Turkish Grand Prix – Qualifying: Epic wet session, pole for Stroll

After a difficult start to the weekend in terms of grip, rain welcomes the drivers for this qualifying session. The already very slippery asphalt will be even more challenging to handle.

Q1: Between the skating rink and the red flag, Ocon and Verstappen stand out.

Max Verstappen, first on track and equipped with intermediate tires, loses control of his Red Bull on his first lap. He manages to handle the slide and get back on track.

Lewis Hamilton opted to go out on wet tires, a choice shared by about ten other drivers. Remember that only 3 sets of wet tires are available for each driver for the entire weekend.

The track is soaked and slides are widespread during acceleration phases, with yellow flags following one another, indicating numerous loss of control incidents, without any damage for the moment.

The initial times are above the 2-minute mark as a new wave of rain is announced. Bottas is in first place at this moment ahead of Ocon, both on blue tires. The Frenchman then manages to surpass the Finn by almost 9 tenths with a 2:06.115 and secures the provisional best time.

The rain starts again with a vengeance and the track becomes almost impassable.

The red flag, as expected, is declared, with track conditions becoming too dangerous.

At this stage, Leclerc is in the elimination zone with Grosjean, Gasly, and the two Williams.

After a half-hour stoppage, the restart is expected with hints of blue sky, while the teams dry the tarmac in their pit boxes and sweepers vacuum up the excess water from the corners.

After a test lap by the Safety Car, the FIA authorized the reopening of the track, 7 minutes before the end of the Q1 session.

The drivers go out on blue tires, which will be useful for finding grip.

The choice of teams differs, some drivers wait at the end of the pits for a clear track, others, like the Mercedes, wait in the pits with heated blankets. Quickly, Räikkönen almost spins and narrowly avoids hitting Leclerc. The Monegasque then goes straight into the gravel at turn 1, complicating his chances for Q2.

New red flag following Romain Grosjean’s off-track excursion stuck in the gravel trap at turn 1.

New session restart with 3 minutes and 30 seconds left in Q1.

Max Verstappen racks up record after record on his last attempt, currently 15th on the timesheet. Incredible time from the Red Bull driver at 1:57.485. Other drivers are also improving, and Charles Leclerc manages to get out of the danger zone. Hamilton holds the 14th provisional time.

Eliminated: Magnussen; Kvyat; Russell; Grosjean; Latifi

Q2: The times are dropping and Verstappen easily positions himself.

The race director announces that all lap times set at the end of the session will be analyzed after the qualifying. Indeed, after numerous yellow flags, it is likely that some time improvements will be canceled. The starting order could then be entirely revised.

The cars return to the track while a tractor is still removing a single-seater at the track’s edge, all under a yellow flag. A slight procedural anomaly that reminds us of the tragic Bianchi accident.

Note that only the McLaren drivers are going out on intermediate tires, taking a risk that could pay off.

The drivers of the orange single-seaters are playing with fire, being on the verge of stalling. Max Verstappen takes back the best time ahead of the Racing Point. The Mercedes follow with Hamilton 2.5 seconds off the reference time.

The track is improving just like the times. The McLaren gamble doesn’t pay off, and both drivers return to the pits to switch to wet tires.

3 minutes before the end of Q2, the Ferraris, McLarens, and Gasly are in the elimination zone. Verstappen is untouchable, relegating his teammate to nearly 2 seconds behind. Leclerc does not improve and remains 14th while both Alfa Romeos qualify for Q3.

Eliminated: Norris; Vettel; Sainz; Leclerc; Gasly

Q3: Pole position for Stroll

Again, different decisions in tire choice, Ocon and Perez opt for intermediate tires.

The trajectories free themselves from the layer of water and the single-seaters begin to stabilize, a sign of the tires being properly warmed up.

Vestappen once again takes the lead in times ahead of Stroll. Perez manages to control the sliding and sets the fastest provisional time at 1:52.037. Ocon, on his part, is 10th and is struggling to manage his tires.

In full progress, Verstappen chooses to pit for green tires. Mercedes imitates the Dutchman.

Räikkönen stays on blue tires and achieves a nice 3rd time. Perez impresses by improving his time again to 1:49.321, still on intermediates. Stroll follows closely, provisionally placing the Racing Points on the front row while the Mercedes are at the bottom of the standings, 7th and 8th.

Stroll manages to pull off a superb lap and claims pole position ahead of Max Verstappen. The Mercedes are still struggling and finish 6th and 9th, with Hamilton and Bottas.

These results will need to be validated by the race management following the Q1 times under yellow flag conditions.