Bernie's Korean nightmare

Posted on 27/09/2010

Work on the track continues at the new Korean Grand Prix circuit © Getty Images

It takes something pretty serious for Bernie Ecclestone to admit that even he has doubts about the ability of organisers to get the less-than-popular Korean International Circuit ready in time for the country’s inaugural grand prix in a month’s time.

The warnings signs have been there for all to see for a long time, and every report which has appeared highlighting how far behind preparations are has been countered with assurances from those running the sport that all is well.

All major untried events tend to be preceded by media panic. The World Cup in South Africa was going to see thousands mugged and attacked, the Sydney Olympics were going to be ruined by wind, and The Athens Olympics were going to take place in a building site. Come the time, all were deemed successes and the predicted chaos did not materialise.

However, it seems quite likely that for once the scaremongering might have substance, and even the most blinkered within the FIA will have been acutely aware of the embarrassment being caused to all those concerned by the shambles that threatens to be the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The great and the good do not want to travel to a remote backwater of Korea to be ridiculed.

Ecclestone will find few with sympathy for his position. Relentless pursuit of money has led to a burgeoning schedule and races which make little sense other than to accountants. His gambles have invariably paid off but in Korea he has agreed to a race nobody wanted at a venue nobody will be able to get to. It needed to be something special for him to pull it off.

The FIA has flouted its own rules and the final inspection, which should have taken place months ago, is now set to happen only weeks before the race weekend.

It may be that Ecclestone’s latest remarks are a final and public warning shot across the bows of the organisers aimed at helping them stagger across the finishing line. For the sake of Formula One and a thrilling finale to the season, we all have to hope so.

Don't speculate ... enjoy Schumacher while you can

Posted on 17/09/2010

© Getty Images

Eddie Jordan’s comments about Michael Schumacher’s future don’t really offer anything new to a debate which has been going on since the first race of the season, and which escalated once it became clear the much-touted tweaks made by Mercedes ahead of the European season were not going to catapult him to the front of the grid.

The reality is nothing will happen before the end of the season. Schumacher will continue to do his best, offering his considerable experience to his team to help them develop and plan for 2011, and will be battling as hard as he can for the minor points.

Only when the dust has settled in Abu Dhabi will any announcement be made, and even then don’t hold your breath. In the meantime, speculation can only be that, and denials by his manager and team are just as meaningless – what else are they supposed to say?

Whatever his large band of loyal supporters might have believed, Schumacher did not expect to return and take up where he left off. The question now is whether he still has the appetite if faced with the prospects of another season of mid-field mediocrity.

In the meantime, fans should not waste time speculating on the future but should savour one of the greats of Formula One while they can. After all, if Jordan turns out to be right, he might not be around that much longer.