Korean GP - is it as simple as 'it may not happen'?

[M-J-B]

With the huge amount of work still to do and the likelihood the track and infrastructure may/will not meet FIA standards, will it be cancelled?

The implications for the drivers and teams that it isn't cancelled are huge. Aside from the fight for the championships and the points that will disappear, the enormous amount of money that's been invested not only by teams and other companies getting ready for the race, the FIA are going to look like a bunch of amateur school boy 'O' business study students if it all goes tits up. The track should have had the all in July, apparently the FIA agreed to a final inspection on 21st Sept - but that day was a bank holiday in Korea so it didn't happen This is going to hit F1 right in the knackers if it all falls apart 'for sure' me thinks.

Will they therefore take a calculated risk that providing it's 80% of the way there, they'll run the show.....

Discuss.

[Pints]

I was thinking along similar lines after I saw the Sky news ticker. If Korea aren't ready, could they not run it at another venue who would be able to host it at short notice? There must be several tracks capable (and willing) of hosting an F1 race.
To simply drop a race altogether from the calendar this late in the season would be disastrous for the sport (and Bernie's pocket).

[llewop]

Only options as I see it are run it and hope nothing goes wrong or cancel: there is no time to arrange it elsewhere, assuming the date is fixed - which it has to be from a logistics point of view.

Logically most of venues that could hold it at short notice would be european ones (other than repeating an existing race... ) and then there would be a scramble/mess regarding tickets. But in any case the logistics would be hell!

[plg]

Pints said:

I was thinking along similar lines after I saw the Sky news ticker. If Korea aren't ready, could they not run it at another venue who would be able to host it at short notice? There must be several tracks capable (and willing) of hosting an F1 race.
To simply drop a race altogether from the calendar this late in the season would be disastrous for the sport (and Bernie's pocket).

Erm - do Korea have any other tracks approved for F1 safety standards?

There are 4 scenarios?:

1) Drop it on grounds of safety to 2011. Not good. Drop that race and points.
2) Create a "double header" race at A-D or Brazil (Japan too close). All the teams are in flyaway mode anyway so logistics no different.
3) Race on a track that isn't quite to FIA standards; can't see this happening
4) Move it to end of season - after A-D. Hard logistically and A-D wouldn't be happy.

[acf8181]

Yeah, don't think there's any way of arranging the logistics for an alternative (getting the cars and teams there may be easy enough, but what about all the TV, let alone fans....much harder)

I guess it would only be even possibly possible if they used ricard and had no spectators.

[groomi]

acf8181 said:

Yeah, don't think there's any way of arranging the logistics for an alternative (getting the cars and teams there may be easy enough, but what about all the TV, let alone fans....much harder)

I guess it would only be even possibly possible if they used ricard and had no spectators.

I'd like to see that.

What the hell - make it free tickets to fill the grandstands!

[Alfa numeric]

Could they resurect the Pacific Grand Prix at Kobe? The preceding race is also in Japan so they wouldn't have far to travel.

[plg]

My preference would be for a double header race - I can't remember if Brazil has an alternate circuit layout - I know Suzuka does (East and West) - but not necessarily suitable for F1. Also I guess that any changes this late would have to be unanimous across the teams, and you can be assured that some will veto - especially whoever is leading the table?

Shame - 2 sprint races on the Friday (2*25 laps) at Suzuka East and then Suzuka West in place of Korea might be fun....(for the fans)

[Jungles]

plg said:

Erm - do Korea have any other tracks approved for F1 safety standards?

No. South Korea has no active permanent road circuits, let alone one approved for F1.

If South Korea isn't going to be ready, I hope the GP can be moved at short notice to Fuji, although it's doubtful that Toyota will allow it.

Edited by Jungles on Tuesday 28th September 11:08

[team underdog]

M-J-B said:

Will they therefore take a calculated risk that providing it's 80% of the way there, they'll run the show.....

I think as long as there is a track and pit facilities, it will go ahead, but it will still generate a lot of bad press - the F1 media will slate it and rightly so.

Good article on pitpass... http://pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?f...

[hifihigh]

Or perhaps move the event to Fuji speedway. That Kobe track looks good but doesn't have long straights that current f1 cars need for overtaking. The fuji speedway is already up to current F1 spec I think and also has the loooong straight needed for good slipstreaming.

I guess the only problem would be money (and also all the pissed off Koreans who have tickets for the race there).

