News briefs from Spa: Thursday

Michael Schumacher finally issued a personal apology after their wheel-to-wheel duel in Hungary, Rubens Barrichello told ranks of reporters on Thursday.

The veteran Brazilian, who was the centre of attention at Spa-Francorchamps ahead of his milestone 300th Grand Prix, had earlier revealed that while Schumacher might have apologised with a website statement, the seven time world champion had not said sorry in person.

"I received a message from him today, an SMS," said Barrichello in Belgium.

"I just said thank you, no problem. I accepted it, wished him a good weekend, life goes on," added the 38-year-old.

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Organisers of October's Korean Grand Prix continue to defy speculation the venue will not be ready for its inaugural race in late October.

It has been announced that benched HRT driver Karun Chandhok will demonstrate a Red Bull F1 demo car at the Yeongam circuit next Saturday.

"The team's regular drivers weren't available due to other commitments, so I was happy to fill in," revealed the Indian rookie, a former Red Bull junior driver who will commentate for British radio at Spa on Friday.

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In addition to the doubled front wing scrutineering load tests, it has also emerged that the FIA will be probing the alleged flexibility of some F1 cars' floors and skid-blocks at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.

"I presume because Charlie (Whiting) has issued some clarification that there is some level of disquiet about what is happening or about to happen," McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale told reporters earlier this week.

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It was a wet and sometimes sunny day at the famous Belgian circuit on Thursday, and more changeable weather is forecast throughout the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. Currently, the chance of a wet race is said to be 60 per cent.

"The weather at Spa always worries me a bit," said Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi. "It can be very unpredictable."