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Korea 2011 - Race information - The racing continues despite the championship being sewn up

Published by Christine

The championship has been decided, and Japan got to do the honours, but the season did not end in Suzuka. We still have four races to go, and this back to back weekend sees Formula One head to Korea - one of the newer circuits on the grid. Last year was our first experience of F1 around the Korean circuit, where we saw an unfinished circuit, and an awful lot of rain. Hopefully, this year will be a little less chaotic and a little more fantastic.

Event schedule

Despite what the above map might suggest, the circuit is actually in existence, and will play host to 24 drivers as they head rapidly towards the end of the 2011 season. Vettel will be keen to drive his first weekend as a double world champion, whilst Japan GP winner Jenson Button is determined to add more wins to his tally this year.

We need to keep an eye on the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, as it's turning into a bigger rivalry than I ever expected it to.

I'll also be keeping a firm eye on the battle between Renault, Sauber and Force India battle, as the three teams are keeping the Constructor's Championship alive right now - particularly the latter two, who will both go into this race desperate for some much-needed points.

Session Timetable
DateDaySessionTime (GMT+1)Time (Local)
14 OctFridayFree Practice 102:0010:00
Free Practice 206:0014:00
15 OctSaturdayFree Practice 303:0011:00
Qualifying06:0014:00
16 OctSundayGrand Prix07:0015:00

Support racing for this event includes CJ Hellovision Superrace.

The weather

The long range weather forecasts have sunshine for most of the weekend, with clouds starting to creep in as the weekend draws to a close.

rain

Korean International Circuit, Friday

21℃

  • Low 16℃
  • Humidity 74%

Heavy rain showers

moderate

Korean International Circuit Circuit, Saturday

21℃

  • Low 17℃
  • Humidity 51%

Sunny intervals

clear

Korean International Circuit Circuit, Sunday

22℃

  • Low 13℃
  • Humidity 37%

Sunny

Circuit map

Korean International Circuit Map
Korean International Circuit MapCredit: FIA

The circuit

Circuit Data
NameKorean International Circuit
LocationKorea
TimezoneGMT +0900
First Race2010
Laps55
Length5.615 km
Distance308.630 km
Start / Finish Offset0.195 km

One of the key factors that could play a part in the action over the weekend is the track surface itself. We know the Pirelli tyres are keen on spreading their marbles across the floor, and last year, with such brand new tarmac, there wasn't as much grip as the teams had hoped for.

I don't know how much the track is used when not hosting F1, I imagine not an awful lot, so whilst this is the second year of use for the tarmac, it's probably still going to be a green surface for the drivers to deal with.

The pit lane is almost 400 metres long, and the loss is somewhere around the 23 seconds mark. My favourite Korean statistic is the average safety cars per race. That would be three. 2010 has a lot to answer for.

2010 Results
SessionDriverTeamTimeLinks
Free Practice 1Lewis HamiltonMcLaren1:40.887Live / Results
Free Practice 2Mark WebberRed Bull1:37.942Live / Results
Free Practice 3Robert KubicaRenault1:37.354Live / Results
QualifyingSebastian VettelRed Bull1:35.585Live / Results
Grand PrixFernando AlonsoFerrari2:48:20.810Live / Results
Fastest LapFernando AlonsoFerrari1:50.257

Tyre compounds

Supersoft and soft compounds
Supersoft and soft compounds

Press conference schedule

Official press conferences are organised by the FIA and happen four times during the weekend. The qualifying and post race press conferences will take place after the television unilateral interviews.

Press Conference Schedule
DayTime (Local)AttendeeRepresenting
Thursday15:00Jaime AlguersuariToro Rosso
Fernando AlonsoFerrari
Lewis HamiltonMcLaren
Pastor MaldonadoWilliams
Sergio PérezSauber
Sebastian VettelRed Bull
Friday16:00John BoothVirgin
Ross BrawnMercedes
Paul HemberyPirelli
Christian HornerRed Bull
Martin WhitmarshMcLaren
SaturdayPost qualifyingThree fastest drivers
SundayPost raceFirst three finishing drivers

Race stewards

The FIA stewarding process was changed last year to include a former F1 driver to give added insight. These are the stewards overseeing this weekend's action.

F1 Stewards
NamePosition
Martin DonnellyFormula One Driver 1989-1990
Garry ConnellyFIA Committee member and FIA WMSC member
José AbedFIA Vice President

All content in the series Korea 2011