As it happened: 2010 Korea - The Race

• 06:30

  Hello and welcome! The Factbyte Factbox is underway for the Korean Grand Prix. This is what we've been waiting for.

• 06:30

  It is raining out there, on and off, but things are looking very damp.

• 06:32

  There is some concern about the slippery surface, although Christian Horner suggested the wet may actually make the pitlane a bit more grippy, as it negates the dust.

• 06:32

  There are also worries about the marshals, and what will happen in case of an accident.

• 06:32

  Tweet from @willbuxton: Entire support race run under safety car. Where are the cranes? Any F1 crash in walled section will take an age to clear. Worrying.

• 06:34

  Now, how are you watching? I'm following the Beeb here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9120810.stm and Autosport live updates here: http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/289

• 06:34

  The pit lane is open, and cars are free to make their way to the grid, but most are going out for a tester lap on the tyres.

• 06:35

  Glock and Massa have both had a spin, whilst Schumacher messed up the pit lane exit a little. The race hasn't even started yet!

• 06:35

  Talking of Schumacher, he was reprimanded yesterday after holding up Barrichello in qualifying. No penalty for him, though.

• 06:36

  Petrov is the only guy starting with a penalty - a five place drop carried forward from the Japanese Grand Prix. He starts in 20th.

• 06:36

  Now, where was I? Oh yes, following live timing here: http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/live_timing.html and McLaren's epic data here: http://www.mclaren.com/home

• 06:37

  Most important link of all though, the Sidepodcast dashboard: https://sidepodcast.com/dashboard/ All the comments, tweets and FBFB information you could possibly need in one window.

• 06:37

  You can always follow the comments the old fashioned way, in the thread itself: https://sidepodcast.com/2010/10/24/live-korea-2010-the-race/ Aaaand, I'm done.

• 06:38

  Tweet from @byronf1: Ferrari desperately changing Alonso's water pump. No grid penalty. Major work that, so close to the race.

• 06:38

  Pit stop action before the race has even begun.

• 06:39

  Current Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	Mark Webber	220
  2	Fernando Alonso	206
  3	Sebastian Vettel	206
  4	Lewis Hamilton	192
  5	Jenson Button	189

• 06:40

  Button is the guy under pressure at the moment. I am told, although I have not done the maths myself, that if Webber wins and Button finishes 7th or lower, he's out of the championship fight.

• 06:40

  Interview with Button, post-qualifying: "It's going to be tough whatever the weather does, and there's a chance of rain as well. It's all up in the air a little bit, and you can make or break a race on the first lap. I'll be looking for a good start and to make up some places."

• 06:42

  Circuit Data

  Korea International Circuit
  Local Timezone	+0900 GMT
  First Race	2010
  Total Races	0
  Number of Laps	55
  Circuit Length	5.621km
  Race Distance	309.155km

• 06:44

  Here's some new facts for you, although be warned, this is approximated for a dry setup. Under wet conditions, there'll be less throttle, and the requirement to use both compounds goes away.

  Race Data

  (source Daimler AG)
  Full Throttle	53%
  Prime Tyre	Hard
  Option Tyre	Soft
  Tyre Usage	High
  Brake Wear	Low
  Downforce Level	8 / 10
  Average Speed	197kph

• 06:44

  

  19°C

  Track	18°C
  Humidity	86%
  Wind Speed	1.1mps

• 06:46

  Interview with Webber: "I've got the same opportunities as everyone else to get a result out of this. It can make things tricky, but we'll put our best foot forward and hope for the best result."

• 06:48

  Interview with Rosberg: "Track is very, very slippery. Tyres are not an easy choice, it will be interesting to see what everybody does. I'm comfortable with my choice." Without telling us what it is, obviously.

• 06:49

  All of these times were set in the dry, obviously. Silly rain making all my widgets irrelevant.

  Fastest Session Times

  Free Practice 1	Hamilton	1:40.887
  Free Practice 2	Webber	1:37.942
  Free Practice 3	Kubica	1:37.354
  Qualifying	Vettel	1:35.585

• 06:53

  Talk of a start behind the safety car - Red Bull would be keen on it, McLaren not so much.

• 06:54

  Tweet from @InsideFerrari: There will be a standard start, not behind safety car

• 06:54

  Phew.

• 06:55

  Tweet from @NobleF1: The rain has increased consistently for the past 10 minutes. You can see the oily chemicals coming to the top of the asphalt on the grid

• 06:55

  The start of the race has been delayed for ten minutes.

• 06:56

  Not a great debut for Korea, but far better to delay than bring out the Safety Car straight away.

