Hope you all enjoyed the race – let us know what you thought in the comments below and by rating the race.
Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
Wind tunnel boost for Lotus Racing (Formula 1)
"Lotus Racing have confirmed the team will soon start work on designing and building a dedicated wind-tunnel facility at its Hingham base. In addition, the outfit and Team AirAsia, which will compete in the 2011 GP2 series, will expand operations at the existing factory to take over a further two units.
"’To compete at the highest level in Formula One it is important to have all of the key elements involved in the design, manufacturing, testing and development of our cars under our direct control and on the same site,’ said Lotus’s chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne.
"’Today’s announcement about the wind tunnel, which will be combined with additional production, office and administrative elements, gives us both the facility we need to lay the foundations for long-term success and is a clear sign that we are very serious about competing at the sharp end of the grid as quickly as we can.’"
Renault apologise to Red Bull for Sebastian Vettel’s failure in Korea (The Guardian)
"Red Bull’s engine supplier, Renault, has apologised to the Formula One team after a blown engine cost Sebastian Vettel victory in today’s Korean grand prix.
"Renault’s principal engineer, Fabrice Lom, said his company ‘must apologise to the whole team for the engine failure on Seb’s car’."
Drivers want more say in future rules (Autosport)
"Formula 1 drivers want an improved dialogue with the FIA in the future so they can have more of a say in future regulations and track design."
Glock angry at Buemi over crash (Autosport)
"Timo Glock was critical of Sebastien Buemi after the Swiss crashed into the Virgin racer during the Korean Grand Prix.
"Glock was enjoying one of his strongest races of the season until Buemi slithered into the Virgin car at the end of the main straight.
"Glock said Buemi ‘was all over the place’."
Domenicali urges team to stay calm (Autosport)
"Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has warned his team against getting too excited by Fernando Alonso’s important victory in the Korean Grand Prix – as he urges it to maintain its focus for the final two races of the season."
Red Bull will not favour Mark Webber, says team boss (BBC F1)
"Red Bull insist they will not favour Mark Webber over Sebastian Vettel in the final two races of the 2010 season."
McLaren’s Jenson Button downbeat on world title chances (BBC F1)
"McLaren’s Jenson Button admitted his chances of defending his world title are all but over after he finished 12th in the Korean Grand Prix.
"Button is 42 points behind new leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari with a maximum of 50 points available.
"Asked by BBC Sport if he was still in contention, Button said: ‘Not really. Everyone else needs to have failures.’"
Mark Webber (via Twitter)
Mmm tough little day at the office, getting ready now for solid rebound in brazil!!
Money a factor in Williams driver choice, says Head (Reuters)
"Williams will take commercial considerations into account before deciding their 2011 driver line up, according to the Formula One team’s co-owner Patrick Head."
Spa future looking bleak (ESPN F1)
"The future of the historic Belgian Grand Prix cannot be guaranteed, according to FIA President Jean Todt. With the famous Spa-Francorchamps venue struggling with profits and the threat of more European races being scrapped for newer venues in the United States and Russia, the future looks bleak.
"’The world and the economy is constantly changing,’ Todt told Flemish daily De Standaard. ‘So we have to be careful. In Belgium, the problem is less a sporting one, and more one of government.’
"’We hope the Belgian Grand Prix will be on the calendar for a long time, because it is a fantastic circuit. But when the money runs out, there is a problem.’"
Comment of the day
The Korean Grand Prix got off to a late start after heavy rain – and drivers were divided over how soon the race should have got underway. Should the race have started sooner? And should they have been listening to the drivers’ when making this decision?
Steph said:
The drivers should have an input because they’re out in potentially dangerous conditions and they’re the best at assessing the conditions. The problem is perhaps they have too big an influence and it’s so late in the season that the teams and drivers were kicking, screaming and throwing their toys out of their pram for Charlie to do what was in their championship interests or at least that’s how it felt.
The drivers (or the GDPA) worked well together in Malaysia 09 but this was just as Ned said jokingly on the live blog, like a pantomime.
Steph
From the forum
Nik is arguing that Red Bull should back Mark Webber for the championship – do you agree?
