Eric Boullier is encouraged but not excited about Robert Kubica’s impressive pace at the wheel of the Renault so far in Korea.

The Pole has been inside the top four in all three practice sessions at the new Yeongam circuit, and topped the time sheet on Saturday morning.

“It is encouraging,” the team’s French boss Boullier said.  “It gives us hope for a solid weekend, but we have to remain careful.”

After Red Bull dominated in Japan two weeks ago, the other main teams also believe they are closer to the pace of the RB6 this weekend.

“We’re as competitive as them at least,” said McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, and his teammate Jenson Button agreed: “We’re there.”

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso said: “We feel that maybe it’s not as easy as it was for Red Bull in Suzuka, even if they are still favourites.”

The problem for Red Bull in Korea is the first sector, comprising essentially the front straight and the ultra-long second straight.

“They’re (the straights) too long for us,” said Sebastian Vettel, referring to the team’s under-powered engine and an F-duct not as efficient as the one seen on the Renault and McLaren.

Saturday at Yeongam has been overcast and mild so far, and the forecast is for possible overnight rain.

World Championship leader Mark Webber will leave nothing to chance in South Korea and will work in a fresh Yeongam Renault unit
Mark Webber advantage in South Korea? The Australian racing driver and his Red Bull gave RB6 already in free practice for the Grand Prix in Yeongam clear the pace, now sets the championship leader once again for: in qualifying and the race is the 34-year-old resort to its last new engine. This should Webber on the long straights a little better on the road.

The Red Bull driver is in fact the only one from the ranks of the five remaining candidates for the title, which can still rely on fresh power – both Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Jenson Button (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull must) in the final sprint of the season to make do with second hand units. Quite easily ran the kick-off for Webber not.
In free practice, the championship leader but classified in the first place, was spotted during the session but for some time with a stationary front wheel in the air. This did not deter the Australians, however, continue to attend consistently fast laps. In the press conference admitted team boss Christian Horner finally one that a defect had occurred.

“There was a problem with Mark’s car, we were able to fix during the session. He was even on three wheels in a position to mark a very competitive time,” Horner replied to the question of ‘motor-Total.com’ expert Marc Surer, who had believed in stabilizing the cause. “This presumption of truth comes pretty close,” said Horner. “It was no big deal.”

Ex-Sauber driver Pedro de la Rosa to bring in his fellow countrymen of HRT to continue his racing career in position
Originally, Pedro de la Rosa as a prime candidate for a Campos-Formula 1 cockpit, but tilted as the project and was later renamed the HRT was no place for him anymore. He also opted for the Sauber team, which he could at the time the supposed offer better prospects.

Sauber has thrown out the 39-year-old now – and lack of alternatives can imagine the current Pirelli test driver means, 2011 to drive for HRT. He was in contact with the family Carabantes, who runs the Spanish cycling team, he says, and adds to the news agency ‘EFE’ to: “If your project is sporty interesting and ambitious, then I will gladly come to them.” Currently, there is but “no hurry”.
De la Rosa would probably not bring their own sponsors, but his salary was reportedly financed at least in Sauber by the bank Santander. Could also cause a Spaniard in a Spanish team of national interest and bring in this way be indirectly sponsors. It is striking in any case, how much the veteran currently ingratiate the worst team of Formula 1.

“For Spain, it is important to a Formula 1 team to have, and their investment is worth something,” de la Rosa says of the Carabantes. “We have a team, but we do not receive the best value within a few months they have brought a car to the starting line and next year they will again have a car, but the project needs more support -. Not only for companies but also by riders like me and the fans. We need to stand behind them! “

Fernando Alonso I need the engines to the end of the season divided exactly – At Ferrari about a fix already smoked their heads.

In the battle for the championship crown Fernando Alonso wants in the three races to play a major role. But quite apart from the question of whether his Ferrari is competitive enough for it, also plays into it with the motor bottleneck. With the block in Korea as the motor would drive Ferrari in Abu Dhabi. In this case, the season for Alonso would be feasible without penalty.

