It is of course unfortunate to build something just before a regulatory change occurs. – For example, it must be frustrating to have built something large in the USA last year, only to hear that Donald Trump has lifted the ban on asbestos!
Something similar has been the case for enthusiasts who wanted to enter Korea into the Formula 1 circus!
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The 2025 Formula 1 season is approaching its decisive phase, with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen still competing to become world champion.
Following last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Norris has taken control of the championship battle, as he leads Piastri by 24 points with only three Grand Prix events remaining.
Looking ahead, the 2026 season promises to be a classic, as Formula 1 will undergo massive regulatory changes.
Aside from regulatory changes, a new track will be added to the calendar, with the Spanish capital Madrid hosting a race for the first time in September.
The track in Madrid, called ‘Madring’, will be a combination of a street circuit and a classic race track, and it will be built around the IFEMA exhibition centre with 20 corners and a length of 5.47 kilometres.
While a new track is set to be unveiled next season, there is another track that has been abandoned and left to decay for over ten years.
The Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Korea, which reportedly cost £300 million to build, hosted four Grand Prix races, the last of which took place in 2013.
Construction of the circuit was completed just in time to be used for the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, and it only received approval from the FIA (Formula 1’s governing body) ten days before the race.
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In addition, the facilities at the site were allegedly not completed when the race weekend arrived.
The location was also considered a problem, as South Korea is not renowned for its love of Formula 1, and the Korea International Circuit was built a full 200 miles (around 322 kilometres) from the capital city, Seoul.
Overall, the Korea International Circuit failed to capture the imagination of the local population during the four years it was part of the Formula 1 calendar.
Park Bong-soon, an official from the South Jeolla Province, told the New York Times in 2015: “We started with a big dream of making lots of money. Instead, we ended up with a spectacular flop.”
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was the first winner at the track, while Sebastian Vettel won in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Twelve years after Vettel’s last victory in Korea, the track remains unused by the FIA.