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailing me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Riccardo Patrese celebrated his last win on this day in 1992 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Patrese went from second on the grid to win for Williams, passing pole-sitter and teammate Nigel Mansell when he suffered an engine failure and was later forced to retire. McLaren’s Gerhard Berger followed in second, ahead of Martin Brundle in third for Benetton.
In his 16-year career Patrese scored six wins, 37 podiums and made 256 race starts – making him the most experienced F1 driver of his time, a record which was subsequently surpassed by only Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
25th October 2010, 0:09
I didn’t enjoy the race to be honest.
I played tennis yesterday and joined a friend who’s training on a bicycle run run a very big park here. And i had to study algebra the rest of the day. So i was tired as hell.
Slept 1 hour and woke up just as the race was supposed to start. 2 laps behind the safety car, while listening to the commentators here talking rubbish was already too much, my eyes kept closing. Still, managed to stay up.
Finally the race starts. Already 4 o’clock in the morning, 5 minutes later, Webber crashes. My heart stopped for 2 laps or so.
Deppression became anger. And i was ready to turn the tv off and run to the bed again, but im a F1 fan, so i stayed up, still massively angry about everything. And still sleepy!
the only good moment was when Vettel’s engine gave up. I shouted so loud that my mother woke up and asked me if “everything was alright”. Hell yeah it was!.
mmaaaaaaaaaate!
25th October 2010, 0:49
Totally agree. When Webber crashed, I thought we were heading for an over-excited Vettel yelling through the radio, then the purposely-slow cockpit exit with the cocky one finger gesture raised and then the post race interview with his over extended responses, and then when he’s about to shut-up, he smugly rounds himself up for another verse.
So hopefully Webber wins the next race to put me in a good frame of mind hours before my end of year Year 12 Maths methods exam!
Dane
25th October 2010, 0:34
Even if Webber was 50pts ahead of Vettel, RBR wouldn’t favour him.
Stretch
25th October 2010, 0:53
Yeah, I didn’t see whatever-he-does Helmut Marko go up to Webber for a hug
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
25th October 2010, 1:01
LOL… thought about that after watching that hug on the telly.
We never see Dr Marko when Webber has the upper hand.
Magnificent Geoffrey
25th October 2010, 1:40
Let’s be honest though, Webber crashed by himself and threw it all away while Vettel led the entire race from Pole and his engine blew up.
I know who I think deserved a hug the most!
LewisC
25th October 2010, 11:29
It’s not like the conditions were easy out there. Webber made a tiny mistake and got punished for it – it’s Rosberg I feel sorry for.
innim
25th October 2010, 12:33
Definitely – with webbers crash, alonsos pit stop problem, and vettels engine failure he was looking really good for the win.
Mike
25th October 2010, 2:51
I was one of the loudest people complaining about Ferrari’s antics in hock, But there are two races to go, and Red Bull have lost the lead of the championship…..
It’s getting to the point when not having Vettel help Webber, is stabbing themselves in the foot.
Lee
25th October 2010, 17:08
And now that you are thinking that red bull should do a similar thing you are basically a complete hypocrite and probably realising why ferrari did it.
VFRMark
25th October 2010, 1:05
Vettel would have got a penalty at some point (or for the next race) as twice he fell behind the safety car by more then 10 lengths, from the 2nd safety car start I estimate he was about 40 car lengths behind before he started to race, by the time he crossed the pit lane entrance he was still well over 15 car lengths behind and he started racing 10 seconds earlier!
If the stewards missed it I am sure McLaren and Ferrari would have reminded them.
Quote from FIA REGS
“40.7 All competing cars must then reduce speed and form up in line behind the safety car no more than ten car lengths apart[/b][/color]. In order to ensure that drivers reduce speed sufficiently, from the time at which the “SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED” message is shown on the timing monitors until the time that each car crosses the first safety car line for the first time, drivers must stay above the minimum time set by the FIA ECU.
With the following exceptions, no car may overtake until it has passed the first safety car line for the first time when the safety car is returning to the pits. However, if the safety car is still deployed at the beginning of the last lap, or is deployed during the last lap, Article 40.13 will apply.”
this is what the rules state and remember this is what the FIA posted about Vettel when he fell more than 10 car lengths behind in Hungarian GP:
“On lap 29 of the Hungarian Grand Prix, race stewards awarded Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel a drive through penalty for “Exceeding 10 car lengths behind Safety Car”. ”
So I am at a loss how the stewards missed this in Korea! What would have been the situation if it was missed until after the race (Assuming his engine lasted!)