[plg]

hifihigh said:

Or perhaps move the event to Fuji speedway. That Kobe track looks good but doesn't have long straights that current f1 cars need for overtaking. The fuji speedway is already up to current F1 spec I think and also has the loooong straight needed for good slipstreaming.

I guess the only problem would be money (and also all the pissed off Koreans who have tickets for the race there).

Sadly I think an alternate track would be in the "too hard" category - the logistics, hotels, permissions, tickets, etc to be done in, say, 4 weeks?
I know Fuji was approved for recent years, but is their FIA approval current or would it need re-inspection? Would probably pass - it is a fairly modern circuit.

Either way, I don't think it will be down to the availability of a track - or money - it'll be down to the team bosses and veto rights... and the egos...

[Pints]

plg said:

Pints said:

I was thinking along similar lines after I saw the Sky news ticker. If Korea aren't ready, could they not run it at another venue who would be able to host it at short notice? There must be several tracks capable (and willing) of hosting an F1 race.
To simply drop a race altogether from the calendar this late in the season would be disastrous for the sport (and Bernie's pocket).

Erm - do Korea have any other tracks approved for F1 safety standards?

I wasn't suggesting running it at another Korean track (obviously) but at another F1 track somewhere around the world. F1 has been raced at not just the 19/20 circuits currently on the calendar.

[Jasandjules]

Well, it's certainly more interesting this way......... Could argue that Mr Ecclestone is generating publicity... But I guess the question is whether or not it will be ready - I don't think the grandstands etc matter [i]that[/] much, as long as the race can proceed (i.e. a functioning circuit and pits) with TV coverage, that will be sufficient IMHO for it to go ahead - after all, it's the TV which generates the income rather more than the attendees is it not?!?!

[plg]

Pints said:

I wasn't suggesting running it at another Korean track (obviously) but at another F1 track somewhere around the world. F1 has been raced at not just the 19/20 circuits currently on the calendar.

Understood - suggest that it would be possible in theory - but suggest time is against us for the logistics, etc. As you say, plenty of circuits around teh world would be F1 standard.

I'd forgotten that they are going Korea>Brazil>Abu Dhabi. Crazy logistics. I guess that leaves open a few more replacements, but European circuits are heading into autumn. Given Bernie will get the money from Korea anyway if they default, I wonder if another circuit could pull some quick money together?

Or:

• Japan (Suzuka/Fuji/(Okayama is probably not approved to current standards))
• China (empty grandstands anyway)
• Brazil (double header)
• Abu Dhabi (double header)
• Bahrain

[M-J-B]

team underdog said:

M-J-B said:

Will they therefore take a calculated risk that providing it's 80% of the way there, they'll run the show.....

I think as long as there is a track and pit facilities, it will go ahead, but it will still generate a lot of bad press - the F1 media will slate it and rightly so.

Good article on pitpass... http://pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?f...

In fairness, reading that at 6am this morning whas the catalyst that got me thinking

[hifihigh]

What happens financially if the Korea track isn't ready, would they have to pay Bernie extra money for failing to deliver? If so perhaps this could go some way towards hosting the race at another circuit. Maybe Motegi if Fuji cant/won't do it.

[Rude-boy]

Forget the race going on elsewhere on the same w/e. You are talking about the logistics of moving a small town, with half the neighbouring city coming to see you for a couple of days.

Just not possible. Each Silverstone GP is at least 18 months in planning to give you an idea. With helpful natives and a sack full of cash it might be possible to do it in 3 months but if it isn't there it isn't going to be anywhere.

The idea of a double header is a possiblity but I just can't see it happening.

[BoRED S2upid]

It will happen they will be working like dogs day and night to get it ready, I dare say it may be a little rough around the edges but providing its safe for racing it doesn't matter about the spectators or pits or access or other things why they are going to Korea in the first place annoys me and India next year FFS!

[snorkel sucker]

If it doesnt happen in Korea, it wont happen at all. Logistically its a nightmare and would only result in additional costs to those which will no doubt already be attributed to the GP not happening in Korea in the first place.

Question is, with the calendar having one race left, would any of the teams, having known this at the beginning of the season, done anything differently, taken bigger risks etc? Not likely; every race is approached one at a time.

More food for thought is that one less race will no doubt favour Ferrari. With Alonso on a roll and them being down to their last engine, one less race would be potentially ideal for them. As far as teams in the paddock go, they do tend to have the biggest influence, too....