Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driver Valtteri Bottas is reflecting on his thoughts at the 'Pitches Run Universe 2025' press conference held at Everland AMG Speedway in Yongin, Gyeonggi, on the afternoon of the 12th. /Courtesy of News1

Valtteri Bottas of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One (F1) team visited Korea for the first time in 12 years.

On the 12th, Bottas attended the "Peaches Run Universe 2025" event held at AMG Speedway in Everland, Yongin, Gyeonggi, and put on a demo run in an F1 race car.

This trip to Korea is his first since the F1 Korean Grand Prix held in Yeongam, South Jeolla, in 2013. At a press briefing that day, when asked "Is there a possibility the F1 Grand Prix could be held again in Korea?" he answered, "There is no reason it cannot be held."

He went on, "I came to Korea for the first time since the F1 Korean Grand Prix held in Yeongam, South Jeolla, in 2013. I had a good experience back then, so if I came back to Korea, it would be wonderful," adding, "It is true that interest in F1 has grown with the release this year of a movie and Netflix related to F1, but fundamentally, as it is a sport loved worldwide, this is recognition of that."

Bottas, a Finnish national, did a demo run on the 4.3-kilometer circuit at the speedway in a "Mercedes-AMG F1 W13 E Performance" car. It is the first case of an F1 race car running on a domestic circuit in 12 years since the 2013 Yeongam event, and the first demo run in 13 years since the 2012 Jamsu Bridge event in Seoul.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driver Valtteri Bottas is tearing around the circuit in the Mercedes-AMG F1 W13 E Performance at the show run event Pitches Run Universe 2025 held at Everland AMG Speedway in Yongin, Gyeonggi, on the afternoon of the 12th. /Courtesy of News1

Regarding AMG Speedway, Bottas said, "There are many driving points and big elevation changes, so it might be a bit challenging," but added, "Once I get more used to it, I think I can have fun driving." He also said, "It's a circuit where you can see the car closer than during an F1 Grand Prix," adding, "I hope the spectators really feel the speed."

On the potential for a Korean F1 driver, he noted, "There is no reason one cannot emerge." He said, "Many young drivers are being developed, and public interest in motorsports has grown."

Bottas served as the lead driver for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team from 2017 to 2021. Together with Lewis Hamilton, he led the team's golden era. He holds records of 10 wins, 20 pole positions, and 67 podiums in F1 Grands Prix. This year, he is serving as the team's reserve driver, the third driver.

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