Ah Korea. After the highs of the Japanese GP, after looking at full grandstands and amazing enthusiasm from Japanese F1 fans, going to Korea is depressing. I remember the first GP in Korea. It didn’t just rain, it poured cats, dogs and dragons! It rained so much that the race was delayed, then got a wet start behind the safety car. I also remember the race because Webber spun out while leading, took Nico Rosberg out and pretty much ended his 2010 attempt at the World Championship.
Formula 1: Korean Grand Prix Preview
The Korean GP, the Yeongam circuit, is an uninspiring Hermann Tilke creation. Long straights for overtaking, slow corners, the usual formula is applicable on this circuit. But any circuit, however drab, can be saved by how much the fans support the race. The Korean race has empty grandstands, empty walkways, it’s empty. The major reason for this is that the Korean track is built way too far from the city. So far in fact that the first year there were no proper roads leading to the track. Then there is the fact that the circuit is only used for F1 racing, no other races take place on the track all year. The circuit is not maintained all year, the staff are hired on a temporary basis for the race. It’s a sad state of affairs.
However this is probably the most exciting race for a long long time! Alonso himself says it’s now a mini championship between him and Vettel. Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen are in this championship too, but barely. Even though Hamilton has a strong car and Kimi’s car is gonna get a new exhaust system in Korea, Vettel’s Red Bull is fast. Very fast. The pace that it showed in Japan was dominant from start to finish. Something that had even Lewis Hamilton, the eternal optimist, shaking his head.
From now till the end of this season, it’s gonna be nail biting for all the participants. The drivers like Kobayashi, Perez, Webber, Massa, Button are all driving competitively and will be hindrances for the championship contenders. Snatching points away from the leaders is going to hurt the leaders the most. And with Alonso not being in the fastest car at the moment, this is gonna hurt him the most.
Drivers like Grosjean and Maldonado too are going to be big variables in the race! no driver wants to start anywhere near these two now. They have a tendency to ruin peoples races, one that Grosjean has repeatedly displayed signs of.
The Korean GP the, is gonna be the most exciting Korean GP of all time. That’s not saying much but at the same moment last year Vettel had wrapped up the championship in Suzuka already. The races left were without rhyme or reason. Just to keep us entertained. This time though, it’s different.
As Shakespeare once wrote, “Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.” I can’t wait for it all to begin!
Tags: F1, Formula 1, Formula One, Korean GP, Korean Grand Prix, Preview, Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel
