The inclusion of Korea on the provisional 2015 calendar raised some eyebrows when it was released by the FIA this week, not least by local organisers who have no knowledge of the proposal to resuscitate the event.
Therefore suggestions that it is simply being used as a bargaining tool to make available a fifth power unit for 2015 seems more likely.
The regulations state that each driver may only use four complete power units next season, one less than 2014. However several drivers encountered penalties when they were forced to use a sixth unit, and that was a 19-race calendar.
Next year, disregarding Korea, the calendar will feature 20 races with Mexico’s return, meaning a power unit will need to complete five races at minimum – which is something that worries team bosses and Bernie Ecclestone who isn’t in favour of the various penalties handed out for exceeding the limit.
Therefore, it’s widely believed Ecclestone, who drafts the provisional calendar, has simply included Korea to inact a clause in the regulations which states that the number of power units “will be increased to five if the number of events in the Championship, as originally scheduled, exceeds 20.”
Korea’s inclusion takes the calendar to 21-races, allowing for a fifth power unit to be used. However it isn’t clear whether simply being included on the ‘provisional’ calendar is enough to satisfy the FIA, therefore don’t be surprised to see it included on the confirmed calendar before swiftly being dropped before the season kicks off in Australia.
