Latest F1 news in brief

Official admits Korea venue not fully completed
Buemi also admires Kobayashi's fighting spirit
Alonso urges Massa's help for 'decisive' Korea GP
Teams hope Bob Bell finds new job in F1

Official admits Korea venue not fully completed
(GMM) A spokesman has confirmed reports that aspects of Korea's new formula one track are not completed.

The FIA's Charlie Whiting this week approved the Yeongam venue ahead of the inaugural race in less than a fortnight.

But media reports have indicated that safety requirements and the asphalt aside, the entire venue is not finished.

"Landscaping work to the surrounding area and parking lots still remains to be done," a spokesman for organizers KAVO told the Korea Herald.

"But we are finalizing last-minute touches and can be ready on schedule," he added.

After the weekend's Japanese grand prix, the F1 teams' equipment and cars are already en route to the facility 320 kilometers south of Seoul.

Red Bull's Helmut Marko admitted the team is slightly worried about the layout, with the curvier sections punctuated by straights not suitable to the RB6's Renault engine.

"One of them is the longest straight on the calendar," he groaned, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

Nico Rosberg, however, expressed concerns that the crucial top layer of track has only just been laid.

"The only concern is the new asphalt," the Mercedes driver is quoted by Welt newspaper.

The media report recalled June 1985, when the Belgian GP at Spa had to be postponed for months because the new asphalt surface disintegrated.

Buemi also admires Kobayashi's fighting spirit
(GMM) Sebastien Buemi has joined Robert Kubica in praising the racing skills of F1 rookie Kamui Kobayashi.

After retiring at Suzuka with a missing wheel, Renault's Kubica watched the rest of the Japanese race on a monitor.

"What Kamui did with his car was super. Because I had to watch on television, he saved my day," he was quoted by the Swiss press.

Toro Rosso driver Buemi has admitted he too is a fan of Japanese Kobayashi's ability to overtake his rivals.

"It's unbelievable," said the Swiss. "No matter what his car is like, Kamui always gives everything.

"For many, he is a model with regards to the fighting spirit," Buemi is quoted by Blick newspaper, "even if of course such overtaking moves don't always go well."

He admitted he is disappointed not to have been one of Kobayashi's adversaries at Suzuka last Sunday.

"Unfortunately he came out from his pitstop just ahead of me. It's a shame, because I love a tough fight with a really strong driver."

Asked what his secret is, Kobayashi smiled: "Put it this way, maybe I brake a bit later than my opponents!"

Alonso urges Massa's help for 'decisive' Korea GP
(GMM) Fernando Alonso has urged Felipe Massa to up his game in support of his three-race charge for the 2010 world championship.

Spaniard Alonso said in Japan last weekend that the full backing of his Ferrari teammate won't make "a big difference" to his chances so long as he is on the pace and securing strong results.

"Having the teammate close, or not close, is not a big difference if you do well," he had said.

But now equal on points with Sebastian Vettel and 14 behind the leader Mark Webber with three races to go, Alonso has revealed he thinks next weekend's Korean grand prix could be "decisive for some" of the remaining challengers.

"And for me it will be important also to be able to count on my teammate Felipe," said Alonso in Tokyo, according to Ferrari's official website.

Massa has had a string of disappointing results recently, amid rising pressure from his team leadership to perform strongly in support of Alonso's title bid.

Added Alonso: "I know that he will be really hoping to make up for two negative results and he has all the capacities required to return to the podium.

"What's more, it will be very useful to work together to discover all the secrets of the new track so we can prepare our cars in the best way. In a moment like this every detail matters to achieve our goals," he said.

Meanwhile, a Brazilian journalist close to Massa has scolded sections of the media for speculating that the 29-year-old will be ousted by Ferrari at the end of the season.

"It takes a lot to shock me, but when you hear in the media that Ferrari are replacing him with Robert Kubica, Kamui Kobayashi and Adrian Sutil, it makes me angry," wrote Livio Oricchio in O Estado de S.Paulo.

Teams hope Bob Bell finds new job in F1
(GMM) Two formula one team bosses have indicated they hope Bob Bell will find accommodation after leaving Renault.

The 52-year-old Ulsterman has left the Enstone based team after a long post as technical boss, and having acted as team principal amid the crashgate scandal.

But with the departure of the French carmaker as majority owner, Renault came under new management in 2010 and Bell has now been replaced as managing director by Eric Boullier.

Bell joined McLaren as an aerodynamicist in the 80s before switching to Enstone based Benetton in 1997.

He moved to Jordan in 1999 and returned to Benetton – now Renault – in 2001 as deputy technical director, becoming technical director to replace Mike Gascoyne in 2003.

"He's certainly a very capable guy," said Williams chief executive and chairman Adam Parr. "I hope he will get a job very soon."

And Mercedes' Norbert Haug added: "Bob did a good job and I've no idea what will happen.

"It's (team principal) Ross (Brawn)'s job at the end of the day," said the German.