Check the FIA website for the rules – I pasted them direct from there!
PS: I do not like Alonso and view him as a gifted driver but a cheat who cheated in every team he has been in – but today he drove very well….
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
25th October 2010, 1:18
ROLF @ that PS…
he cheated in every team he’s been in xD?
on a serious note. I think he was penalized because he exceeded the 10 car lengths between him and the car ahead. At the restart, every driver slows down a bit so they gain momentum preventing others to attempt anything.
Not sure if the rules applies in that case?.
Can anyone clear this out :)?
Guilherme (@the_philosopher)
25th October 2010, 2:08
<blockquote<40.7 All competing cars must then reduce speed and form up in line behind the safety car no more than ten car lengths apart
This does not imply that the lead driver should always be no more than 10 cars length behind the safety car. I think it refers to 10 cars length between the competitors.
Just search for some videos, and you’ll see that every driver who’s in the lead will fall some 200 meters or more behind the safety car, and were never punished.
Guilherme (@the_philosopher)
25th October 2010, 2:09
blockquote fail… sorry =P
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th October 2010, 2:51
When the safety car peels off, the leader of the race becomes the de facto safety car. He controls the race until the first safety car line, after which oint racing begins. Just about every driver who controls the race in this manner will slow down considerably so as to give the safety car a chance to peel off and open up a clear road in front of him.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
25th October 2010, 11:17
40.11 When the clerk of the course decides it is safe to call in the safety car the message “SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP” will be displayed on the timing monitors and the car’s orange lights will be extinguished This will be the signal to the teams and drivers that it will be entering the pit lane at the end of that lap.
At this point the first car in line behind the safety car may dictate the pace and, if necessary, fall more than ten car lengths behind it.
Griggs
25th October 2010, 11:18
I believe the drivers had been told they could break that rule due to the spray though, obviously you couldn’t be too far back but they were going to be more relaxed with the rule due to the conditions.
That’s what they said on the BBC anyway.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
25th October 2010, 1:54
We can’t miss Spa from the calender at any cost.
Stretch (@stretch)
25th October 2010, 2:18
True, but all the extra new GPs to the calendar, some will have to go to fall within Burnie’s imposed 20 race limit.
He will go where the money is, and Spa (I imagine) is close to the bottom of the list of earners.
Icthyes
25th October 2010, 8:13
Pathetic, isn’t it? Todt doesn’t have the guts to stand up to Bernie and say “there are races that need to be on the calendar, cut them a special deal”
The Republic of Tilkebore entrants only pay so much because races like Spa are on the calendar. If Bernie thinks Spa going is better than making no money off it, he needs to retire because he’ll clearly have lost his business sense.`
DGR-F1
25th October 2010, 9:03
If Spa goes it will be because Bernie is using his ‘business sense’ and ignoring anything that anybody else says to him.
Remember he needs to have money coming in to help pay off CVCs debts, so he needs new circuits in new places to be able to pay as big an entry fee as possible to pay off the debts. Thats basic business sense.
Theres no good him trying to convince the Belgian government to prop up Spa if its going to be a fight to get anything like a ‘reasonable’ fee from them.
However, since CVC/FOM is also controlling the advertising, the broadcasting and who knows what else, and must be making quite a big profit from them, you would think Bernie might just think about the historically significant circuits and give them a better deal. Mind you, he did nothing to help Silverstone, so shy would he bother about Spa, Monza or anywhere else?
However, I think Jean Todt has done his maths and reached the same conclusion I did recently: 23 or more races do not fit into 12 months very easily, so somthing will have to go……..
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 9:11
Not if you consider what I just said about the implications of Spa disappearing on the rates the other circuits pay.
How it should be for classic circuits is that Bernie receives all the profits from the race up to an amount that equals the fee the circuit would have paid for holding the race. The circuit gets anything left over. Circuit stability, the fans aren’t outraged and the calendar retains its entry value.
wasiF1
25th October 2010, 10:37
Thanks Bernie we don’t have the French GP for 2 years & there seems to be no talk about it coming back on the calender. won’t be surprise if we miss Spa & Monza as talks are about a street race in Rome.
