the video:

Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas decided to do an Ironman (at home) during his off week.

• 11 hours
• 7,000 calories burned

He did the swim portion in his pool and then used a peloton and indoor treadmill for the bike and run.

What a madman. pic.twitter.com/eHBEyn555k

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 11, 2024

“The Iron Man was no joke,” Bottas reflected humorously, acknowledging the physical toll the day had taken on him. Yet, the Finnish driver appeared undeterred and exhilarated by the experience. In just two weeks, Bottas will return to his Formula 1 cockpit. Still, this display of resilience shows his preparation runs deep, encompassing both the physical and mental demands of top-level racing.

Notably, Bottas has been dropped by Sauber for the 2025 season. He is likely to join Mercedes as a reserve driver for the upcoming season. He along with Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu has been replaced by Nico Hulkenberg and F2 driver Bortoletto.