But if there were an engine problem and a ninth engine must be used, it would be a disciplinary transfer of ten ranks given in the starting lineup – in the championship fight a hard punishment. “If we have reliability problems, it would be traumatic, because then it would be almost impossible to make up the necessary points. Red Bull and McLaren are just extremely strong. We can not afford any mistakes, otherwise it’s over,” said team boss Stefano Domenicali.
Nevertheless, the task is difficult. “It will be extremely difficult to wade to the end,” he said. “We will try to divide the mileage of the current engine. This is the plan and hopefully we make it to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.” Alonso himself has full confidence in his team, however.

“Of course we got our engine problems in the second and third race in a difficult situation, no question, but from then on we have planned the season just different,” said the Spaniard. “Until now we have the situation under control. I’m doing for the last three races, no worries. Everything is okay.”
But Ferrari have to stretch to match the optimism of the star drivers. “The question is how much mileage we get on an engine,” said Domenicali. “We have extended the mileage and tested it at home so it’s no problem. But we must be careful that something is not overheated. At the temperatures we may not be aggressive. We have to watch really in the climatically hot race to South Korea. ”
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The FIA has reacted swiftly to drivers’ concerns about the pit entry in Korea.

Numerous drivers on Friday warned that the fact the entry to the new Yeongam circuit’s pitlane is on the racing line in a fast corner is a safety issue.

“Someone coming into the pits will be slower than the guy behind who is staying on the track,” said Sebastian Vettel.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that, after meeting with the drivers late on Friday, race director Charlie Whiting has agreed to a quick fix.

The white line on the pit entry is being removed overnight, meaning drivers coming into the pits can remain on the power through the fast corner and then sweep into the pits at the last moment.

“So the difference in pace between those coming into the pits and those staying out is not so great,” confirmed Mark Webber.

It is also believed that a kerb at another fast corner is being slightly relocated, while the height difference between the kerbs and the track at turns 16 and 10 will also be attended to in the future.

“I am sure it’s just teething problems and people will look at that and see what they can do,” said McLaren and FOTA boss Martin Whitmarsh.

More generally, following the media’s horror stories of the past months, the F1 paddock seemed surprisingly happy with the venue on Friday, and the drivers gave the actual layout a big thumbs-up.

Nico Rosberg said Yeongam is “very interesting” with “some great combinations of corners”, and Fernando Alonso agreed the layout has “a bit of everything”.

And the venue itself was also being praised on Friday, despite some minor earlier complaints about electricity and gas supply issues, and internet dropouts in the media centre on Friday.

“With the government and organisers spending this kind of money we need to be thankful as it is something amazing, no doubt about it,” said Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali.

The most genuine complaint is about the accommodation, even though the well-heeled drivers and management are enjoying the five-star Hyundai Hotel.

Buzzing around the paddock are stories told by journalists and mechanics about sex toys in vending machines and rooms that are obviously frequented by prostitutes.

“Maybe they (the organisers) can work on that for the future,” said Vettel.

New F1 circuits look unlikely to be able to emulate Korea, whose delayed Yeongam venue was given an eleventh-hour reprieve by the FIA.

Usually, the governing body inspects a new track 90 days before the inaugural race date, giving either a thumbs-up or down.

But in the case of Korea, with construction badly delayed, Charlie Whiting kept postponing the final inspection until mere days before this week’s event.

“Is that going to happen again? No,” said Nick Craw, FIA senate president.

He was speaking to the Austin American Statesman newspaper, after visiting the site of the 2012 United States grand prix and saying he was happy with the organisers’ plans.

American Craw said future races in India and Russia will also be subject to the 90-day rule, to almost certainly be reinforced by the FIA at its November meeting.

“That probably protects everybody’s interest a little better than running right up against the event and saying, ‘Golly gee, we’ve got it wrong’,” he explained.

