Round 17: Korean Grand Prix

frostie500

After months of speculation as to whether this race would even take place this weekend will see Korea play host to Formula 1. The title battle is still exceptionally close so each race becomes increasingly important, this race promises to see Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren evenly matched. Even with doubts over the track surface, this race should be a cracker!

I've a full preview on my website

amacachi

Button, Hamilton, Kubica would be a nice podium with Vettel, Alonso and Webber out of the points. :pac:
Have to admit I'm not feeling all that hopeful about this weekend, to me the track looks more Hungaroring than Spa. But we'll see.
I don't think the surface will really favour anyone, wear is one thing, slippy like ice is another completely, and it'll most likely be very changeable.

On the plus side the Classic Grands Prix on BBC this week are pretty decent so far.

barney 20v

amacachi wrote: »

Button, Hamilton, Kubica would be a nice podium with Vettel, Alonso and Webber out of the points. :pac:
Have to admit I'm not feeling all that hopeful about this weekend, to me the track looks more Hungaroring than Spa. But we'll see.
I don't think the surface will really favour anyone, wear is one thing, slippy like ice is another completely, and it'll most likely be very changeable.

On the plus side the Classic Grands Prix on BBC this week are pretty decent so far.

What classic grand prix? am i missing out on something here?

Crasp

barney 20v wrote: »

What classic grand prix? am i missing out on something here?

The red button normally shows some classic grands prix, normally at the track where the current event is taking place. obviously Korea is a new track this year though!

Vegeta

This will be a mad race. I see a lot of crashes due to new surface, are there any other races on over the weekend before the F1 races? Will they be laying down any rubber at all?

Is there rain expected? Has that typhoon gone anywhere near it?

My hopes are for a good race where the track doesn't completely inhibit any of the hard charges making their usual moves

Ghost Train

Bernie Ecclestone's response to the slippery track surface: "I’ll have to be careful not to walk on it then. I won’t go on the grid."

Track seems alright on f1 2010... different aspects to each sector, more like Silverstone style track than some of the other new tracks

Cookie_Monster

its an awful looking track from the map, was Tilke hammered when he drew it?

Prediction: Un-inspiring borefest

I hope I'm wrong

frostie500

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I wish he would do us all a favour and get drunk and wander into a very big rainforest and never come out.

The thing that I find annoying about Tilke is that for every Istanbul(a modern classic in my view even if noone turns up at races) there are multiple A-1 rings and the like. I do think that he is improving though and Korea should be a good challenge for the drivers and hopefully we can see some decent races at it.

Grim.

i think its more down to the land he has to design the track on most of the sites are flat featureless **** holes

EvilMonkey

Vegeta wrote: »

This will be a mad race. I see a lot of crashes due to new surface, are there any other races on over the weekend before the F1 races? Will they be laying down any rubber at all?

Is there rain expected? Has that typhoon gone anywhere near it?

My hopes are for a good race where the track doesn't completely inhibit any of the hard charges making their usual moves

Support race is something called Hyundai series, don't expect too much rubber on the track. :pac:

Looking forward to FP1, it should be busy.

Kevski

Home-made supporters for the Korean GP.

Ghost Train

3 hours to go
times for the weekend

Practice 1 FRI 02:00
Practice 2 FRI 06:00
Practice 3 SAT 03:00
Qualifying SAT 06:00
Race SUN 07:0

amacachi

Ghost Train wrote: »

3 hours to go
times for the weekend

Practice 1 FRI 02:00
Practice 2 FRI 06:00
Practice 3 SAT 03:00
Qualifying SAT 06:00
Race SUN 07:0

**** ya for posting those, was about to go to bed since I've to be up before 6, more than a slight possibility I'm now going to end up going over 30 hours without sleep now. :pac:

Ghost Train

Might record the practices... but seeing as they're on the interactive and you never no which stream it will be I'll have to wake up anyway to record it

might watch start of FP1 to see how it looks

Grim.

dont think ive ever seen so much dirt on a track ever lol

amacachi

Have to admit the cars look awesome going through the little corner at the end. Other than that it's way too twisty though.

here.from.day.1

Could anyone tell me what channels the practices are normally on? I have Sky and I have to say trying to find practice, quali and repeats or highlights anywhere is very difficult.

amacachi

BBC Red Button. BBC are on 141 and 142 if you're on the Irish EPG.

Cookie_Monster

There was something on the news this morning about a Mclaren on fire, any ideas what it was of if its serious enough to screw Hamiham up?

Vegeta

Anyone have a summary of FP1 and FP2?

frostie500

Vegeta wrote: »

Anyone have a summary of FP1 and FP2?

I've one on the site. It was pretty good opening day and, for my money at least, the new track looks pretty impressive. It will be interesting to see how the tyres fare once the track gets rubbered in a bit more-there was lots of graining during this mornings sessions.

