Korean Grand Prix receives mixed reviews

7 Sep 2010

It has not yet been officially opened but the Yeongam circuit, which will become the home for Formula One in Korea, is already causing quite a stir.

Many critics, alongside Formula One's governing body have said that the venue is in need of much more work if it is to be completed for it's scheduled October 24th opening date.

There has been much speculation as to whether to venue will make the deadline as construction has been hampered with delays and setbacks which have led many to believe the organisers have bitten off more than they could chew.

The debate has been so fierce that it has led to the Daily Telegraph claiming that the FIA could even be breaking their own rules in giving the circuit the go ahead.

This is a claim that the FIA refute and while they admit that there is much work to be  carried out in Korea, they have been in regular contact with the project managers and are assured that targets will be met.

On the other side of the coin, Hispania Racing's Karun Chandhok was became the first F1 driver to give the new track a test run as he drove 14 laps of the circuit in a Red Bull car over the weekend.

Chandhok believes that things at the Yeongam venue are not as bad as the media have portrayed.

"Everyone has been a bit doom and gloom about it but it's actually not that bad," explained Chandhok.

"The organisers think it's all within their timelines and are confident that it will be ready on time."

Meanwhile, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Mark Webber look to be pulling away from the pack in the F1 drivers' championship.

BlueSQ, Paddy Power and Victor Chandler offer 7/2 odds that Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will be able to mount a fight-back and upset team-mate Webber.