• 06:59

  We did see Charlie Whiting canvassing drivers on the grid, for their opinion on conditions, but they're now strapped in their cars and waiting patiently.

• 07:00

  Tweet from @autosportlive: The safety car remains in position at the front of the grid awaiting further instruction from race director Charlie Whiting.

• 07:00

  Race Control confirm they'll start behind the Safety Car. Terrible news.

• 07:01

  Good news for Red Bull of course, but terrible news for... well, everyone else. No overtaking, and slow laps.

• 07:02

  Tweet from @InsideFerrar: This means that all the cars will have to start with extreme wet tyres and there will be no formation lap

• 07:03

  Comment from Alex Andronov: This is a shame about the rain. I was really looking forward to seeing the track today

• 07:05

  Here's some curious facts to pass the time. The total length of tyre barrier in Korea = 3,137.28 metres.

• 07:05

  Total length of the conveyer belt wrapping the tyres = 3,356.3 metres.

• 07:06

  Why is it called a conveyer belt? Does it move like in the supermarket?

• 07:07

  Race Wins

  Pos	Driver	Total
  1	Fernando Alonso	4
  2	Mark Webber	4
  3	Sebastian Vettel	3
  4	Lewis Hamilton	3
  5	Jenson Button	2

• 07:08

  Tweet from @emmastonier: Tough call re whether to start behind safety car. Wonder if same call at other circuits or decision due to new track and the unknown? #F1

• 07:08

  Team radio from Button: "I think it's going to be dark before we finish."

• 07:08

  Assuming they get started, of course.

• 07:09

  Cars are lowered to the ground, tyre blankets off, engines on.

• 07:10 Lap 1

  Race started. In a way.

• 07:10 Lap 1

  The spray is massive. You can sort of see Whiting's point.

• 07:10 Lap 1

  Tweet from @culbforce: Rain will become lighter in 15mins

• 07:12 Lap 1

  Team radio from Button: "It's like a lake on the straight."

• 07:12 Lap 1

  Tweet from @WilliamsF1Team: Rubens is reporting a lot of standing water and there would be no way they should start the race yet

• 07:13 Lap 2

  One lap down.

• 07:14 Lap 2

  Team radio to Massa: "From what we know, there will be another twenty minutes of rain. It looks like a lot of rain. You need to do everything you can to keep the tyres alive, to get them to work, and keep the pressures up. Maybe you're going to have five or ten laps behind the safety car."

• 07:14 Lap 2

  Senna pits for a change of tyres. Not sure why, but he was last anyway, so it makes little difference to him.

• 07:16 Lap 2

  Tweet from @MJRoberts55: They need to clear some water, so just let them go and let 24 cars move a lot of water. #F1 #Korea

• 07:16 Lap 3

  It looks like a gap is building between Yamamoto and the rest. He can't quite keep up in the wet conditions maybe? Senna is already tucked up behind him.

• 07:16 Lap 3

  Team radio from Alonso: "Worst conditions I've ever driven in."

• 07:17 Lap 3

  Race stopped.

• 07:17 Lap 3

  They'll reform on the grid and sit waiting for conditions to improve, if they do.

• 07:18 Lap 3

  Team radio from Button: "You can't see, you can even see the front tyres when you're on the straights. It's driving completely blind, just waiting to hit somebody."

• 07:18

  Button has also requested a new pair of gloves as his are really wet. Bless.

• 07:19

  And he followed up asking for a new suit as well. Absolutely soaking. That would provide some entertainment, if pit stops included a change of clothes as well.

• 07:21

  Tweet from @ubaidparkar: #F1 The Korean Grand Prix has been red flagged! I think this is an excuse to continue secret construction of the circuit...

• 07:21

  All the cars are lined up nicely on the grid. Mechanics have returned with many umbrellas.

• 07:22

  Bruno Senna pitted because he was convinced there was something wrong with his car - but a change of tyres didn't help. It's just that wet out there.

• 07:23

  Tweet from @ManipeF1: As VET has completed 3 laps, half points will be awarded if the race doesn't resume. #F1

• 07:23

  Noooooo, not half points.

• 07:24

  Tweet from @autosportlive: The teams will have a ten-minute warning of the restart from race control.

• 07:24

  Tweet from @ManipeF1: Full points will be awarded if the race reaches 42 laps. #F1

• 07:26

  Mark Webber waits patiently on the grid.

• 07:27

  Holly Samos: "What do you think is going to happen next?"

  Christian Horner: "I have no idea."

