The outlook for the Turkish Grand Prix

Is Verstappen leading the championship again?

With seven races left in the season, the final sprint is underway. In Russia, Max Verstappen has perfectly limited the damage caused by his power unit change as he climbed from twentieth to second place overall. However, this did not prevent him from losing the lead in the championship as Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious.

In Turkey, roles are reversed as it is the British driver who receives a ten-place grid penalty. With his best time in qualifying, this allows him to start in eleventh place, already on the brink of scoring points.

Paradoxically, the departure of the seven-time world champion will be even more tricky than that of the Dutchman fifteen days ago, as he will be right in the middle of the pack, with the risks that generates. Especially with a first corner that has already caught out many drivers during the various practice sessions.

With just a two-point gap in the championship, the Dutchman is almost certain to regain his position as the leader if he finishes ahead of his rival.

The end of a long wait for Bottas?

Valtteri Bottas knows that his hopes of winning another victory diminish with each passing race, as it is unlikely that he will relive such an experience from next season onwards, behind the wheel of his modest Alfa Romeo.

At the same time, he knows that he will have to step aside in front of his leader if the two Black Arrows occupy the first two places in a race. So the race in Turkey offers him the ideal scenario to return to victory, which he has not experienced since the Russian Grand Prix… 2020, a year ago!

The pace shown this Friday can allow him to have high hopes as the Mercedes seemed very comfortable on the Istanbul track. Winning a race while his teammate is penalized is the best way to contribute to the fight for the two championships, especially with Sergio Perez’s new underperformance (only eighth time). Now it’s up to him to seize the opportunity. It may not come again…

Back on the podium for Charles Leclerc?

It’s the nice surprise at the end of the session: last to cross the checkered flag, Charles Leclerc emerged to lift his Ferrari to fourth place in the session. With Lewis Hamilton’s penalty, this results in a third place on the grid for tomorrow. The Monegasque can therefore hope to climb onto his second podium of the season, after the one obtained at Silverstone. He will be able to use his new hybrid system, debuted in Sochi, to resist in the two DRS zones of the Turkish circuit.

In addition to the prospect of overtaking Carlos Sainz, this would be a great opportunity to tighten the battle with McLaren as the Woking team is on the defensive this weekend, with Lando Norris in eighth place and especially Daniel Ricciardo in sixteenth place!

A new feat for Pierre Gasly?

Finally overtaken by his childhood friend, Pierre Gasly once again delivered a great performance during these qualifications, securing the fifth fastest time of the session. After two blank results in Monza and Sochi, the Frenchman will be determined to get back on the scoresheet, which would help him solidify his ninth place in the Drivers’ Championship. He has proven in recent seasons that he knows how to seize opportunities without flinching. Istanbul Park offers him a new chance to shine as he once again starts ahead of Sergio Perez’s Red Bull (7th) and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda (10th).

All the ingredients are therefore gathered to experience an exciting new race at all levels, while the weather could once again come and shake things up and change the game.