Tilke promises spectacular Korean race

Although the new asphalt has prompted concerns from drivers and onlookers that it could produce problems over the weekend, Tilke actually thinks that it will be a benefit for F1 fans in helping improve the show because it will be so slippery.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT at the new Korean circuit as the finishing touches were being put to the track, Tilke said that the evolution of the surface would be even more 'extreme' than Monaco - and that could help deliver an exciting race.

"The only problem it [the new surface] will cause - and to me that is not actually a problem - is in terms of grip," explained Tilke. "A lack of grip should not be a problem because we have the best drivers in the world here. Plus, it will be the same conditions for everybody. There will not a problem that the track will break-up.

"I think on Friday the track surface will be very, very slippery because it is brand new. That means you will probably see some spinning. And, it will not be easy to find the set-up for Saturday and Sunday because the track will change a lot.

"That means some drivers will make the wrong set-up choice, because you are going to have to second guess what is the right way to go."

Tilke has admitted that the Korean project was one of the toughest of his life, and even he said there were times when he doubted that it would be finished on time.

"I was not always convinced [it would happen], but you have to analyse the problems and then have to do something about them," said Tilke. "It was not only our effort, we helped of course, but the construction company and everyone here were working hard.

"The delays started at the very beginning, because it is swampy land here and we had to drain it before. It needed a long time for the water to come out - something in excess of one year. Then the land had to be compacted, so it needed more and more time. And, of course, the monsoon season was longer than expected. There were lots of things like that."

Despite the late finishing of the venue, Tilke reckoned there would be no major problems with the infrastructure over the weekend.

"The main systems will work fine, but maybe here and there, there might be some small things that are not working. And because the track is not tested, as it got ready very late, there will probably be a few surprises as well. But all the main things will be okay."