• 07:28

  Kubica is out of the car, wandering around the grid under a yellow and black umbrella.

• 07:29

  The Mercedes mechanics have taken off Rosberg's nose and are fiddling with the insides. No part of that sentence sounds right.

• 07:30

  Hamilton climbs out of the car, he's heading back to the garage without an umbrella or a hat or anything. Brave chap.

• 07:35

  This is not so great for those fans who have managed to turn up today. They've got their wet gear on and have no race to watch.

• 07:37

  Tweet from @clubforce: Race delayed for another 15mins. Not raining too hard but visibility is so poor

• 07:38

  Comment from Alex Andronov: TED says Rosberg was having his setup changed

• 07:38

  Is that allowed?

• 07:38

  Tweet from @autosportlive: Parc ferme conditions have now ended, so the teams can make set-up tweaks during this red flag period.

• 07:38

  Yes, it is.

• 07:39

  Most of the cars are shrouded in black covers to keep the rain out.

• 07:40

  Rubens has put on a jacket over the top of his overalls. Might be a bit chilly out there.

• 07:40

  Massa is still sitting in the car.

• 07:40

  Stefano Domenicali peeps into his little red notebook - perhaps he is checking the rules on points.

• 07:41

  Kobayashi looks terribly bored. As are we all!

• 07:42

  Let's play a game. I spy with my little eye, something beginning with J.

• 07:43

  There's some kind of sweeper out on track, making little difference, but trying it's best.

• 07:44

  Track status has gone from red to green to yellow. Still no ten minute warning for the drivers, though.

• 07:44

  Team radio to Liuzzi: "Sunset is at quarter to six. If we've got another ten or fifteen minute delay, potentially we won't get the two hours in and the race will be suspended due to light."

• 07:45

  Alex guesses: "TIM!"

  Technically, that does not begin with a J, but ding, ding. You are right!

• 07:48

  Interview with Heikki: "I think if we went out and did a few laps behind the safety car, we could take some of the water away from the racing line out on track and quite quickly it would become driveable, and that's what we're here for."

• 07:49

  Webber and Alonso are having a bit of a chat.

• 07:49

  Webber makes quite a lot of hand gestures. It is fun to try and guess what he is saying.

• 07:50

  McLaren's super duper data: Radar says at 4 o'clock, the rain intensity is lighter.

• 07:51

  Webber and Alonso now chatting to Bernd Maylandar, Safety car driver.

• 07:52

  It is looking a bit brighter out there, and the rain seems to be a bit lighter. No ten minute warning yet though.

• 07:53

  The discussion at Sidepodcast HQ is what would be the worst case scenario? To get some racing and still be on half points? To wait for another hour and not get any racing? To race and have all the cars retire and there be no winner?

• 07:53

  Tweet from @chrishughespr: Just give Bernd Maylander the win.

• 07:54

  There are now three of the big orange sweepers out on track, trying to clear the standing water.

• 07:55

  Race will be resumed at 16:05.

• 07:56

  Race Control message - Safety Car will do more than 1 lap - wet weather tyres must be used.

• 07:58

  Alonso is putting on his helmet, about to be strapped back into the car.

• 07:58

  The Medical is doing a lap, looks a lot cleaner out there.

• 07:59

  Barrichello is being fastened back into his Williams.

• 08:01

  A further update on Senna suggests that his front tyres were the wrong way round and that's why he had to come back in to swap them over.

• 08:03

  Team radio to Massa: "It doesn't really look any better to me. The only thing is now you can see the back of the rain, so maybe it's going to stop."

• 08:03

  Button back in the car and ready for the restart.

• 08:05 Lap 4

  Race started again - Safety Car conditions.

• 08:06 Lap 4

  I suppose technically, it is not green, it is actually yellow and Safety Car.

• 08:07 Lap 4

  Team radio from Vettel: "There's still a lot of water, it's a little bit better than before, but there's still a lot of water, a lot of spray."

• 08:09 Lap 5

  Lucas di Grassi has pitted for a new set of extreme wet tyres.

• 08:09 Lap 5

  Team radio from Button: "It's a little bit better but still very, very wet." "Okay, understand, just keep the information coming."

• 08:10 Lap 5

  Yamamoto runs wide behind the Safety Car - first real incident we've seen.

• 08:11 Lap 6

  Liuzzi has just set the fastest lap of the race, a glorious 2:40.286.

• 08:13 Lap 6

  Team radio to Barrichello: "We're expecting light rain to continue for the next 25 minutes, and then that will be it."

• 08:14 Lap 7

  A weather update. Still raining.

