With just three races of an exciting Formula One season to go, the action swings to Korea this weekend as the Asian country prepares to make its debut in the sport.
There are only races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi to follow Sunday’s showpiece and, with 25 huge championship points up for grabs, a number of drivers will be champing at the bit as they look to peel away from the rest and towards the summit of the rankings.
Red Bull’s Mark Webber saw his lead at the top of the charts extended after his second-place finish in Japan last time out to keep his exceptional performance of 2010 going.
His 18-point haul at Suzuka extended his lead over Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to 14 after the Spanish icon came home in third.
Webber’s team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, claimed a much-needed victory to keep his own title aspirations alive in the Far East and he is now level on points with Alonso.
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British and McLaren pair Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton are now online sportsbook outsiders to land their second individual crowns after respective fourth and fifth-place showings in Japan but, with 75 points still available, the two most recent championship victors will be keen to use their experience at the business end of the campaign.
It seems inevitable that the constructors’ prize will go to Red Bull (426) as they hold a comfortable cushion over McLaren (381) and the online betting odds reflect their current dominance.
With so much still to play for, the Korean International Circuit at Yeongam has finally received the go-ahead to host the race after a period of great uncertainty.
Formula One chiefs gave the nod to the under-pressure Korean organisers after the track came in for stinging criticism.
Concerns remained over the surface of the venue but, with a final layer of asphalt now in place, doubts were finally quelled about the race going ahead.
Elsewhere at the venue, the main grandstand has reached completion levels while the pit and paddock areas also appear to be finished.
However, the rest of the circuit requires much attention to come up to scratch in the future. With a contract in place until 2017 – and the option of a five-year extension in 2014 – Korean officials have time on their hands to get things right.