Vegeta

Good man frostie, where would I be without you

Ghost Train

Thought it all went pretty well, track seemed much better in FP2 with drivers really pushing. Webber and Kubica pushing too hard and loosing it a bit. HRT's lost a car in each session, red flag coming out when one of them spun in the last sector.

Do wonder about the pit lane exit too, if a driver outbreaks himself into the first corner and somebody's coming out of the pitlane could have a messy accident. Can't think of any track that has the exit across the back of a braking zone

Ghost Train

would be funny if actually true :pac:

Thursday press conference wrote:

Q: (Frederic Ferret - L’Equipe): The Red Bulls seem quickest in qualifying, so for the two Red Bull drivers can you explain why it is so fast and do you think you will have the pole on Saturday? For the three others, do you think you can beat them and do you have a special thing to beat them on Saturday?

MW: Well, obviously Seb has had a good run in qualifying. He has had a few pole positions and I have had some poles as well. As you say the car is pretty quick on Saturday afternoon. We have adjustable front ride height suspension which has been running since the start of the year and that works well and then we put the car back up for Sunday. Lots of things have been good for us and we try to do the same job on Saturday.

SV: As Mark said we have this big lever for the ride height. I think that is the secret for Saturday.

Ghost Train

Kubica seemed to struggle a bit and Button too. Good Qualifing 1

irishejit

I think traffic might have been a major issue there, lot of drivers staying out to get as many laps in as possible.

Mind you that news just now about Button changing set up doesn't sound too good for him

Ghost Train

good to see schumacher get into q3

very close at the front, but redbull looking strong

Ghost Train

Vettel got it toogether in the end, good job

McLaren a half a second behind... hope they do better in the race

amacachi

McLarens very disappointing.

Top Dog

Oh yay - its back :rolleyes:

amacachi

Pile-up of the first three cars at corner 1 hopefully. :pac:

Ghost Train

and people say Hamilton is annoying :pac:

Redbull seem to be fast in both qualifying and the race lately, hope the first few corners mix up the order a bit

Dcully

Vettel for world champion, mark my words

sockpuppets

Dcully wrote: »

Vettel for world champion, mark my words

I think Alonso myself, he is so consistent at the moment.
Vettel is due another mistake

lord lucan

I've a feeling Hamilton could put the cat amongst the pigeons into turn one. The red bulls will want to keep out of any shenanigans but Hamilton has feck all to lose.

Top Dog

Dcully wrote: »

Vettel for world champion, mark my words

Really really hope you're wrong - for this year anyway.

Would love to see Webber lift the title as I doubt he'll get another chance like this one, whereas I reckon Alonso, Hamilton, Button & Vettel all have plenty of life left in their careers for championship titles.

EvilMonkey

I hope BBC are finished with the McLaren "Mission Control" :rolleyes: and Mr Grumpy.

lord lucan

EvilMonkey wrote: »

I hope BBC are finished with the McLaren "Mission Control" :rolleyes: and Mr Grumpy.

Whilst it was interesting to get a behind the scenes look at their base i didn't see the point in going back and forward to Coulthard when they couldn't show what was going on in the room?!! Seemed a bit pointless imo.

EvilMonkey

lord lucan wrote: »

Whilst it was interesting to get a behind the scenes look at their base i didn't see the point in going back and forward to Coulthard when they couldn't show what was going on in the room?!! Seemed a bit pointless imo.

Yeah it just seemed like a gimmick to get DC in, they should have went to any of the other UK based teams not boring McLaren, at least they might have got a smile out of the staff

losthorizon

The latest on weather is : KOREA, Update: Broad inter-model agreement now follows Met Office prognosis for outbreaks of rain likely to continue into the race window.

There is definitely rain before the race starts its just when will it stop. The Met office is pushing the rain into the start of the race. Could be interesting with a wet/dry race.

Ghost Train

I think its interesting to see behind the scenes... mclaren do take things to extremes a bit.... mission control, war room, bit over the top

I think DC on his own is never great, Eddie Jordon on his own is not great either, but I guess if it's only once or twice a year thing then it's fine as filler for a few minutes

Grim.

wet start to the race so should be interesting

lord lucan

Grim. wrote: »

wet start to the race so should be interesting

I can see all sorts of carnage at turn one,gonna be great!:D

Terrontress

Rob Smedley is a legend.

Grim.

lord lucan wrote: »

I can see all sorts of carnage at turn one,gonna be great!:D

and then the last few corners could be another spa 98 hrt to score points :P

blindpilot

Lots of cars spinning out there!!!!

Grim.

lol at the parade laps this should be good

lord lucan

This could be a start to rival Spa '98!

Ghost Train

good chance for McLaren to stick it up the inside of the redbulls who mught be taking it careful

lord lucan

Feckin' 10 minute delay!:(

lord lucan

I hope we don't start behind the SC.

Ah ffs,starting behind the SC.