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Junkie Jabber - The Latest Formula 1 News From F1 Junkie
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Friday, 22 October 2010 |
| 2010
Korean Grand Prix Practice Results |
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Practice Session 1 Results |
Practice Session 2 Results |
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© 2010 Formula One
Administration Ltd, 6 Princes Gate, London, SW7 1QJ, England. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 October 2010 )
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Friday, 22 October 2010 |
Patrick Head, Director of Engineering
It was very interesting to see the track develop and the way both tyres are behaving. I think everyone is experiencing graining on the option tyre, so that may cause some different race strategies. For us, we had a normal Friday, although we’d be happier if our lap times were a bit quicker, but we think we know where that is going to come from.
Rubens Barrichello
We had a reasonable day. The track is getting better all the time. We started running on a high fuel load fairly early on, so I don’t think that where we ended today’s running is entirely reflective.
Nico Hulkenberg
driving here. We had a good first session this morning but we made some changes to the set-up for the afternoon which didn’t take us forward. The car felt quite different and I struggled to get the lap time out of it. We were looking competitive all morning though so we’ll go back to what we had originally and improve tomorrow. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 October 2010 )
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Friday, 22 October 2010 |
2010 KOREAN GRAND PRIX – FREE PRACTICE
Korean International Circuit, Friday October 22
LEWIS HAMILTON
MP4-25A-02
P1 programme 15 laps 1m40.887s 1st
P2 programme 29 laps 1m37.942s (+0.337s) 3rd
“This morning, the track was extremely dusty, so all the drivers were sliding around quite a lot. But the track evolution throughout the day has been quite dramatic, so the track is looking quite good now, even if there’s still plenty of dust off-line.
“We look to be quick along the straights, and we seem to be competitive in the second and third sectors too, which is encouraging. The track is very fast – and you need a good car around here, which I feel we’ve got.
“Today was spent evaluating some new developments we’d brought to this track. The times suggest we look as competitive as the Red Bulls, but the Renaults and Ferraris also look quick – so qualifying might come down to which driver can pull the most time out of his quick lap.”
JENSON BUTTON
MP4-25A-01
P1 programme 16 laps 1m41.940s (+1.053s) 5th
P2 programme 19 laps 1m38.726s (+0.784s) 5th
“Our car has been performing pretty well here and I’ve been enjoying the circuit – it’s fun and flowing. While the track was pretty tricky initially because it was quite slippery, I felt like we got to grips with it quite quickly. There’s just a lot of dust, that’s the only problem.
“I lost a little bit of time in the afternoon session, which was disappointing because I didn’t get to run with high fuel. The car just overheated – so I jumped out in the pitlane because it started smoking – and we lost a bit of time tidying it up. Apart from that, it’s been a pretty good day.
“We’re very strong in the first sector, which I guess people expected, but we’re also pretty strong in the other sectors, which is encouraging for us. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the weekend, in fact.”
MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“Today was an encouraging first day for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. First impressions suggest our new upgrades are working, and that we seem to have the performance to match the other world championship front-runners. We’ll be deploying our new rear wing for the remainder of the weekend.
“Following some extremely in-depth preparatory work undertaken back at the McLaren Technology Centre, both Jenson and Lewis were able to very rapidly get to grips with the new track configuration – something that enabled us to focus even more keenly on set-up development.
“The front-running teams appear to be very evenly matched, which bodes well for an extremely exciting qualifying session tomorrow.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 October 2010 )
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Friday, 22 October 2010 |
After some very careful familiarisation laps in the morning, the brand
new tarmac of the Korean International Circuit in Mokpo started to develop
some grip, and both free practice sessions went okay for Kamui Kobayashi
and Nick Heidfeld. Both the Japanese and the German praised the lay-out of
the new circuit.