However, the construction timetable for the Austin race is tight, and he revealed that he will lobby against the 90-day rule if race promoter Tavo Hellmund thinks it will be a problem.

And Hellmund confirmed: “We certainly don’t want the mandate of 90 days because the only track it would affect in the world would be this one.”

The opening sector of the Yeongam circuit in Korea looks set to be a headache for Red Bull this weekend.

Although grounded for most of the opening session on Friday with mechanics working at the rear of his car, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton still managed to top the timing sheet.

The fastest Red Bull was Sebastian Vettel’s, half a second behind and fourth, with the now extremely-efficient F-duct on Renault propelling Robert Kubica to the second best time.

The problem for Red Bull in the first sector is the ultra-long straight, with Ferrari also proving faster there.

“Sector one doesn’t look like our home ground,” agreed Vettel, “but I think sector two and sector three should give us a possibility to catch up.”

His teammate Mark Webber, recalling August’s Belgian grand prix where Hamilton won, added: “It was the same at Spa. We knew that we were going to be quite vulnerable up the hill there.”

Indeed, in Korea, the MP4-25 reached 316kph on the long straight, nearly 10kph faster than Red Bull’s RB6.

The chances of seeing Porsche on the formula one grid in the near future have taken a backwards step.

The Volkswagen group, perhaps with the Porsche or Audi brands, has flagged entering the sport in 2013 along with a radical new engine formula.

But the German marque has made it abundantly clear that it needs the FIA to impose the so-called ‘world engine’ concept; a basic engine formula that can be applied across various premier motor sport categories.

SID news agency quotes Mercedes chief Norbert Haug as saying: “In the formula one meetings that I have attended, the ‘world engine’ was never a topic.”

In fact, he indicated that reports suggesting F1′s existing engine makers – concerned about the cost of implementing revolutionary rules changes – are pushing to retain some semblance of “stability” beyond 2012, are true.

Red Bull has pledged driver equality for the 2010 title fight, whilst openly admitting that Sebastian Vettel is regarded as the man of the future.

“The main thing now is that we become world champions,” said Helmut Marko, who was accused earlier this year of wanting Vettel to beat Australian Webber to the top spot.

But with Webber 14 points clear, and Vettel level-pegging with Ferrari’s chasing Fernando Alonso, the Austrian-owned team must give the 34-year-old an unimpeded run to the chequered flag.

For the future, however, Red Bull’s ambitions are well known.

“I repeat: we are building the team around Sebastian,” team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Auto Bild.

“Sebastian has a long career ahead of him and hopefully he will spend it with us,” said the Briton. “Mark is in the autumn of his career.

“He wants to retire while he’s at the top, not when he’s past his peak like some other drivers,” added Horner.

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, however, thinks Red Bull are making a mistake by giving 23-year-old Vettel so much cover.

“Just look at the differing seasons Mark and Sebastian have had,” the French Canadian is quoted by the Telegraph.

“Vettel has shown he has an impetuous streak but if he makes a mistake and the team don’t tell him it was his fault, he won’t learn.

“It’s Red Bull’s fault for spoiling him,” insisted Villeneuve.

There were no signs of the newly-laid track surface breaking up as the formula one cars christened the Yeongam venue on Friday morning.

But the circuit was as slippery as most paddock observers have ever seen, with drivers’ tyres white with dust in the pitlane, and reporters coughing amid the haze.

Eyebrows were also raised when at least two snakes were photographed slithering across the layout on Thursday, and Sebastian Vettel expressed concern after finding a huge rusty nail as the walked the circuit.

“If you drive over that, you have a puncture,” the Red Bull driver told Bild newspaper.

Mark Webber has rubbished attempts to pre-empt the outcome of the five-driver race to the 2010 title.

With three races to go, the Australian driver has a comfortable 14 point lead, and a complicated formula devised by a doctor of physics at the UK’s Reading University has tipped Webber to still be in front at the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, a Spanish newspaper this week used another probability formula to calculate the percentage changes of the five world championship protagonists

And even the more mathematically-challenged statisticians have surmised that another win and a couple more podiums will be enough for Webber to guarantee his first title.

