F1 star confirms Mercedes drive as return announced after 12-YEAR absence

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Mercedes

F1 star confirms Mercedes drive as return announced after 12-YEAR absence

Mercedes are at the centre of an F1 comeback

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 11 October 2025 20:53

A racing star will be returning to the cockpit of a Mercedes F1 car this weekend to mark an exciting comeback following a 12-year absence.

The Silver Arrows currently boast the ideal mix of youth and experience for an F1 lineup, with driver duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell taking the team to second in the constructors' standings with six rounds left in the campaign.

With the ever reliable Valtteri Bottas on hand as their test and reserve driver, Toto Wolff's outfit have looked strong this season despite the departure of Lewis Hamilton, yet Mercedes have still not officially confirmed their driver lineup for next season.

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The only thing that is confirmed is that 2025 will mark the last year that Bottas has to sit on the sidelines for his former team, with the 10-time grand prix winner heading to Cadillac as part of their first driver duo alongside Sergio Perez.

And as the end of his time with Mercedes draws to a close, the 36-year-old will be returning to South Korea this weekend for an exciting show run.

Mercedes bring F1 to South Korea

With a weekend away from this year's hectic 24-race F1 calendar, Bottas will be at the centre of the sport's return to an East Asian country for the first time in 12 years.

F1 last raced in South Korea in 2013, with all four grands prix from 2010 hosted at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam.

Sebastian Vettel secured three consecutive victories at the circuit with Red Bull from 2011 until 2013, while Fernando Alonso remains the only other driver to win an F1 race in South Korea.

After more than a decade away, South Korea will welcome Mercedes and Bottas as they head to the AMG Speedway on Sunday, 12 October, in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do.

In collaboration with car-culture lifestyle brand Peaches, Bottas will pilot the W13, which was driven by Russell and Hamilton during the 2022 F1 season, at the Peaches Run Universe 2025.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's action, Bottas said: "To be able to bring F1 back to the country is brilliant; the team and I are determined to put on a great show for everyone that will be at the AMG Speedway next month for Peaches Run Universe 2025."

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Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

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F1 Mercedes Valtteri Bottas