The future of the embattled Korean grand prix looks safe for now.
The Korea Herald reports that organisers of the Yeongham event have reached a deal with Bernie Ecclestone to reduce the race fees.

Completing its bespoke circuit at the last minute, South Korea joined the calendar in 2010 but soon bemoaned the huge costs.

Sunday’s media report said organisers will save more than $20 million this year by successfully negotiating a reduced race commission and annual television license fee.

The new deal will last until the end of Korea’s race contract, in 2016.

The Korea Herald said organisers paid almost $40 million to Ecclestone’s Formula One Management last year — a 10 per cent rise on 2010.

The new deal will see the 10 per cent increase scrapped, the report added.

“With the successful negotiation, we’ll be able to save a significant amount of money this year,” said organiser Kang Hyo-seok.

“It’s a still difficult situation, but we’re trying hard to improve it.”

Korean carmaker Hyundai could become interested in formula one in the coming years.

That is the view of a spokesman for the Korean grand prix, following the country’s second formula one race last weekend.

The inaugural 2010 event was a shambles and circuit officials recently revealed financial concerns about the future of the event.

Late on Sunday, the Yeongam organisers revealed a race day crowd of 84,174, causing Red Bull’s official Twitter to wittily observe: “That must include mosquitos. And fish. And those were counted twice.”

A report by the Associated Press claims a Korean driver or team might help in the future, powered by the involvement of a local carmaker like Hyundai or Kia.

“Hyundai has been enthusiastic about the idea around the middle management levels, but the CEO has yet to be convinced,” said Korean grand prix spokesman Shin Young.

“In the future though, I think it will happen. I hope so.”

 The interest in Ferrari’s 2012 front wing in Korea left Fernando Alonso annoyed.
“I think it’s to do with the team, not the journalists,” La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes the Spaniard as saying in Korea, where his 150 Italia was fitted with the radical new wing.

Media reports analysed in detail the difference between the new and old wing and its performance in Korea relative to the regular specification driven by Alonso’s teammate Felipe Massa.

“As I’ve said before, in these last four races we need to learn a lot about 2012,” Alonso said. “Gaining or losing a tenth is a very low priority at the end of this season compared to finding the direction for next year’s car.

“We are working with a specific goal that is not easy for you (reporters) to understand,” he added.

“I do not think the readers are interested to get up in the morning and read about three or four points of downforce, certain diameters — I think they want to know who is fourth or fifth or whether you are working for the grand prix or the next year.

“The details seem very superficial to me.”

On the radio towards the end of Sunday’s Korean grand prix, Alonso was heard to tell his team “I give up” — a call rarely heard from the double world champion.

Alonso insists his focus is on what will make the 2012 season better.

“I will come to work (in 2011) to gain experience for the things for next year,” he is quoted by AS sports newspaper. “We can try some experimental parts and also (experiment with) how to deal with the weekends.”

The 30-year-old is currently third in the drivers’ championship.

“If we can get one tenth (for the 2012 car) from the information and yet finish fifth in the championship, I would sign it now,” insisted Alonso.

“No one expects us to come to India and have the pole and the win. Expect us to be fourth or fifth in qualifying and third, fourth or fifth in the race,” he said.

The F1 world can expect a much better experience at the Korean grand prix this weekend.

When the barely-finished Yeongham venue hosted its inaugural race a year ago, officials, drivers, team members and journalists bemoaned the sub-standard facilities and organisation.

Another bone of contention was the so-called ‘love motels’ accommodation, normally frequented by prostitutes and their clients.

“Last year, we had many difficult problems holding the very first Korean grand prix,” race chairman Park Joon-yung told the local JoongAng daily.

“However, based on the experience and knowledge we gained last year, I am confident that the event this year will be much improved.”

The early reports from those checking into their hotels and arriving at the circuit this week is that the situation in Korea this year is vastly improved.

“We’re hoping for a slightly easier race this year than last. 2010 was very difficult for a number of reasons,” said FIA race director Charlie Whiting.

The weather should also be much better this weekend, after torrential rain disrupted last October’s inaugural race.

Korea is expecting a smooth running of its formula one race weekend next month.

Last year, when the new Yeongham circuit hosted the inaugural Korean grand prix, many visitors were disappointed with construction delays, poor management and the fact they had to stay in so-called ‘love motels’.

In response, local organisers Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) was investigated and chief executive Chung Young-cho dismissed.

“Learning from last year, F1 organisers set out innovative ways of improving our management,” the Yonhap news agency said, quoting from a media statement.

“In terms of customer service, we expect this year’s F1 race to be much more satisfactory,” the organisers added.

Barely a month after he collected the FIA prize for the best promoter of 2010, the Korean grand prix’s Yung Cho Chung has been ousted.
During a board meeting on Friday, the inaugural event’s chief organiser was accused of lax management and dismissed, the Yonhap news agency revealed.

