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RENCKEN: Korean 4-way F1 battle

The 19-round 2011 FIA Formula 1 World Championship allows no respite: no sooner had the flag dropped on Sebastian Vettel’s second consecutive title, than the 12 teams hurriedly headed for Mokpo ahead of the Korean Grand Prix.

With the 2011 championship done and dusted, the way is clear for a gloves-off contest between four drivers for Formula 1’s consolation prize. A fight is expected between three world champions, namely McLaren’s Jenson Button (210 points), Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso (202 points) and Lewis Hamilton in the second McLaren (178 points), along with Vettel’s Red Bull team mate Mark Webber (194 points).

DONE AND DUSTED

There could hardly be a better circuit to host the first of four rounds which will decide the final order behind the Vettel than the highly technical 5.6km Korean International Circuit situated some 400km south-west of the capital, Seoul.

Designed around a coastal resort, this facility is built on reclaimed land, and is effectively a track of two halves, with one portion of the track being purpose-built and the other providing public access during non-Grand Prix periods.

FIGHTING FOR SECOND PLACE: Sebastian Vettel may have clinched the title but that won't stop him from continuing to dominate in Korea.

This contrast is evident in the track’s speed differential: v-max is 320 km/h (without DRS), while drivers need to shift down to second (or possibly lower, depending upon gearing) to negotiate five of the track’s 18 (11L/7R) turns. Against this, three corners are taken at speeds in excess of 250 km/h. As a guide, drivers are expected to hit full throttle for 62% of each lap, then stand on the brakes 20% of time.

TYRE WEAR

In dry weather lap speeds should average 205 km/h, while the main straight is the fourth longest in F1 (1km), affording full throttle periods of 15 seconds.
 
The tight sequence running from Turns 6 to 8 is particularly punishing due to high lateral g-forces, while Turns 9 to 18 are tight and relatively slow. Although short ratios are required for acceleration bursts between corners, cars need to be geared for the 1050m straight - with and without DRS - complicating set-up, and placing further strains on (sealed) engines already close to the end of their useful lives.

The FIA has announced that the DRS zone, during which an attacker will need to be within a second of his prey, will be between Turns 2 and 3, with the activation area on the 500m straight which follows.

Little of the track has been altered since the inaugural race in 2010, apart from improved verges and kerbing. The wall between Turns 16 and 18 was moved back after drivers complained about poor visibility. The circuit is excepted to play havoc with tyre wear and strategies, due to its abrasive surface.

Pirelli has specified supersoft (red sidewall) and soft (yellow) tyres in the hopes of spicing up the show now that the title has been decided. This combination was used in Monaco, Hungary, Canada and Singapore, and the track’s anti-clockwise direction means front right tyres are likely to be hardest hit by graining.

Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery said: “Because of the abrasive surface and comparatively high lateral loading in Korea we expect a higher number of pit stops than usual from drivers basing their strategies around the softer tyre”

“Some may prefer to concentrate on the harder compound, so it’s going to be another very interesting race tactically,” he said Hembery.

Wet weather could rain on Pirelli’s parade, with medium term forecasts predicting windy storms during the race weekend.

CONSOLATION PRIZE

The 2010 race was blighted by wet conditions, with the safety car being deployed after drivers complained about poor visibility due to spray “hanging” between residential walls surrounding parts of the track. In total the safety car headed the field for 47% of the race after various incidents caused it to be deployed four times.

Road deaths

TITLE BATTLE: Ferrari's Fernando Alonso could secure the second place title in 2011.


The 2010 Korean GP was won by Alonso after runaway leader Vettel suffered a rare engine failure. Button is a master of variable conditions, while Hamilton and Webber are desperate to post strong showings after being overshadowed by their respective team mates.

So, the race could go to any one of the five, with Felipe Massa’s Ferrari expected to be there if Hamilton fails for the first time in three races to torpedo Ferrari’s No.2 driver. Michael Schumacher has improved in leaps and bounds of late, while Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg was arguably man of the race in Japan after starting from the back due to hydraulic failure in qualifying, then finishing tenth.

The 55-lap Korean Grand Prix starts on Sunday 16th at 8am (SA local).

Circuit data: Korea International Circuit

Length of lap: 5.615km
Lap record: 1min 50.257seconds (Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 2010)
Total number of race laps: 55

Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.
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