  

  19°C

  Track	18°C
  Humidity	88%
  Wind Speed	1.2mps

• 08:15 Lap 7

  Team radio from Vettel: "The water on the straight is slowly decreasing, so it's getting better little by little. The problem still is the water cannot really go away."

• 08:16 Lap 8

  This is, of course, exactly the same as qualifying, but just a reminder.

  Driver Positions

  1	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull
  2	Mark Webber	Red Bull
  3	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari
  4	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren
  5	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes

• 08:17 Lap 8

  Schumacher runs wide over the grass and the Mercedes gets covered in mud.

• 08:17 Lap 8

  Team radio from Hamilton: "Conditions are good. The track is good, it's getting dryer, it's improving all the time."

• 08:17 Lap 8

  That's the kind of optimism I like to hear.

• 08:18 Lap 8

  Tweet from @alexjsnell: Just watched the cars from up on the korean style bridge. Spray doesn't look so bad from up there, but the onboards look awful! #F1

• 08:20 Lap 9

  Tweet from @antdavidson: Agree with Lewis 100% Track is good! Let's get a move on!!! They'll be on Inters in a few laps!

• 08:20 Lap 9

  The spray is certainly looking better, from the comfort of my chair. The onboards are still quite scary though.

• 08:21 Lap 9

  I don't think Schumacher lost any places from his little off. The Mercedes crew were wandering around the pitlane, but neither car looks set to come in.

• 08:22 Lap 10

  The cars have closed up considerably, and Hamilton is on the radio pushing to start the race. It's about time the Safety Car came in.

• 08:23 Lap 10

  Tweet from @eddstrawF1: Hamilton wants it started - he knows that, if he is going to win the title, this wet race is his big chance

• 08:24 Lap 11

  Remember, the lower points are better, and these are some slow times!

  Recent Lap Times

  Sebastian Vettel
  Lap 7	2:40.241
  Lap 8	2:41.182
  Lap 9	2:40.186
  Lap 10	2:40.302

• 08:25 Lap 11

  Webber told over the radio that Hamilton is keen to get going, Mark says he sees little difference. Clearly the championship is on everyone's minds.

• 08:27 Lap 12

  Team radio to Alonso: "There's a forecast for five minutes more rain."

• 08:28 Lap 12

  New fastest lap - 2:36.092 from Lucas di Grassi. Let us remember this moment, please.

• 08:29 Lap 12

  If the Safety Car keeps on going, there'll be concerns that it will run out of fuel - it'll have to swap with the medical car.

• 08:29 Lap 13

  Tweet from @MikeGascoyne: Our guys saying visability at the back is very bad, espicially in sector 3 where there is still a lot of standing water

• 08:30 Lap 13

  Team radio from Hamilton: "Start. the. race."

• 08:33 Lap 14

  Lewis: "Are other people complaining, what's the reason we're not starting?"

  Pits: "Lewis, we think other drivers don't have the same enthusiasm for starting the race at the moment."

  Lewis: "Well, it's a wet race, what do they expect?"

• 08:33 Lap 14

  Di Grassi has pitted again.

• 08:34 Lap 14

  On 5 live, Crofty reports he can see some blue skies!

• 08:35 Lap 15

  Tweet from @alexjsnell: Lucas coming in for a new set of extreme wets. The logic being that they'll be warmer, so better grip for the restart #F1

• 08:35 Lap 15

  And Holly on 5 live reports it has pretty much stopped raining in the pit lane.

• 08:36 Lap 15

  It's not clear why the Safety Car is still out there, we're really just in a period of waiting - either stop or start, but this is crazy. Only 25 minutes or so until the two hour maximum anyway.

• 08:37 Lap 16

  For a while, it looked like it was brightening, but now it's starting to darken - not because of the rain but because of nighttime.

• 08:38 Lap 16

  On the back straight, there is practically no spray at all.

• 08:39 Lap 16

  Comment from Steven Roy: FBFB The stoppage doesn't count for the two hour maximum

• 08:40 Lap 17

  Safety Car coming in at the end of this lap.

• 08:40 Lap 17

  I think I speak for us all with a resounding WOOOOOOHOO.

• 08:42 Lap 17

  Tweet from @JRobertsF1: Thank god for that! Look out for Lewis at the restart!

• 08:42 Lap 17

  Track is clear.

• 08:43 Lap 18

  A clean start at the front, drivers taking it nice and easy.

• 08:43 Lap 18

  Di Grassi pits.

• 08:43 Lap 18

  Rosberg has overtaken Lewis for fourth place. Oops.