F1 insiders were surprised in December when Korea was awarded the prize for the best event of last year, following late construction of the Yeongham circuit and widespread tales of sub-standard utilities and accommodation.

Yonhap reported that two other senior executives were also fired during the emergency shareholders meeting of Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO).

Park Won-Hwa, the former South Korean ambassador to Switzerland, has reportedly been named Chung’s replacement.

Promoter KAVO, a joint public and private venture, was not available for comment.

South Korea’s race contract extends for at least six more years but KAVO launched an investigation after the inaugural event last October when flaws in the organisation became apparent.

“Investors felt that KAVO’s management under Chung couldn’t guarantee success this year,” an unnamed official said on Friday.

Jarno Trulli has dismissed reports he is set to switch to NASCAR in 2011 rather than stay another season with Lotus.

The Italian veteran has bemoaned his abysmal run of reliability with the new team this season, and travelled straight from the recent Korean grand prix to Miami.

There, the 36-year-old met up with his old friend Juan Pablo Montoya, rekindling memories of when Trulli tested a NASCAR late last year when his future was also uncertain at the end of Toyota’s F1 foray.

It Interlagos on Friday, he was asked about his latest US visit.

“I know that Juan Pablo was testing somewhere a few days before but honestly no, I was there for a holiday and I think people are just making up rumours,” said Trulli.

Lotus technical boss Mike Gascoyne hinted strongly on Friday that both Trulli and his current teammate Heikki Kovalainen are staying put for 2011.

“I think a decision is imminent,” he added.

Trulli even admitted to France’s Auto Hebdo in Brazil that he played a role in advising Lotus to switch to Renault power for 2011 and beyond.

“Honestly, yes,” he is quoted as saying.

“I talked with Mike and Tony (Fernandes) about my experiences with Renault in the past.

“I am very happy about it because I’ll be working again with Renault, with whom I get along really well.

“We seem to be doing the right things for the future so I think we can expect a good season next year,” added Trulli.

As the 2010 world championship battles heats up, so too is the competitive rivalry between Red Bull’s teammates.

Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are openly not friends, but with just two races to go this season and 14 points between them, some believe Vettel should now be helping his Australian teammate to the title.

“I am not giving up,” 23-year-old German Vettel said on Thursday in an interview with the DPA press agency.

“It would be stupid to give up the belief in the title. I will continue to fight,” he promised.

Vettel was asked whether he has a cooperative “deal” in place with Webber as the season winds down.

“That is too far away,” he answered. “I must just concentrate on my performance.”

Earlier this week, Webber indicated Vettel is only regarded as the team’s “superstar” because of his young age.

Vettel’s apparent rejoinder is a barb about the pair’s exits from the recent Korean grand prix, with Webber crashing and Vettel retiring with an engine failure.

“Let’s put it this way: I would have been far more disappointed if I had thrown away the car over a personal fault,” said the German.

He said he is not worried about losing the support of his team in deference to Webber.

“I know that my team supports me and that I don’t have to be worried,” answered Vettel.

The inaugural running of last month’s Korean grand prix has been brought into question with a piece of emerging news on Thursday.

Although F1′s FIA inspectors cleared the bespoke venue in Yeongam for the October 24 event, it has emerged that state inspectors have deemed mobile stands unsafe for an international F3 race scheduled for late November.

Organiser Barry Bland said in a statement: “(Local promoter) KAVO have had to cancel the (event) due to Force Majeure.”

He said the reason was a “legal technicality with the circuit”, and a KAVO spokesman told AFP news agency that the cancellation is due to “delayed approval from inspectors”.

KAVO, or Korea Auto Valley Operation, is a joint private venture involving the Jeollanam-do regional government.

The spokesman Kim Jae-Ho said the decision will not affect next year’s Korean grand prix, unconditionally scheduled on the 2011 calendar for 16 October.

“We will do our best to build complete mobile stands,” he said.

“Compared to the lack of experience, we believe the first F1 race was staged in a satisfactory way, but we need to make perfect preparations for the F3 race next year,” the spokesman added.

As drivers seemingly line up for his seat at Lotus, Jarno Trulli has been spotted in the US.

In recent days, rival drivers including Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov have been linked for 2011 with the Malaysian team, who are thought certain to renew Heikki Kovalainen’s contract.

At the same time it has emerged that, immediately after the Korean grand prix, 36-year-old Italian veteran Trulli travelled to Miami.

He reportedly met up with his old friend Juan Pablo Montoya, and they dined on Thursday night at the Italian restaurant Il Gabbiano.

Last year, when his future beyond the withdrawing Toyota team was uncertain, Trulli also visited America, testing a NASCAR and visiting the Sprint Cup race in Phoenix.

Referring to the late 2009 test with Michael Waltrip Racing, he said his performance had been “very strong” and “on the pace of the best ones”.

South Korean companies are reportedly holding off before deciding whether to follow the east Asian country into formula one.