Weather: sunny and dry, 19-23°C air, 25-34°C track
Kamui Kobayashi:
C29.04 / Ferrari 056
1st Practice: 13th / 1:43.309 min (20 laps) / 2nd Practice: 10th /
1:39.564 min (26 laps)
“The track is quite nice. It is challenging, and the last sector
especially is difficult but nice to drive. The only problem is the surface
is still too slippery. Tyre graining is massive with both compounds. In
the first session we started my programme quite early before the track had
improved a bit, and my tyres were completely gone. That’s why I stopped
a few minutes early. “
Nick Heidfeld:
C29.03 / Ferrari 056
1st Practice: 8th / 1:42.293 (18 laps) / 2nd Practice: 11th / 1:39.588 min
(25 laps)
“We expected the track to have a very low grip level in the beginning,
but it was even lower than we thought. We started with lap times around
two minutes, but then the grease and dirt started to disappear, rubber was
laid and the circuit started to be really good fun. It is nice it has a
lay-out with corner combinations. This means you need to get the first one
right to get into the flow for the following ones, and I like that. The
harder tyres took a long time to warm up, while even with the softer
compound the first lap wasn’t the quickest. Very soon after we reached
the right temperature the tyres started graining. I hope this problem will
lessen as the grip level improves. I am happy we had a dry and trouble
free day to work on the set-up. We learned more and I can see potential to
improve it.”
James Key, Technical Director:
“Not surprisingly it was a busy day learning this new track. As
we expected it was very, very slippery in the beginning with the new
tarmac having just been laid down. It was quite difficult for the drivers
and the engineers to know exactly what issues we had to look at, because
the lap times improved very significantly all through the session. But we
did our best to go through some set-up changes to get a feel for what the
car is responding to. We made some mechanical changes on both cars and did
some aerodynamic tests on Kamui’s. In the afternoon the track had more
grip and was more consistent, so we were able to do a standard programme.
We looked at some downforce levels and further set-up changes from the
morning, and we evaluated the prime and the option tyres to see how they
are performing. There is still a lot to understand, so we are going to be
very busy tonight analysing all the data. Overall we are happy with the
day, the drivers seem to be fairly comfortable, and I think the track is
really good. It looks like a drivers’ circuit. Hopefully we can maintain
our momentum tomorrow.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 October 2010 )
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Thursday, 21 October 2010 |
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Korean GP - Preview
For round 17 of the FIA Formula One World
Championship, the grand prix moves to South Korea, to write a new
chapter in the sport's history. This inaugural Korean Grand Prix takes
Formula One to the fast-developing Asian state, whose economy is now
the world's 15th-largest.
Having previously hosted the Olympic Games and the football World Cup,
South Korea is no stranger to staging world-class sporting events and
for the country's venture into Formula One, race organisers KAVO —
the Korean Auto Valley Operation — have overseen the construction of
an anxiously awaited all-new motor-racing facility. The design and
build of the Korean International Circuit (KIC) has been led by
Formula One's noted circuit architect Hermann Tilke. For this, Tilke's
sixth 'from-scratch' Formula One undertaking, the company has taken
design inspiration from Korean emblems. The main grandstand roof, for
example, is modelled on the eaves of a 'Hanok', a traditional Korean
house. The circuit itself, meanwhile, features sections intended to
recreate favourite corner sequences of more traditional Formula One
circuits, such as Silverstone’s Becketts complex.
The timing of the race, in what has become a classic Formula One
season, means the KIC will be the venue for another clash between the
five drivers to have led the fight for the championship since round
one in Bahrain last March: Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing), Fernando
Alonso (Ferrari), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing), Lewis Hamilton
(McLaren) and Jenson Button (McLaren). After 16 rounds they remain
separated by only 31 points, with 75 available. The three-way
constructors' tussle also remains poised, with Red Bull Racing on 426
points, McLaren on 381 and Ferrari on 334.
CIRCUIT DATA: KOREAN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
FAST FACTS: KOREAN
GRAND PRIX
• The
circuit is located in Yeongam on reclaimed land between the hills
outside the city of Mokpo in the south western province of Jeollanam-do.
KIC is approximately 400km from South Korea's capital, Seoul.
• On September 4 this year, Karun Chandok became the
first Formula One driver to run at the circuit, driving a Red Bull
Racing show car. He commented: “The circuit is pretty cool to drive
and the layout is really quite interesting. The first bit of the lap
is mega-long straights, then from turn seven onwards it’s feisty,
fast-flying stuff.”
