Korea among least-popular races on F1 calendar

Korea, among F1's new breed of grands prix, is far from the most popular stop on the sport's annual calendar. Well-known British F1 photographer Darren Heath tweeted from the metropolis Seoul: "Fantastic 3 days. Early train to Mokpo tomorrow. (It's) like being in London then heading to Shetland for an F1 GP. Mad," he concluded.

According to the German news agency DPA, formula one drivers "like the track" in South Korea but are "bugged by the strange atmosphere". Michael Schumacher confirmed: "We don't get too many fans at the race. It's a pity."

Correspondent for the British newspaper The Times, Kevin Eason, said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is a supporter of the event "but then he does not have to stay in the Adam and Eve love motel". "(Mokpo) is not a grand prix destination," he insisted, adding that the Hermann Tilke-penned facility is a "huge and costly folly on the outskirts of a city that neither cares nor wants" F1 to be there. There is no vote for the worst location in the sport, but Mokpo would be a strong contender, even over riot-ravaged Bahrain, or Brazil, where crime is rife," Eason wrote.

CNN Korea quoted a fan as saying: "Last year, it was a complete mess. The traffic is so awful and there were a lot of hard-core racing fans who created a pretty hostile atmosphere amidst the whole mess outside." The report concluded that "press and public opinion have not been kind to the first two years of the Korean grand prix". (GMM)

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
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Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
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Italy
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Monaco
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Spain
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Canada
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Austria
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United Kingdom
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Belgium
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Hungary
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Netherlands
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Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
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United Kingdom Silverstone
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1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
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Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
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Italy Monza
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Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
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United States of America Circuit of the Americas
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7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
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United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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