The brand new Yeongam circuit hosted its inaugural grand prix last weekend, but the only Korean brand involved as a sponsor was LG.

A range of companies told Korea’s JoongAng daily that they are waiting to gauge the impact of the first F1 race.

And South Korean mobile operator SKT, and the other major telcom KT, “largely expressed disinterest” in F1, the newspaper revealed.

“We have obviously decided not to sponsor the F1 races this year, but the situation might be different next year. It’s impossible to say at this point,” a spokesperson for KT said.

An SKT spokesperson added: “We had not heard of any plans regarding sponsorship (of F1) inside the company.”

And Diageo Korea, the Korean arm of McLaren’s whisky sponsor Johnnie Walker, said via a spokesperson: “We might consider sponsoring next year, depending on the success of this year’s Korean grand prix.”

Christian Horner on Wednesday said it is “ridiculous” to suggest Mark Webber tried deliberately to take out his rivals after crashing in Sunday’s Korean grand prix.

Former grand prix winner Gerhard Berger said on Tuesday that the Australian “could have hit the brakes” after crashing out of second place during the rain-hit race in Yeongam.

“Yes, I think that’s very clear,” said the Austrian. “It’s very obvious, you can see his wheels are not locked up.”

Webber actually collected the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg, but – according to Berger – he “would have preferred” to wipe title contenders Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton out of the race.

Red Bull team boss Horner responded: “As with every incident in formula one, opinions will always be made without all the facts.

“Just to be absolutely clear — Mark’s intention was not to take out another driver after his crash and it’s ridiculous to suggest otherwise,” he told the Telegraph.

Horner admitted that Webber’s RB6 was “badly damaged” after his initial contact with the wall, but his attempt to keep the car going was a “natural and immediate instinct” to get back into the race.

“It’s absurd to suggest that Mark would ever deliberately take out another driver,” added Horner.

Christian Horner hopes Sebastian Vettel’s engine situation does not further dent his championship chances.

The Red Bull driver retired from the lead of the Korean grand prix last Sunday with a sudden and catastrophic failure of his Renault engine.

The 2.4 litre V8 unit that failed was the eighth he has used in races so far in 2010, but it had successfully completed 1600km of its projected life of 2000km.

But the other engines still available to the German are also quite high on mileage, which explains why Vettel did relatively few laps in practice last weekend.

“It’s obviously not an ideal situation,” team boss Horner said when asked about Vettel’s engine situation going forward.

“Hopefully it will have a negligible effect on him,” he added.

Gerhard Berger is quite sure Red Bull Racing will not impose teams orders in its final push for the 2010 drivers’ title.

After Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber retired from the recent Korean grand prix, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso drove into a clear points lead.

The situation has sparked speculation that Red Bull must now throw its full weight behind Australian Webber, who has the higher points tally, with young German Vettel to take a reluctant subordinate role.

But Berger, former co-owner of the energy drink company’s second team Toro Rosso and a close friend of Dietrich Mateschitz, does not think Red Bull will take that approach.

“Some of the teams, like Williams or McLaren, operate as a business. In this way it makes sense for them to have a team strategy in order to maximise their championship position,” said the Austrian, referring to F1′s system of revenue distribution.

“But Red Bull has a very different approach, using formula one as a sporting platform to boost its product,” Berger told Austrian television Servus TV.

“And from the sporting approach, the best man wins,” he insisted.

Berger acknowledged the ‘grey area’ of team orders in formula one, such as Ferrari’s escape from the FIA hearing this year with a mere $100,000 fine but 7 additional points for Fernando Alonso.

“Forget grey areas, we’re thinking of morality,” he continued.

“If I know Dietrich Mateschitz, there is no question about the approach. And I think the fans will be grateful. It’s sport.

“It’s not sport however if all year you’re just making tactical moves,” insisted Berger.

Gerhard Berger has accused Mark Webber of wanting to take out a championship rival after crashing in Sunday’s Korean grand prix.

Australian Webber, who at the time was leading the world championship by 14 points, spun on a wet kerb whilst running second at Yeongam and struck the wall.

But his Red Bull then rolled back across the circuit, collecting the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg.

“I don’t understand why Webber didn’t hit the brakes,” said Rosberg. “It was crazy to roll back across the track like that.”

Former grand prix winner Berger said on Monday: “He could have hit the brakes and stopped the car at the wall.

“He took out Rosberg, but it was the wrong one. I think in his mind he would have preferred Alonso or Hamilton,” the former Ferrari and McLaren driver told Austrian Servus TV.

Asked to clarify whether he thinks Webber’s move was deliberate, Berger – a former co-owner of the second Red Bull team Toro Rosso – added: “Yes, I think that’s very clear.

“He goes off and he knows it’s over. In this moment you’re frustrated and a thousand thoughts go through your head.

“It’s very obvious, you can see his wheels are not locked up. Perhaps he had a brake problem, but I don’t think so.”