F1 replaces Korea with Azerbaijan in 2015

Unless the organizers perform a billion-dollar makeover of the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam, last year’s race may have been the last South Korea will ever see.

Bernie Ecclestone has just announced that a deal has been made and signed with oil-rich Azerbaijan to hold an F1 race there in 2015 to replace Korea.

"Baku has been signed. It will start in 2015 and will replace Korea," Ecclestone said.

Referring to Korea, "I don't want to go back there.  They did a good job with the track but what they forgot to do was build all the things they wanted to build," said Ecclestone.

The track, which is located 200 miles from Seoul, is a bit of a drive at 4 hours one-way.  Organizers promised shops, bars and restaurants, cafes and exhibition areas but it never materialized.  Lack of these facilities may also explain the poor attendance each year in Yeongam.

Azerbaijan, on the other hand, will be using a street track that will be held in the city of Baku that has already seen some ‘action’ with the Blancpain Sprint Series.