The Korean International circuit, an enormous construction site
Formula 1’s recent travelling circus is arriving at South Korean, and the initial reports are giving a mixed response.
BBC television anchor Jake Humphrey stated that the Yeongam venue is satisfactory and fulfils the requirements for an F1 grand prix but is “far from finished.”
“Things look pretty ready to go with some beauty work still to be finished but the main structure is ready,” said Virgin driver Lucas di Grassi,
Many officials talked about their long journeys from the huge airport in Seoul to Mokpo near Yeongham.
Photographer Darren Heath was not impressed with the journey as he had to tackle many buses. He believes that it would have been better in the middle of nowhere.
Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit wrote in a newspaper that the Korean track itself is an “enormous construction site” and his hotel room is one of those rooms that charges per hour.
Reportedly disappointed was team Williams with the local accommodation, saying that the British team had to commit to a three-hour round trip every day in order to stay in a nicer hotel. Benoit wrote that the venue is dominated by excavators, debris and
waste.
Sauber’s team manager Beat Zehnder complained about the cost of the new team buildings with the rent being $40,000.
“Whoever wants to use the upper floor must pay another $20,000 but everyone has decided to just use the ground floor! I'm already looking forward to the final races in Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi.” He said.
Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport echoed this criticism and said that the rolling machines are still working on the recently laid surface top of asphalt with the paint for the starting grid that is yet to be sprayed.
"Only on Friday will we know whether the surface will withstand the stresses of the Formula one cars. Everything on the sandy site is under construction. Next to the pitlane is a large pile of sand. Whoever didn't know that F1 is running here in a few days
would think it's not happening until next year,” read the report.
Many other reports stated the same thing and the sight definitely shows a lack of maturity and professionalism from the FIA’s side in this matter. With the grand prix beginning in a couple of days, it will be interesting to see what the FIA was thinking
before giving the Korean Grand Prix a green light just 2 weeks before the race was supposed to happen.
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