Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Tweaks to be made to Korean track

Korean Grand Prix organisers are making minor modifications to the new Formula 1 track on Friday night following complaints from drivers about potential trouble spots on the new Yeongam circuit

Although drivers were mostly impressed with the layout of the new Korean track, they requested some changes be made to the venue following Friday's first practice sessions.

Following discussions with FIA race director Charlie Whiting at Friday night's drivers' briefing, it was agreed that tweaks be made to two areas in particular - the controversial Turn 16 left-hander and the final Turn 18 apex.

With the cars having bottomed out a lot at the Turn 16 apex, with the kerb lower than the track itself, race organisers are now re-profiling the kerb to make it higher. This should prevent drivers from being encouraged to cut the corner too much.

Work is also being done to re-profile the wall on the exit of Turn 16. The original design had the wall filtering in close to the edge of the track on the right hand side exit of the curve, and that has now been moved back so it runs parallel to the track.

Furthermore, the organisers are building a new apex kerb at the final Turn 18 apex, after drivers kept cutting the corner during free practice - which dragged dirt and stones onto the circuit.

The new kerb will be made lower than the apex of the turn, which will act as a deterrent so drivers do not cut the corner. This should also make the final Turn 17 much more of a kink, with drivers having to be more careful as they exit the long right-hander.

The FIA has also agreed that the track surface will be extensively cleaned overnight to try and get rid of the dust that was dragged onto the track during the free practice sessions.

Some tweaks will also be made to the pitlane entry, which was a concern for the drivers.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Grapevine: Rankings: Webber could move to top
Next article Webber gets engine boost for Korea

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe