2012 Korean GP - Yeong-Am

[WhiteBlue]

Answering the question who will leave Korea in the championship lead I have to say that Vettel is the most likely candidate to win the race. Alonso's odds are three times longer because few people expect Ferrari to bring significant parts before India. So in all likelihood it should be Vettel before Alonso. With just four points between them Vettel would lead even if Alonso takes the second place on the podium, which is less likely than the third or fourth place. All other contenders like Webber, Hamilton and Button are to far away to take the lead after the Korean race.

[RB7ate9]

Well, if you are basing your hopes on problems getting the device set up, you're out of luck as they won't be running it at all this weekend.

That is really disappointing. No matter my feelings on who I want to win or do well, I really would've liked most to see the blasted device in a race.

[Donuts]

It would be so nice if Kimi Raikkonen could win this one and then storm to the throne in the last couple of races! Hope Lotus GP updates work from the get-go!

[raymondu999]

Lotus were so brimming with potential earlier in the season. Now I fear - as I have maintained since Valencia - that they will be 2012's nearly-men, always so tantalisingly close, but no cigar.

[ArchAngel]

Lotus were so brimming with potential earlier in the season. Now I fear - as I have maintained since Valencia - that they will be 2012's nearly-men, always so tantalisingly close, but no cigar.

After being cool with his missed opportunities during the first half of the season, the emerging frustration that RAI's beginning to show seems to based on a similar realization.

I reckon Sauber will finally overtake Merc for 5th in the WCC standings -- rather than unleash their 3DRS/DDRS, Merc are going for a DDNF instead.

[Donuts]

Lotus were so brimming with potential earlier in the season. Now I fear - as I have maintained since Valencia - that they will be 2012's nearly-men, always so tantalisingly close, but no cigar.

That might be tru, but whatever happens I really hope we won't see "the finger" taking the rest of the pole's and wins this season!

[Vasconia]

It would be so nice if Kimi Raikkonen could win this one and then storm to the throne in the last couple of races! Hope Lotus GP updates work from the get-go!

Sadly I dont expect any win from Kimi this season. All victories will be between Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso if we dont see a very chaotic race.

I would like to see Schumacher winning again but this is even less likely to happen.

[clipsy1H]

Drivers Press Conference
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-zWj-BzYQU[/youtube]

[GrizzleBoy]

They are the most depressed looking set of sportsmen I have ever seen lol.

Mark just looks like he wants to kill somebody (and he looks unhealthily thin as ever).

Fernando seems to have a quiet problem with everybody and everything in F1 not related to Ferrari.

Grosjean is being grilled.

Nico is kind of just there and nobody gives a damn about Pastor Maldonado lol.

[LHamilton]

McLaren doing some blowing? The car sounds strange when around 80% throttle is applied.

[Hail22]

McLaren doing some blowing? The car sounds strange when around 80% throttle is applied.

Yes TK just mentioned there has been a profile change to the rear exhaust, and she is certainly blowing around Turns 7, 11, 15.

Good....very good

[Forza]

2012 FORMULA 1 KOREAN GRAND PRIX (Practice 1)

[Hail22]

Very aggressive driving from Hamilton/Alonso...Love it however its mighty dusty on the circuit....

[godlameroso]

Vettel seems to have been set up for max downforce, he was fastest in sector three. I wonder why Lotus are testing the new exhausts on Kimi's car where he doesn't even know the circuit yet. I also wonder if teams will just compromise to have the downforce through sector three, or trim it to allow good speed through all three sectors. If you set up for sector two, then you have to get the chassis to turn aggressively at slow speed and be stable under braking, which tends to make things stiffer, but you compromise rear tire wear through sector 3. If you set up for sector 1 you go slow in the other two, and if you set up strictly for sector 3 then you'll go slow through sector one, and have a harder time preserving the tires through sector two. A very challenging in terms of setup, even more so for Lotus that have to test new parts with a driver that is just learning the track.

[RB7ate9]

Vettel seems to have been set up for max downforce, he was fastest in sector three. I wonder why Lotus are testing the new exhausts on Kimi's car where he doesn't even know the circuit yet. I also wonder if teams will just compromise to have the downforce through sector three, or trim it to allow good speed through all three sectors. If you set up for sector two, then you have to get the chassis to turn aggressively at slow speed and be stable under braking, which tends to make things stiffer, but you compromise rear tire wear through sector 3. If you set up for sector 1 you go slow in the other two, and if you set up strictly for sector 3 then you'll go slow through sector one, and have a harder time preserving the tires through sector two. A very challenging in terms of setup, even more so for Lotus that have to test new parts with a driver that is just learning the track.

RG has never been on the Korea track in anger, either. Frankly, I'd trust Kimi with new parts and feedback.

[Edit]: As far as wiki states, RG was never Test Driver for Renault in 2011 at Korea either.