• KIC becomes the fifth Formula One circuit to run
anti-clockwise, joining Turkey’s Istanbul Park, Singapore’s Marina
Bay, Interlagos in Brazil, and the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
• The circuit has been designed to be part-permanent,
part-Formula One-only. For the Grand Prix, the permanent track layout
will be extended to run alongside the nearby waterfront and harbour.
• 120,000 grandstand seats will line the
circuit. The total spectator capacity is 135,000.
CIRCUIT DATA
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Length of lap:
Lap record:
Start line/finish line offset:
Total number of race laps:
Total race distance:
Pitlane speed limits:
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5.621km
n/a
0.000km
55
309.155km
60km/h during practice sessions;
100km/h during qualifying and race
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CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS DRIVERS
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CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS CONSTRUCTORS
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Mark Webber
Fernando Alonso
Sebastian Vettel
Lewis Hamilton
Jenson Button
Felipe Massa
Nico Roseberg
Robert Kubica
Michael Schumacher
Adrian Sutil
Rubens Barrichello
Kamui Kobayashi
Vitaly Petrov
Nico Hülkenberg
Vitantonio Liuzzi
Sébastien Buemi
Pedro de la Rosa
Nick Heidfeld
Jaime Alguersuari
Heikki Kovalainen
Jarno Trulli
Karun Chandhok
Lucas di Grassi
Timo Glock
Bruno Senna
Sakon Yamamoto
Christian Klien
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220
206
206
192
189
128
122
114
54
47
41
27
19
17
13
8
6
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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Red Bull Racing
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team
Renault F1 Team
Force India F1 Team
AT&T Williams
BMW Sauber F1 Team
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Lotus Racing
HRT F1 Team
Virgin Racing
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426
381
334
176
133
60
58
37
11
0
0
0
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 October 2010 )
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Monday, 18 October 2010 |
2010 KOREAN Grand Prix preview
Jenson Button
“It’s always exciting visiting a new circuit for the first time. The Korean track certainly looks very interesting – a real mix of different characteristics – and there appear to be a couple of very likely opportunities for overtaking, particularly at the end of the three main straights, but possibly also off-line in the twisty final sector. The track looks quite high-speed, and the walls are close, so I think it’ll be an interesting challenge.
“As with any new circuit, it looks like it might throw up a few unexpected issues – not necessarily on the racetrack itself, but I’m sure the teams and drivers will work together with the organisers to make sure the event is a complete success,
“We’ve made some improvements to the parts we tested in Suzuka, and it’s looking likely that we’ll run the new parts on Friday in Korea. As with all our upgrades, we are pushing the envelope, so I’m optimistic that the tests will be positive and that we’ll be able to race the new components.”
Lewis Hamilton
“I’ve driven the Korean International Circuit on the simulator, and my first impressions were extremely positive. On paper, the track should suit our car quite well – the first sector is all about good end-of-straight speeds and strong performance under heavy braking, both key characteristics of our car.
“And the middle sector is fast and flowing; it’s the kind of place where you want a car with a good balance and good downforce. I think it’ll reward commitment – it actually feels like quite a nice driver’s track. The end of the lap is slower and tighter, but it’s still all about rhythm and flow – so, as long as the track surface is nice and grippy, I think we’re set for an enjoyable first race in Korea.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend – I think we can have a positive race. While recent results haven’t necessarily shown it, we’ve had a strong car – now I’m hoping to get the chance to prove it on track.”
Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“With three races remaining, and 75 points on the table for the drivers, it would be unwise to write off Jenson, Lewis or Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Both drivers have won world championships before – they understand the difficulties of such a unique situation, and both have learned how to deliver their best under high pressure. They will be ready for this battle.
“And it’s a battle that will doubtless be won by consistency. While we will continue with our aggressive development strategy, bringing further new components to this race, we’re mindful of the need to bag points at every race. Nonetheless, we are committed to winning, and won’t give up without a fight.
“Finally, to clarify, following his gearbox issue in Suzuka, Lewis will not face a second successive five-place grid penalty this weekend. The gearbox regulations were framed to ensure teams weren’t penalised twice for the same gearbox issue, so Lewis will go into the weekend without risk of further penalty.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 October 2010 )
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