But the 34-year-old said in Korea: “It’s ridiculous to start calculating things because a lot of things can happen.

“As you say, I win the next two races, it’s all over anyway. Just keep doing our best, that’s the most important thing,” added Webber.

Rubens Barrichello, meanwhile, echoed a widespread view in the paddock that Webber would be a very popular champion.

“For some reason, I’m with (supporting) Webber,” the Brazilian said on Thursday.

“I think since Silverstone, when he spoke his mind and strengthened his position in the team, probably many people think the same,” he revealed.

Pedro de la Rosa on Thursday said Pirelli’s formula one tyre feels different to the product currently used in the sport.

Next year, the Italian marque is replacing departing Bridgestone as F1′s official supplier, so tester de la Rosa was back at the wheel of the 2009 Toyota this week in his native Barcelona.

The Spaniard has an unique perspective on the characteristics of the developing Pirelli, given his job earlier this year racing the Bridgestone-shod Sauber.

Pirelli said after the two-day Barcelona test that it is now “close to defining the rubber that will be taken to Abu Dhabi” for the teams to test for the first time after the season finale in November.

“I’ve been very impressed because I have to say that the tyres were at an even higher level than I imagined,” said de la Rosa.

“These Pirelli tyres have their own quite different characteristics to the current supplier that the drivers will appreciate next year and I’m confident that they will form a very competitive package,” he added.

The next test will take place at Paul Ricard early next month.

F1 indulged in a piece of rare nostalgia on Thursday by recreating a famous scene.

As the 1986 world championship fight came to a head in Adelaide, the four title protagonists – Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet – posed on the pitwall with Bernie Ecclestone for a media photograph.

Two and a half decades later, there are still five drivers in the running for the 2010 crown, so the ever-present F1 chief executive was back on the pitwall for the same sort of photograph.

This time, the scene of the photo – featuring Ecclestone and drivers Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel – was the brand new Yeongam barrier.

“It was good to do the photo with all the guys,” championship leader Webber said afterwards, “going back all those years with some of our heroes obviously in those (1986) photos.”

According to speculation in Korea on Thursday, definite changes on the personnel front are on the cards for Mercedes GP in 2011.

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are staying put as drivers, but a significant shake-up in other areas is expected, following the Brackley-based team’s difficult transition from the title-winning Brawn outfit.

When asked about the prospect of changes for 2011 on Thursday, Rosberg acknowledged the need for action.

“I wanted to be winning races and currently we are far away from that,” said the German.

Asked what the personnel changes could be, including whether Jock Clear will still be his race engineer in 2011, he answered: “Exactly what the changes will be, I cannot say.

“A lot will come from Ross Brawn. There are procedures he has analysed in order to get more from people in certain areas,” added Rosberg.

Two German drivers on Thursday rued a lack of sponsorship that is hurting their chances of being on the formula one grid in 2011.

Although both highly regarded, Nick Heidfeld and Nico Hulkenberg are both struggling to stay as race drivers for next season.

At Sauber, Heidfeld’s seat for 2011 has already been taken for 2011 by the Telmex-backed rookie Sergio Perez, while it is believed Williams is close to securing the Venezuelan dollars brought by new GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado.

The latter transaction would see Hulkenberg looking for a job.

“For me what counts is talent, I hope it’s (that way) for the team too,” he said in Korea.

“If it really is going to end, that would be very disappointing,” Hulkenberg is quoted by the SID news agency.

Heidfeld’s predecessor at Sauber, Pedro de la Rosa, said this week that he “absolutely” would still be in the C29 if he was heavily backed.

“Unfortunately at the moment in F1,” Heidfeld said on Thursday, “it’s not solely about how you drive the car and what you can bring in terms of talent, speed and engineering skills.

“I don’t have backing like some others,” he lamented.