David-A (@david-a)
25th October 2010, 20:43
Bernie did say that Monza wouldn’t be dropped in favour of that circuit. It’d just be a second race in Italy.
sato113
25th October 2010, 2:14
I don’t think that race was exciting at all. frustrating getting up early only to wait a good 2 hours or so for some racing on a moderately wet circuit…
no battle for 1st, in fact hardly any battles near the front after the first few racing laps…
not great for a wet race. maybe a dry version would have been better- another montreal maybe?
TommyC
25th October 2010, 2:27
is anyone else getting the feeling that red bull would rather not win a championship than have webber win it? mathematically, seb will struggle if ferrari is even half competitive at the next 2 races (which they will be). despite webber’s mistake yesterday, surely he is still red bull’s best chance. and i’ll say it again, if red bull got behind webber after hungary as i reckon they should have, he’d still be leading the championship after switching the two drivers in singapore and japan. the precedent was set by ferrari and red bull is surely throwing away the championship by not adopting the same tactics.
CarsVsChildren
25th October 2010, 2:50
As a Webber fan, I’d love to see them back him in, and to be honest I am completely mystified why they don’t.
But as a sports fan, I do respect the fact they are keeping it even. It’s not often in modern sport that a team takes a decision that is possibly detrimental to their business, but a positive for the sport.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
25th October 2010, 3:01
the scenario changed today. Until now, i didn’t see the need for Red Bull to back Webber, as Vettel was still very much in it.
But now, the champ leader is someone outside the team. So I think they should back Webber. Otherwise, they’ll loose the championship to Alonso.
Icthyes
25th October 2010, 8:15
I think they would rather not put all their eggs in one basket. With 10 laps to go backing Webber looked like the worst idea ever, suddenly it became viable. Who’s to say the reverse won’t happen in the next race?
Patrickl (@patrickl)
25th October 2010, 11:21
Red Bull seems to feel that they were untouchable. They have by far the fastest car. In their mind they probably had won all 3 of the last races already.
If you look at it that way than it doesn’t matter which driver they back. Either one of them would be WDC.
Of course they forget that their engineers and drivers make loads of errors, negating their performance advantage …
TommyC
25th October 2010, 2:32
and would anyone else be interested in setting up a ‘save the belgian grand prix’ fund? it’s far too good to lose. i’ll be very happy to donate!
Mike
25th October 2010, 2:55
I’ve just found $1.50 in my pocket …..
Alex
25th October 2010, 7:13
There are millions of people who rate Spa as the best circuit in F1. if every one of them donates 1.5$/yr to such a fund then you might be onto something
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 8:17
I’m in. £1.50 a year for Spa is surely a bargain.
Cacarella
25th October 2010, 14:17
You better hope to God that Bernie and his goons don’t see this comment thread!
You’ll have given him the idea to start charging all fans $10.00 per race or they drop em’.
LAK
25th October 2010, 4:06
I on the other hand enjoyed the race a lot, specially the P2 for Hamilton. I really liked the Yeongam circuit, it was fun to watch on tv, even though there wasn’t much scenery, the track’s ups and downs and that final corner looked great!
It isn’t my favorite wet race simply because the cars weren’t allowed to race from the start, but it was certainly thrilling in a slo-mo way. The best part is that when the race was finally under way, we were just happy that they were finally racing – little did we know that not only one but two Red Bulls would get DNFs! Yes I do feel sorry for them badly, as I know how bad a DNF stings, but what a way to tighten the WDC battle!
Speaking of feeling sorry, some ppl on twitter were upset about is the way the teams celebrated Webber and Vettel’s crashes.. I thought it was disrespectful to cheer up and down (even though the sinners were McLaren the team I’m supporting, and Ferrari). I didn’t go to the extent of jumping out of my seat, I guess I’m too afraid of karma lol But is it OK for the other teams to celebrate at the other’s dismay?
I don’t really blame McLaren and I’m sure if the opposite had happened Red Bull would’ve done the same.. But I clearly remember the Ferrari team celebrating after Hamilton had a DNF or crashed (can’t recall when specifically) but I felt sickened, so the Red Bull fans must have found that offending..