• 08:43 Lap 18

  Button has an attempt on Massa round the outside, but it doesn't stick. Schumacher is close behind the McLaren too.

• 08:44 Lap 18

  Trulli spun at Turn 1, he is last bar Di Grassi - who has pitted three times so far!

• 08:44 Lap 19

  Lap times fall below two minutes, with a 1:57.805 from Vettel.

• 08:45 Lap 19

  Sutil attempts to pass another car but outbraked himself and loses places instead.

• 08:45 Lap 19

  Replays show Trulli's spin, and Senna also ran straight off track, but circled the Lotus and returned to the track.

• 08:46 Lap 20

  Webber spins, bounces off the wall and takes out Rosberg as well.

• 08:46 Lap 20

  Safety car deployed.

• 08:46 Lap 20

  Webber looks pretty annoyed, but he didn't want to go racing in the first place.

• 08:47 Lap 20

  Replays show he just ran wide, slightly off track, and it was so slippery that he was out of control. Rosberg was just a passenger in that, already into the corner.

• 08:48 Lap 20

  The McLaren mechanics applaud. Bad form.

• 08:48 Lap 20

  Kobayashi, Buemi and Senna all pit.

• 08:49 Lap 21

  Live Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	Sebastian Vettel	231
  2	Fernando Alonso	244
  3	Mark Webber	220

• 08:49 Lap 21

  Petrov has pitted and changed for intermediate tyres. Risky business!

• 08:51 Lap 22

  Rosberg returns to the garage on the back of a motorbike. Webber is also on his way back.

• 08:51 Lap 22

  Trulli pits.

• 08:53 Lap 22

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver
  1	0	Sebastian Vettel
  2	+1	Fernando Alonso
  3	+1	Lewis Hamilton
  4	+2	Felipe Massa
  5	+2	Jenson Button

• 08:54 Lap 23

  Tweet from @MikeGascoyne: rain for 5-10 mins from 17.05

• 08:56 Lap 24

  Track is clear.

• 08:56 Lap 24

  The crane crosses the entire track to retrieve Webber's car.

• 08:57 Lap 24

  Vettel gets a great restart, a bit gap already over Alonso.

• 08:58 Lap 25

  Trulli gets it all wrong coming into the corner, and bashes into the side of Senna - leaving a a Lotus front wing lying on the track.

• 08:59 Lap 25

  Trulli pits, as you would expect.

• 09:01 Lap 26

  Battle For 1st

  Pos	Driver	Gap
  1st	Vettel	1:45.537
  2nd	Alonso	+2.5
  3rd	Hamilton	+5.3
  4th	Massa	+7.5

• 09:02 Lap 26

  Koabyashi tries to make a move, but runs the corner wide and loses out.

• 09:02 Lap 27

  Invident involving Trulli and Senna under investigation by the stewards.

• 09:02 Lap 27

  Lucas di Grassi off into the wall.

• 09:03 Lap 27

  Schumacher overtakes Button - hard to see the move in a cloud of spray, but it looks like he just braked better than the McLaren.

• 09:04 Lap 28

  Trulli has climbed out of the car, his race is over. Plenty of smoke pouring from the back of the Lotus.

• 09:04 Lap 28

  Tweet from @tonyfernandes: these hydralulics have been a disaster

• 09:05 Lap 28

  Glock and Kovalainen are doing pretty well so far, they are up to 13th and 14th - although down a pit stop on their closest rivals.

• 09:06 Lap 29

  Tweet from @EliGP: We need 41.25 laps to award full points. Less than that will mean half points

• 09:06 Lap 29

  McLaren mechanics pour into the pit lane. Button is gambling on inters. Sutil follows him into the pits.

• 09:06 Lap 29

  Hamilton sets a new fastest lap 1:53.914.

• 09:07 Lap 29

  Button rejoins right behind a big train of cars. Not great for him.

• 09:08 Lap 30

  Team radio from Vettel: "Tyres are okay, but I don't think they'll last the distance. I have more and more sliding." "Understood, there's more rain ahead."

• 09:08 Lap 30

  Kovalainen tagged another car and spun off, but continued. At the same corner, but moments later, Sutil also spun and continued.

• 09:10 Lap 31

  Interview with Webber: "Look, it was my mistake, I got on the kerb and I lost control of the car. Today wasn't my day and my second non-finish of the year and it brings me back to them on the points.

  "I couldn't see Fernando, I was just doing my own thing, and trying to keep the pace going. Fair enough conditions to start, right on the edge, but okay.

