We hear from very reliable sources that the decision as to whether the Korean Grand Prix will go ahead will not be taken before October 11, the Monday after the Japanese GP when the FIA will send inspectors to Korea to look at the surface of the new circuit. The final layer of tarmac is still to be laid and much depends on the weather being fine. If the surface is not properly cured then the race may not go ahead, although this would be a blow both to Korea and to the Formula 1 world.
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Joe, what short term consequences do you foresee if the race does not happen?
Paul F
None
As a fan of drama, what is FOM’s commitment to the teams regarding the amount of races? Not to mention to the TV people, which contract must say “in exchange for X million euro, you get 19 weekends worth of entertainment for your viewers”. All the teams within 1 race striking distance of the WDC/WCC would surely cause a ruckus if the championship ended 1 race short.
And what alternatives does Bernie have? Surely bringing the race to Europe would be logistically impossible, one idea I can think of is to have it in a track near to Korea, but not Suzuka, since the teams would also complain when they have a disadvantage there. So… Fuji?
Well, I have a feeling the FIA will rubberstamp the track, the teams will complain continuously (and rightly) about the dangerous situation, there’ll be talks of a boycott, and… they’ll go racing anyway. Even if it means using the pit-lane limiter for the entire race. Indianapolis 2005, here we go again!
Allsport are going in the next week or so to check it out. They think it is happening – otherwise they wouldn’t be spending money checking it out!
It will happen, but with absolutely no crowd, almost no paddock club, and certainly no team sponsor hospitality programmes or even activations. It may as well be held in a more glamourous location if the above comes to fruition like Paul Ricard.
Who owns Ricard? Anybody?
JMC
I believe that it is for sale.
How do you say “the dog ate my homework, honest” in Korean?
A track inspection for a new circuit two weeks before the race is due to happen? Madness . Also as Adam Cooper pointed out this inspection should happen 90 days before the event so Bernie must be quite desperate to have this happen.
The last time I can think of a similar situation was back in 1997 where the Portugese GP was pulled from the calendar a few months beforehand becuase they hadn’t made necessary safety upgrades . That time they got Jerez drafted in to fill the empty space but I’m really intrigued to see what they’re going to do with this now.
Here’s hoping the race goes ahead but another Indy 05′ wouldn’t do anyone any good whatsoever.
It’ll be a miracle if this race goes ahead. Personally I hope it doesn’t, as I will be on vacation with no TV anyway……..
Why does Bernie give such little notice with his contracts starting so soon after a deal has been done? all the venues end up being rushed although Yas was a little rushed last year, Abu Dhabi had the resources to get it done, but places like korea dont appear to. little appears to have been learned from this and we will probably end up with half built venues not just in Korea but likely in India and Texas too.
No matter the immediate financial benefits, surely it doesn’t benefit F1, or the hosts to hold a grand prix at a building site?
Surely there have to be legal ramifications for FIA/FOM with regard to ‘due diligence’. If you consider all of the significant economic activity from any number of stakeholders concerned with staging an event of this magnitude, then liability ensues. For sure Bernie will not want to lose revenue and, given the farce in Indianapolis, cannot believe that TV companies, and the advertisers who contribute heavily to their revenues, would not have clauses to cover this type of eventuality. So, if the race does not proceed, there will be any number of people seeking financial recompense from all sorts of parties. The only real losers, however, will be the championship contenders and, once again, the fans both trackside and distant. Therefore, I cannot agree with your analysis that the short term consequences will be “none”. The current economic situation will only exacerbate people’s frustration should the race not go ahead, and be run without ridiculous restrictions. Maybe this will prove decisive in Bernie’s future relations with the FIA and FOTA?
Can you do some more digging here and uncover some more facts on what could be a pivotal story in the two championships?
I am sure that there are clauses in all the contracts that cover this kind of thing. They are all confidential.
Hamilton and McLaren really need this race to happen, otherwise that’s a potential 25 points missing…
I wonder what the potential legal hazards are here, in terms of safety. For example, the FIA appear to be breaching their own procedures and guidelines to sign off the circuit for the grand prix.
If a big accident happens on account of the surface, and people are injured, someone is going to scream bloody murder.
And they would have good cause.
I don’t like things like this being rushed, the circuit isn’t ready, I while I understand the commercial impact dropping the event would have, I think it would be best they just cancelled the event, and ensured everything was done properly for next year.
Tracks that won’t be raceworthy in time:
2010 – Korea
2011 – India
2012 – Austin
@ Andy
and Alonso, Button and Vettel……
“Abu Dhabi had the resources to get it done, but places like korea dont appear to.”
Abu Dhabi is an autocratic nation with no labor laws, so they have the benefit of slave labor to get things done.
The risk is that FOM and the FIA are opening themselves up to liability if a driver is injured while driving the circuit.
They must have weighed this up and considered that the risk is worth it. I can see a driver or team taking action against FIA/FOM in the case of any accident or injury since they circumvented their own inspection and safety procedures.
Gareth, I disagree. If Korea is half finished then I think it will add to the excitement. It’s already more interesting than the whole Bahrain weekend.
JMC, Ricard is owned by Pernod Ricard. The drink obviously, not the track
I would love to see a korean GP 2010 BUT my feeling is that the FIA will treat this thing as a buffer to a Webber Championship. I think they will strike it 2010 if Webber is to win.
I thought bernie owned paul ricard
Gareth, courtesy of Google Translate:
개는 솔직히, 내 숙제를 먹었
(gaeneun soljighi, nae sugjeleul meog-eoss)
Hey Joe, a hypothetical for you:
If:
a) should Korea not go ahead; and
b) Mark Webber goes on to win the world championship;
Given the close nature of this year’s championship, do you think that the cancelled Grand Prix would take away from Webber’s WDC title?
Would the loss of one battle from one of the greatest championships seen in many, many years – if not ever seen in the sport – tarnish the validity of the title?
I ask because there have been recent comments re: the ‘sham’ that would occur should Alonso take out this year’s championship (based upon team orders and Ferrari getting off scot-free from the FIA).
Cheers!
matt,
A championship is based on the number of races that count for the championship. Do Fangio’s championships count for less because there were only eight races a year? No, of course not.
Where there supposed to be 8 races, or did they drop event when Fangio was in the lead?