As someone mentioned on twitter, at least make sure the driver is OK before celebrating! I think that’s a good point, cuz they’d look really bad if the driver was actually hurt!
Personally maybe after the driver gets out of the car safely, an applause while seated would be inevitable, but to jump up and down and to cheer at the camera is kind of mean.. What do you guys think?
inc0mmunicado
25th October 2010, 5:13
I tune in to see racing on track. It really isn’t good sportsmanship to celebrate like that. I’d fault the broadcast director though, for cutting to the garage of the team that benefits from a guy crashing. Maybe show us the team that’s just been gutted that their driver crashed, but not their opponents. Otherwise, keep the cameras on the racing.
GR
25th October 2010, 11:56
Celebrating the other team’s misfortune definitely lacks class, but then these people are some of the most competitive on the planet – winning at all costs is in the very fabric of F1!
I agree with inc0mmunicado that it’s more down to the broadcasting team to not show it, but then we wouldn’t see the drama, which is also in the very fabric of F1!
Anagh
25th October 2010, 5:09
Is http://twitter.com/#!/nico_rosberg Nico Rosberg’s real page?
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th October 2010, 18:57
Yes. There’s a whole directory of teams, journalists, drivers, etc. here: https://www.racefans.net/f1-information/f1-twitter/
Sammy
25th October 2010, 6:45
Lotus just looks like a team that wants to go places doesnt it?
Stretch (@stretch)
25th October 2010, 7:21
Yep, hopefully we’ll see them competing more with the mid-packers than just HRT and Virgin.
I wonder if Virgin are going to rely on CAD as much for next years design as this years, or if they invest in infrastructure like Lotus?
UneedAFinn2Win
25th October 2010, 11:43
Yes, that is their “thing”. Wirth Design wants to prove it’s not only possible but successful .
Megawatt_Herring
25th October 2010, 17:07
I remember at the start of the season Fernandes was talking about only staying in norfolk for a short time and then moving to malaysia, Does this new wind tunnel mean that they are planning to stay in the UK for a while? I hope so as it makes sence to stay in a country with the equipment and the supliers rather than going to another country purly on political grounds.
hawkfist
25th October 2010, 8:14
Are we still continuing the trend of the championship leader not having won a race yet this season? I lost track a little over the last few races.
David-A (@david-a)
25th October 2010, 20:46
Indeed we are.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th October 2010, 9:08
Well done on another COTD Steph :)
It’s not new, but:
‘Motor racing-Money a factor in Williams driver choice, says Head’
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE69N00A20101024
I guess that means Maldonado’s in. Williams are about to go the way of Jordan :(
Steph
25th October 2010, 15:26
Thank you Icthyes and of course Cari again! I really have to thank Ned for more than an assist because he was right on the money that it was like a pantomine.
It’s funny because Renault took a pay driver this year but there was still some hope and then they sprung a surprise with their car but with Williams, I just feel they’re in decline if they take Maldonando. Now watch them take him, make a monster of a car next year and he’ll be WDC now I’ve said that :P
Oliver Queisser
25th October 2010, 9:37
I would vote in the poll but I can’t whilst I’m stuck in the mobile version
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
25th October 2010, 9:58
What are you using to view the site?
Oliver Queisser
27th October 2010, 14:18
iphone 4 on iOS4.1.
Oliver Queisser
27th October 2010, 14:20
sorry ive taken so long to reply. you cannot reply directly to comments in the mobile version either
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
25th October 2010, 10:05
Loved Alonso’s laugh on the radio yesterday. So pointless!
Steph
25th October 2010, 15:29
I did too. It’s rare to hear that kind of elation from him. It was brilliant.
Ads21 (@ads21)
25th October 2010, 18:45
lol was even better when they ended the credits with it
Steph (@)
25th October 2010, 21:39
Yep that wasb the best ever end to the credits
BBT
25th October 2010, 11:57
Whitmarsh:
I’d like to be a fly on the wall. :-)
Patrickl (@patrickl)
25th October 2010, 20:04
Seems like Button told him to take a flying leap.
I fail to understand how Button would be able to help Hamilton anyway. Well I do technically understand how he could, but in reality how likely is it that Button will be able to help?