  "I'm not too worried about being third, but I want to get back to the front."

• 09:10 Lap 31

  Hulkenberg pits for intermediate tyres.

• 09:11 Lap 31

  Tweet from @lukehmuse: Webber totally honest and blaming himself for the crash, very mature and honest response

• 09:11 Lap 32

  Buemi is off track, front wing damage, smoke coming from the car, debris everywhere.

• 09:11 Lap 32

  Safety car deployed.

• 09:11 Lap 32

  Hamilton pits.

• 09:12 Lap 32

  Massa, Schumacher and Kubica all pit. Barrichello as well.

• 09:12 Lap 32

  Replays show Buemi twitching down the straight, unable to make the corner and sliding into Glock's car as well. It looks like Timo is still going.

• 09:13 Lap 32

  Kovalainen and Glock have both pitted.

• 09:13 Lap 33

  Vettel is in the pits from the lead. Alonso also in.

• 09:14 Lap 33

  In the pit lane, a complete repeat of Hungary. Kubica held and held as cars stream past, and then let go almost into the side of a Force India. Narrowly avoided crash.

• 09:14 Lap 33

  Interview with Di Grassi: "Very difficult track conditions, I was caught up trying to overtake Yamamoto, ended my race. Very disappointing."

• 09:14 Lap 33

  Hamilton has jumped Alonso after the pit lane.

• 09:15 Lap 33

  Race control confirm no further action on the Senna/Trulli incident.

• 09:15 Lap 33

  Replays show Alonso's stop was very slow - the right front was a long time coming, and the wheel gun took an age as well.

• 09:16 Lap 34

  21 laps to go, 25 minutes of light left. Touch and go!

• 09:17 Lap 34

  Incident involving Buemi and Glock under investigation by the stewards.

• 09:18 Lap 34

  Tyre Stint Comparison

  Driver	Compound	Laps
  Hamilton	Extreme	32
  Vettel	Extreme	33
  Alonso	Extreme	33

• 09:19 Lap 35

  Track is clear.

• 09:19 Lap 35

  Vettel repeats his nice, clean restart again. All through safely, it seems.

• 09:19 Lap 35

  Alonso has got back past Hamilton, as Lewis got the corner wrong. Massa has also closed up to the McLaren.

• 09:21 Lap 36

  Interview with Buemi: "Basically, I locked the front wheels and I think my front wing was a little bit damaged, but I just locked the front and went sideways."

• 09:22 Lap 36

  Kovalainen under investigation for speeding in the pit lane - a drive through penalty announced in what must be the quickest stewards decision ever.

• 09:22 Lap 36

  Sutil forces Button wide on track, and falls even further down the field.

• 09:23 Lap 37

  Retirements

  Driver	Reason	Lap
  Rosberg	Accident	18
  Webber	Accident	18
  Trulli	Accident	24
  Di Grassi	Accident	25
  Buemi	Accident	30
  Glock	Accident	31

• 09:25 Lap 38

  Sutil overtakes Heidfeld for 12th place.

• 09:25 Lap 38

  Vettel sets a new fastest lap - 1:51.909

• 09:26 Lap 38

  Sutil runs really wide and allows that position and a lot of others back. He appears to have found a whole other section of track.

• 09:27 Lap 38

  Public service announcement: For BBC TV viewers, you'll be switching from BBC 1 to BBC 2 at half past.

• 09:27 Lap 39

  Kovalainen pitted for the second time today.

• 09:28 Lap 39

  Team radio to Alonso: "Protect the tyres a bit and think about not being too aggressive, especially through turns 7 or 8."

• 09:28 Lap 40

  Alguersuari has overtaken Sutil for 13th position.

• 09:30 Lap 40

  Vettel's going a bit quicker now.

  Recent Lap Times

  Sebastian Vettel
  Lap 36	1:52.694
  Lap 37	1:51.909
  Lap 38	1:50.852
  Lap 39	1:50.914

• 09:31 Lap 41

  Petrov has had a huge crash at turn 1.

• 09:31 Lap 41

  He climbs out of the car gingerly, but okay. The car is pretty smashed up.

• 09:32 Lap 41

  He looks very downbeat about it as he walks to safety.

• 09:33 Lap 42

  The wheels are definitely off that car.

• 09:33 Lap 42

  Comment from Lukeh: It was the final turn FBFB

• 09:34 Lap 43

  Tweet from @emmastonier: This race is certainly giving the locals some excitement. Would love to know what they think of their first experience of #F1

• 09:35 Lap 43

  The light has changed, sun is beginning to set, and things are taking on an orange glow.

