Korea awaits Whiting's verdict

The FIA launched an inspection of the new Korean F1 track on Monday, less than two weeks before the race is scheduled to get under way.

The inspection came two days after contractors completed work on the surface of the track built by the Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) at Yeongam, 320 kilometres (200 miles) south of Seoul.

It was led by Charlie Whiting, technical director of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), KAVO spokesman Kim Jae-Ho told AFP.

"Whiting, going on foot, has been checking every corner of the track," he said.

"So far we have received positive remarks from him, and we are confident that the track will pass the inspection which focused on its safety and appropriateness."

Doubts had been raised whether the new circuit would be completed ahead of the race on October 24.

But F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone told Britain's Daily Express newspaper Saturday that the inaugural Korean Grand Prix would go ahead as planned.

"They had problems but have done wonders in the last few weeks," he said.

"I will be there, the world will be watching, and we will have a great race. I've seen photographs and the top layer of the track has been laid. They will pass the inspection."

An official FIA decision on the race is set to be announced on Wednesday.

Races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi will complete the season after the maiden grand prix in South Korea.

Source: Planet F1

Whiting told Ferrari to let Kubica re-pass 'immediately'

Charlie Whiting has hit back at Ferrari's latest criticisms about the timing of F1 officials' in-race decisions.

After Valencia, the Italian team was furious that Lewis Hamilton's penalty for overtaking the safety car arrived so late it had little effect on the McLaren driver's race.

And at Silverstone, this time with Fernando Alonso penalised for overtaking Robert Kubica on the grass, Ferrari said the instruction to allow the Pole to re-pass his Spanish rival came so late he was far behind and already slowing with a technical problem.

In a website report on Monday, Ferrari repeated La Gazzetta dello Sport's claim that F1 had become 'Formula Lullaby' because of the slow decision-making.

Ferrari's controversial website writer described it as a "fact" that "decisions are taken slowly" by F1's officials.

But Briton Whiting, the FIA's F1 race director, said on Tuesday that in fact he advised Ferrari immediately after Alonso's overtaking move that the position should be given back to the Renault.

"On the radio, I suggested to them that if they exchange position again, there would be no need for the stewards to intervene," he is quoted by Italy's Autosprint magazine.

"We told Ferrari three times that in my opinion they should give the position back to Kubica," Whiting added.

"And we told them that immediately, right after the overtaking manoeuvre. But they didn't do that and on the third communication they said that Kubica was by then too far back to let him regain the position," he revealed.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali was quoted on Monday as saying Ferrari needed to wait for the FIA's final decision about whether Alonso should give back the place, "otherwise we would be accused of being not aggressive enough".

Source: Motorsport.com

GPDA chief Heidfeld admits Monaco Q1 split unlikely

Nick Heidfeld on Friday admitted it is unlikely the 'Q1' qualifying session will be split for next weekend's Monaco grand prix.

Some drivers have called for the split so as to prevent the traffic chaos of 24 cars - some with vastly different pace - all circulating the short and twisty street layout within a short 20-minute window.

But the FIA's Charlie Whiting reportedly told the drivers during their regular pre-race briefing in Barcelona that such a rule change would need to be unanimously proposed by the teams.

"We therefore hope that the teams will get together and make a proposal," Mercedes reserve Heidfeld, also the new president of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, told Motorsport-Magazin.com.

"I hope so, but honestly, I think that within a week it is a little difficult," acknowledged the German.

Source: F1 Complete

FIA to tell more teams to alter diffusers

It is expected that two more teams will be asked by the FIA to alter their double diffuser designs prior to scrutineering for next week's Australian Grand Prix.

During the season opener in Bahrain last weekend, we reported that McLaren had been told that the diffuser fitted to its MP4-25 may not reappear in Melbourne.

McLaren had reportedly aerodynamically exploited the hole for the external engine starter, making it much bigger than necessary and thereby gaining another diffuser level.

It was said the British team agreed to revise the design for Melbourne.

Spain's El Pais newspaper said Renault and Mercedes will also have to modify their diffusers for the same reason ahead of round two of the 2010 world championship.

Rumours also suggest that one or two other cars may also be the subject of FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting's concerns.

It is believed these teams exploited the fact that while FIA rules allow a hole in the diffuser big enough for an external starter, the regulations do not set a maximum size for the starter probe itself.

Red Bull designer Adrian Newey admitted he suspected at least two teams of pushing the rules.

"I will not say names, only that Ferrari is not among them," the Briton is quoted as saying.

Source: Motorsport

McLaren's rear wing gets green light

McLaren will be free to use their controversial rear wing in this season's opening grand prix in Bahrain after it was given the all-clear by the FIA.

Rivals Red Bull had asked the governing body to issue a clarification about the MP4-25's nostril above the driver's head that diverts air flow away from the rear wing in order to reduce drag.

The team claimed the wing gave the Woking team an advantage of 6mp/h in straight-line speed.
However, McLaren maintained there was nothing untoward about the wing and they were vindicated on Thursday.

FIA technical chief Charlie Whiting inspected the car in Bahrain and was satisfied that the design doesn't break any regulations.

Source: Planet F1