Korean Grand Prix organizers are making minor modifications to the new Formula 1 track on Friday night following complaints from drivers about potential trouble spots on the new Yeongam circuit.
Although drivers were mostly impressed with the layout of the new Korean track, they requested some changes be made to the venue following Friday's first practice sessions. Following discussions with FIA race director Charlie Whiting at Friday night's drivers' briefing, it was agreed that tweaks be made to two areas in particular – the controversial Turn 16 left-hander and the final Turn 18 apex.
With the cars having bottomed out a lot at the Turn 16 apex, with the curb lower than the track itself, race officials are now re-profiling the curb to make it higher. This should prevent drivers from being encouraged to cut the corner too much.
Work is also being done to re-profile the wall on the exit of Turn 16. The original design had the wall filtering in close to the edge of the track on the right-hand side exit of the curve, and that has now been moved back so it runs parallel to the track. Furthermore, the officials are building a new apex curb at the final Turn 18 apex, after drivers kept cutting the corner during free practice – which dragged dirt and stones onto the circuit.
The new curb will be made lower than the apex of the turn, which will act as a deterrent so drivers do not cut the corner. This should also make the final Turn 17 much more of a kink, with drivers having to be more careful as they exit the long right-hander.
The FIA has also agreed that the track surface will be extensively cleaned overnight to try and get rid of the dust that was dragged onto the track during the free practice sessions. Some tweaks will also be made to the pit lane entry, which was a concern for the drivers.