Istanbul Park, return of a driver-favored track
After 9 years of absence from the calendar, F1 "takes advantage" of the impact of Covid-19 to return to the magnificent Istanbul circuit. Highly appreciated by drivers who cite it as one of the most interesting to race on, MotorsInside offers you a quick analysis of this track.
Designed by Hermann Tilke and created in 2005 about 40km from Istanbul, the Istanbul Park circuit was immediately included in the F1 calendar until 2011. Unable to meet the economic demands of F1 (around 30 million euros are required to be provided to the FIA in order to host F1), the Turkish stage has been abandoned since then. Indeed, the public has never been as numerous as hoped, similar to the subsidies obtained for the F1 Grand Prix.
Covid-19 having forced the FIA to adapt its calendar by choosing more European circuits and putting aside the economic aspect, we are pleased to revisit this track just like the previous visits to Imola, Portimao, and the Nurburgring.
Technical and offering significant elevation changes, the Istanbul circuit is a favorite track for many drivers.
Istanbul Park in numbers:
Opening of the circuit: 2005
Circuit length: 5,338 m
Average track width: 15 m (from 14 to 21m)
Number of left turns: 8
Number of right turns: 6
Number of laps to be completed: 58
Number of braking zones per lap: 9
Pole position: on the right side of the track
Categories hosted: F1, MotoGP, GP2, DTM, WTCC, WRX
Track record: 1:24.770 sec; set by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2005 at the wheel of the McLaren MP4-20.
The technicality of the Turkish route:
Turn 1, named the Turkish Corkscrew, is compared to the famous Triple Corkscrew of Laguna Seca. Indeed, after the straight line ending at over 330 km/h, the apex is located on a downhill left slope, almost blind, before heading towards turn 2.
Turn 8, undoubtedly the most famous, can be likened to four corners, without any braking. While it was previously impossible to negotiate this sequence at full throttle, current F1 cars should probably manage it with their radical aerodynamics.
Omnipresent on the circuit, the elevation changes make braking tricky, as well as overtaking. Previously scheduled between May and August, it will now be cooler on the Turkish asphalt, and tire warming will be crucial for the first laps of the race; otherwise, understeer could create some issues within the pack.
The Turns of Istanbul Park Analyzed:
Favorites for the Grand Prix?
Among the current drivers, only Kimi Räikkönen, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton have been able to drive F1 cars at the Turkish circuit with the 2011 F1 cars and their naturally aspirated V8 engines.
Although the current F1 cars are relatively different both in terms of engine and aerodynamics, it is likely that the experience of the former drivers will be beneficial to them.
Fast and demanding, the Istanbul Park seems tailored for the sharpest chassis and the most experienced drivers.
To see: Sebastian Vettel’s pole position in 2011
