F1 Race Korea

Race day has arrived for round seventeen and the first time at the Yeongham circuit in South Korea, two hundred and thirty miles south of the capital Seoul. The unwelcome news for the drivers is it's raining but for we armchair spectators the rain adds a spice to race day. The rain will reduce temp which will have an effect on all the cars as track temp is important for tyre temp which Jenson and Felipe were complaining about yesterday.

The track temp is eighteen degrees and air temp nineteen which has dropped some seven degrees since quali yesterday which will make a huge difference. Plenty of discussions after the pre race laps as to whether they start on full wets or inters and an impossible choice for all concerned. The new circuit with oil on it mixed with the rain will make it extremely difficult.

The fans have arrived and the grandstands are full, the fans have come with their wet weather gear and the talk is over. As the rain is getting heavier before the start the race is delayed for ten minutes and will start behind the safety car.

After only four laps the decision was taken to throw the Red flag as the water was creating huge spray and aqua planing making it very dangerous. After a one hour the race proceeded behind the safety car at 1605 with only four laps completed. What happens now is in the lap of the gods.

So after many laps under the safety car the race started again and Sebastian bolted at the front and a couple of cars went off but nothing serious. Mark then went wide and across the circuit and when he came back across he collected Nico and both were out and back under the safety car. So the leader of the championship was out, Fernando went up to P2 and Lewis to P3.

This obviously makes a huge difference to the championship but this race has still a long way to go after only twenty three laps in the bag. After Buemi went off there was yet another safety car and they all dashed into the pits to change to inters.

Fernando had a wheel nut problem on the front right which allowed Lewis to go up into P2. However, Lewis then went wide at turn one and Fernando went back to P2. Lewis then had Felipe on his tail but he soon equalised the gap in P3.

Jenson was having all sorts of problems after his pit stop prior to the safety car. He came out in twelvth but amongst the back markers and a couple of incidents he dropped down to sixteenth. Then came a mighty blow for Red Bull as Sebastian's engine blew putting Fernando into the lead and Lewis second with the second Ferrari on the hands of Felipe up into third and that was the way it was at the flag.

Michael had a better day and was promoted to fourth and one has to say he drove better this time. This has made a massive difference to the championship as now Fernando takes the lead on 231 pts, Mark is now second on 220 with Lewis third on 210. Sebastian is now fourth on 206 and Jenson now almost out of it in fifth on 189.

There is still all to play for and it is looking almost a certainty that we will arrive in Abu Dhabi with four drivers who could win the title. With only a race win between the top four, depending on where the other drivers finish, it will be a thrilling race to finish the season.

Onward now to Brazil and after today's protracted race I personally can't wait.

Fi South Korea Quali

The Formula 1 circus this weekend moves into the unknown as it arrives in Makpa in the South of Korea to the Yeongam circuit. Much talk has focused around the readiness of the new facility but Charlie Whiting finally passed the circuit ready for the arrival of the F1 teams.

The championship couldn't be tighter as the five protagonists fight like cat and dog up at the front with only three races to go. Mark, Sebastian, Fernando, Lewis and Jenson will have to cope with plenty of dust, grease and oil in their fight for the ultimate prize.

The race will be over fifty three laps, circuit length of nearly four miles and a total race distance of 192 miles. It is going to be a challenge for all the drivers and on a virgin circuit it will be up to the cars to to clean the track along with the sweepers as there are no support races.

Albeit the circuit has two long straights which should favour the F duct on the Mclaren's, Red Bull have said there cars are better suited for this type of circuit. All the drivers have had problems and whilst the organisers have made changes overnight it will be an issue for all the cars.

It was interesting watching David's access to the Mclaren Technology Centre at Woking and brings back memories for me and my visit to the facility during 2009, it is an unbelievable place with some phenomenal cars going back over many years. The Mclaren's have to perform this weekend and any disasters will unfortunately put both Lewis and Jenson out of the title chase.

It was great to see Australian Alan Jones as the appointed driver race steward this weekend. He was my hero in the TAG Williams of the bygone era some thirty years ago and a tremendous driver in his time at the wheel. As an ex world champion he will no doubt add a balanced view obviously supporting Mark's challenge.

So as quali looms the crowd have come and filled the grandstands, the weather is fine and the fight begins for the first twenty minutes as Heikki takes to the circuit in his Lotus some eight seconds off the pace of this mornings running.

Robert could mix it up at the front as he is very quick here and the mods to the Mclaren's seem to be working. This could be the most critical quali of 2010 for the Mclaren's.

After Q1 we lost Vitantonio, Jarno, Timo, Heikki, Lucas, Sakon and Bruno which is to be expected. Off the cars go into Q2 and times will start to get faster as the surface rubbers in.

So after a hectic Q2 we lost Nico (H), Kamui, Nick, Adrian, Vitaly, Jamie and Sebastian (B) and now the fight for pole begins with mere tenths between the leading contenders.

It is now all to play for and Eddie still feels Lewis has the car to be on pole albeit he dropped behind the Red Bull's in Q2. Mclaren have certainly found something since Japan many items having come in on private jets and suitcases.

With only a quarter of a second between the top five this is going to be a tense quali session. The first to show was Fernando who slotted in a 1.35.9 and is the first into the 35's followed by Sebastian and Lewis.

What a pole shoot out and in the end the Red Bull's took it by fractions of a second so Sebastian, Mark, Fernando, Lewis, Nico, Felipe, Jenson, Robert , Michael and in tenth Rubens. Now it is to play for tomorrow so bring it on and we should be in for an almighty dog fight.