• 09:35 Lap 43

  We've reached the point where full points will be awarded. Phew!

• 09:37 Lap 44

  A mid-table positions update.

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver
  8	0	Robert Kubica
  9	+8	Tonio Liuzzi
  10	+2	Kamui Kobayashi
  11	+2	Nick Heidfeld
  12	+2	Adrian Sutil

• 09:38 Lap 45

  Ten laps to go.

• 09:39 Lap 45

  Fastest Laps

  Driver	Lap	Time
  Fernando Alonso	42	1:50.257
  Felipe Massa	41	1:50.673
  Lewis Hamilton	39	1:50.710

• 09:39 Lap 45

  Hamilton says the light level is fine, but... he would say that, wouldn't he?

• 09:40 Lap 46

  Vettel slows way down, and Alonso is past for the lead.

• 09:40 Lap 46

  Vettel's engine has given up.

• 09:40 Lap 46

  He is out of the race!

• 09:41 Lap 46

  Vettel is out of the car, and I believe I just spotted him with a fire extinguisher. He's trying to beat Fireman Heikki at his own game.

• 09:42 Lap 47

  Vettel picks up an extinguisher.

• 09:43 Lap 47

  It had to happen eventually, Sutil bombed past Kobayashi, lost complete control, swiped past the Sauber and is off track.

• 09:43 Lap 48

  Kamui continues, Sutil has one wheel hanging off.

• 09:44 Lap 48

  Is there anyone left??

  Retirements

  Driver	Reason	Lap
  Rosberg	Accident	18
  Webber	Accident	18
  Trulli	Accident	24
  Di Grassi	Accident	25
  Buemi	Accident	30
  Glock	Accident	31
  Petrov	Accident	39
  Vettel	Engine	45
  Sutil	Accident	46

• 09:46 Lap 49

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver
  1	+2	Fernando Alonso
  2	+3	Lewis Hamilton
  3	+3	Felipe Massa
  4	+5	Michael Schumacher
  5	+5	Rubens Barrichello

• 09:46 Lap 49

  We're in danger of seeing Schumacher on the podium, here!

• 09:47 Lap 49

  Predicted Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	Fernando Alonso	231
  2	Mark Webber	220
  3	Lewis Hamilton	210
  4	Sebastian Vettel	206
  5	Jenson Button	189

• 09:48 Lap 50

  Vettel looks pretty philosophical about it - at least he and his teammate have met the same fate. Bad day for Red Bull.

• 09:49 Lap 50

  Tweet from @autosportlive: Both Alonso and Hamilton are on well-worn intermediates, with little difference in pace between the pair.

• 09:50 Lap 51

  Lapped Cars

  Pos	Driver	Laps Down
  13	Kovalainen	2
  14	Senna	2
  15	Yamamoto	1

• 09:51 Lap 52

  Massa has a bit of a rear end wobble, and Rob Smedley looks nervous on the pit wall. A double podium for Ferrari could be on the cards.

• 09:51 Lap 52

  Just three laps to go.

• 09:51 Lap 52

  Tweet from @InsideFerrari: What a tension inside our garage...

• 09:52 Lap 52

  Hulkenberg has pitted from 8th place.

• 09:52 Lap 52

  Replays show the Williams running very wide, with zero grip on the tyres, hence having to come in.

• 09:52 Lap 53

  Button spins, but recovers nicely to continue. He's down in 12th, though.

• 09:53 Lap 53

  Driver Analysis

  Driver	Lewis Hamilton
  Team	McLaren
  Position	2
  Stops	1
  Last Lap	1:52.897
  Best Lap	1:50.430

• 09:54 Lap 53

  Liuzzi is up to sixth, pretty impressive considering the scrappy afternoon his teammate had.

• 09:55 Lap 54

  Barrichello ran wide, dropped down to 7th, gifting a move up for Kubica and the aforementioned Liuzzi.

• 09:56 Lap 54

  One to Watch

  Alguersuari	vs.	Hulkenberg
  10th	+0.5s	11th

• 09:56 Lap 55

  Final lap.

• 09:57 Lap 55

  It's terribly dark out there, but they will make it to the end.

• 09:58

  Fernando Alonso wins the Korean Grand Prix!!

• 09:59

  Hamilton crosses the line 15 seconds later, followed by Massa a further 15 seconds down the road.

• 10:00

  Race Winner

  Driver	Fernando Alonso
  Team	Ferrari
  Race Time	2:48:20.810
  Race Distance	308.630km
  Average Speed	109.997km/h

• 10:00

  The normal congratulations are issued over the radio to Alonso, who laughs hysterically in response. Understandable really. Chaos out there.

