2012 Korean Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads the championship on 194 points after Japan. Vettel is second on 190 — just four points back — with four races remaining. Räikkönen is third on 157, Hamilton fourth on 152, and Webber fifth on 134. The title could be decided at any of the remaining rounds.

Previous race

Vettel won at Suzuka for the second year running, with Massa second and Kobayashi third. The result cut Alonso’s championship lead from 29 points to four. Schumacher announced his second retirement from Formula One on Thursday before the race.

Entrants

Van der Garde (Caterham), Bianchi (Force India), Bottas (Williams), and Clos (HRT) all take part in the first practice session.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the yellow-banded soft compound as the prime and red-banded super-soft as the option — the same specification as the 2011 Korean Grand Prix. The FIA has moved the DRS activation point forward by 200 metres and repositioned the detection point to 90 metres before Turn 1, compared to the 2011 layout.

Penalties

Pic (Caterham) carries a ten-place grid penalty for exceeding the maximum engine allocation. Ricciardo has a five-place penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.

Practice

FP1 ran in dry conditions for the first time since the circuit debuted on the calendar. Hamilton was fastest, three tenths ahead of Alonso, with Webber third. Vettel led FP2 ahead of Webber and Alonso. Pérez lost all power at Turn 12 in FP2 and parked safely without disrupting the session.

Weather

Fine and dry — 21°C air temperature, 27°C track.