The circuit itself has been built on a barren wasteland on the shores of the
Yellow Sea and was supposed to be the centrepiece of a modern, new
development but the project has ground to a halt with the grand prix racking
up huge losses.
Few fans attend the race, and it is unclear how many of those who do pay for
the privilege.
Still, there are reports that a new five-year contract may have been signed
with organisers and Whitmarsh believes the race can still be a success.
“I guess I might not be in the right frame of mind to discuss Korea and the
future of this race,” Whitmarsh said.
“I will be certainly be quite happy to get out of here for all sorts of
reasons that happened on the track today.
“But you know this facility is good, the track is good and interesting in
many ways, but we have to work harder in Formula One if we want to see fans
drive four or five hours out of Seoul to watch it.
“This doesn’t have a natural catchment area of fans so you have to make a
fairly compelling case if people are going to come.
“This economy, this culture, we can make a success of it here but we probably
need to think of the formula and how to do that because the location of the
circuit does not make it easy.”
Hamilton’s chances of making up a couple of places at the end of the race
ended when he picked up a piece of artificial turf which had worked itself
loose from the circuit, and Whitmarsh said the situation was so bad that he
felt a safety car might have been an option.
“I have to say you could see bits of AstroTurf flying all over the place and
that is not good,” he said. “In fairness to the circuit that is detail but
it’s not good. AstroTurf generally isn’t a good thing. It’s used at lots of
circuits but it’s not a good thing.
“Before Lewis picked up two or three square metres of it I thought we might
actually have to put a safety car out here because there were bits of it all
over the track.
“It’s unfortunate that Lewis was the one who collected it. Someone was going
to, and it’s not particularly safe to drive around with bits of AstroTurf
lying around.”
Whitmarsh added that Mercedes-bound Hamilton would have the chance to say a
proper goodbye to McLaren after having to cancel a bowling evening in Japan
the previous weekend. Many of the team had already committed to a charity
track run with Button.
Whitmarsh, though, insisted that Hamilton was “loved” by the team and would be
given a proper send-off in due course.
“I’m sure he will [have the chance],” Whitmarsh said. “Of course, people were
disappointed to lose someone like Lewis from the team but Lewis has been
here a long, long time and everyone is going to be giving everything for
him.
“One way or another I’m sure we will get together and remember all the
fantastic achievements; the fantastic race wins, the many poles and many
great, great races.
“And obviously the great championship in 2008. He is loved in this team.
He knows that. It’s an emotional time for lots of people at this team,
including Lewis, but when we’re motor racing we put things to one side and
focus on the racing.”