• 10:01

  Tweet from @tabathavalls: And great result for HRT, again both drivers have achieved their best result of the season so far! Excellent job! #F1

• 10:01

  14th and 15th for the HRT boys, all due to retirements of course, but in a race like this, getting to the end is nothing to sniff at.

• 10:03

  The cars look absolutely filthy. All that mud, you'd think it was a rally.

• 10:03

  Tweet from @clubforce: 6th for Tonio! Woot! m/ .. ahead of Williams in the constructors championship! Fantastic drive!

• 10:04

  Tweet from @eddstrawF1: 6th for Tonio! Woot! m/ .. ahead of Williams in the constructors championship! Fantastic drive!

• 10:06

  Points positions:

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver
  1	+2	Fernando Alonso
  2	+3	Lewis Hamilton
  3	+3	Felipe Massa
  4	+5	Michael Schumacher
  5	+3	Robert Kubica
  6	+11	Tonio Liuzzi
  7	+3	Rubens Barrichello
  8	+4	Kamui Kobayashi
  9	+4	Nick Heidfeld
  10	+1	Nico Hulkenberg

• 10:06

  The championship is as predicted earlier, with Alonso first, and Webber second - I'm sure he will be taking the positives out of that.

• 10:09

  Liuzzi has clawed something back with this race - their season long battle is creeping ever closer to 50/50.

  Teammate Battle

  Force India	Finished Ahead
  Tonio Liuzzi	7
  Adrian Sutil	10

• 10:11

  Alonso celebrates with a spot of champagne.

• 10:11

  Tweet from @JRobertsF1: Brazil can't come quick enough now....

• 10:13

  Press conference quotes - Alonso: "One of the best races of the year for us, for the team. Fantastic achievement for Ferrari, we've been competitive all weekend. We knew the race pace was there. This morning was wet, and we knew that it was a tricky race to finish, and of course, winning the race, I think it's the first wet race that I win."

• 10:14

  Press conference quotes - Hamilton: "Still a great result, very happy with it. Of course, some small mistakes, but very tricky conditions out there. Fernando did a great job, they generally had more grip out there. My tyres were shot right at the end. Good for the championship and the team."

• 10:15

  Press conference quotes - Massa: "It means good points for the team, a good race in difficult conditions. At the end was very, very dark, it was difficult to see in front. I think it was a good race, very difficult, tricky conditions at the beginning. The visibility was almost zero. I'm very happy for this position, for me, for the team, and Fernando did a very good job as well."

• 10:16

  These tables haven't changed, but for a nice round-up:

  Fastest Laps

  Driver	Lap	Time
  Fernando Alonso	42	1:50.257
  Felipe Massa	41	1:50.673
  Lewis Hamilton	39	1:50.710

  Retirements

  Driver	Reason	Lap
  Rosberg	Accident	18
  Webber	Accident	18
  Trulli	Accident	24
  Di Grassi	Accident	25
  Buemi	Accident	30
  Glock	Accident	31
  Petrov	Accident	39
  Vettel	Engine	45
  Sutil	Accident	46

  Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	Fernando Alonso	231
  2	Mark Webber	220
  3	Lewis Hamilton	210
  4	Sebastian Vettel	206
  5	Jenson Button	189

• 10:19

  Watching replays of Alonso crossing the line, the chequered flag was very, very late. I'm not sure Fernando even saw it. I think my chequered flag was ahead of the real one!

• 10:20

  It's hard to see in this picture, but Alonso has already pass the flag, and it's just being unfurled.

• 10:21

  From what I can gather, people have found this race fascinating but not necessarily enjoyable. A terrible start, and then plenty of incidents to follow kept it worth watching, but it was not great racing.

• 10:22

  It's a shame we didn't get to see the full potential of the track. Several of the drivers thought there would be a lot of overtaking opportunities but the weather put a stop to that.

• 10:23

  A terrible day for Red Bull, but it means the championship battle is still red hot. Alonso is leading now, but all five drivers are still in it. Button has fallen 42 points behind though, so it's looking even more unlikely for him.

• 10:26

  Next race is in Brazil, and that usually adds plenty of it's own spice to the racing. I hope you will join me back here for that, but until then, stay tuned to https://sidepodcast.com for full results, standings, comments and thoughts, plus maybe even a podcast later today.

• 10:26

  Thank you for sticking with me today, couldn't have done it without you. See you next time!