Last season’s Turkish Grand Prix was certainly one to remember, from a dodgy and slippery tarmac, to a wet qualifying and race, to Lewis Hamilton securing his seventh world title by making his intermediate tyres transform into slicks.
However, the majority of the weekend was not well received. The conditions left a sour taste in the mouth for many, with the then recently laid tarmac proving to be difficult – with grip being non-existent. But, this did also cause a very interesting weekend at the same time. At different points, Red Bull looked like favourites, then Ferrari, and then Racing Point.
Despite their struggles throughout the weekend, especially with Valtteri Bottas, it was Mercedes and Hamilton who took home the winners trophy.
The drivers were left disappointed with how the conditions were.
Is this weekend’s race going to repeat such events, and who is favourite this time around?
Mercedes
Despite feeling as if they are on the back foot compared to Red Bull, and having lead a lot less laps in recent rounds then their rivals, the current Champions finding themselves leading both standings. Pre-Russia, Hamilton had secured just the single victory in the previous ten rounds, so that win in Russia was essential. Bouncing from that victory, the British man will have good memories from the Turkish round last season, managing to hold his tyres to secure an unlikely victory.
Bottas has probably been trying to forget last season’s race. Who knows how many times the Finn was facing the wrong way that day.
Moving past Bottas’ performance last year, Mercedes have not been the fastest in recent times yet they have picked up the most points. But, Hamilton is tipped to take a fourth power unit before the end of the season, leading to a grid penalty. The same penalty that Max Verstappen took at Russia where he came from 20th on the grid to second. Turkey could be the ideal place to take the penalty due to the wide nature of the circuit. However, nobody has a realistic idea about how the racing will be at the circuit with these cars, such was the anomaly of last season.
But, grip is expected to make a blessed return to Turkey this season.
Red Bull
It begs to question how Red Bull or Verstappen are not currently leading the standings. The Dutchman has been dealt some weak hands when it comes to luck, whilst Sergio Perez has not exactly been the greatest employee in recent rounds, with the Mexican just managing to outscore Williams’ George Russell.
No shade thrown at Williams nor Russell, but Perez is in a Red Bull.
Anyway, Verstappen was a hot favourite for the Turkish Grand Prix last season after topping all practice sessions, before his weekend fell apart. Dominant on the wet tyres, he and his team struggled to work the intermediates into a suitable range as he lost out on pole position to Lance Stroll.
A dreadful start by Verstappen dropped him down the order as he struggled to eliminate the wheelspin from his launch. He was not the only one, the opening lap was an interesting form of entertainment for us viewers.
There is some warmth in watching the best drivers in the world, in the best cars in the world struggle to drive.
Verstappen was working his way back through, and then he spun. Running too close behind Perez on the kink of turn 11, getting a large face full of water which shoved his Red Bull wide onto the wet paint. A spin happened, a daunting one considering his position on the track.
He is coming into Turkey having relinquished his lead in the standings, but finishing in second after taking his power unit penalty would have provided him and his team a boost that neither knew existed after losing an advantage in the standings.
Aston Martin
Now, Aston Martin are not in the same shape as they were last season. Then known as Racing Point, they had pole position, and were in with a strong chance of securing their first race victory – at the time. Still, Perez came on in second place to ensure they walked away with at least one trophy.
Stroll was left rather unhappy, leading a comfortable 1-2 for a large portion of the race, the Canadian’s race quickly crumbled as he finished in the lower portions of the top ten.
But, that was then. They, so far, have not shown the sort of pace that was expected from them considering their form from last year. Yes, they were affected by the slight regulation change over the winter, it is something the team have made sure we all know about.
It is tough to imagine them returning as contenders for the coming weekend, but Sebastian Vettel managed to come home in third in what was a dog of a Ferrari so there is some hope.
However, they trail themselves from last season by a great many points. Don’t expect to see Aston Martin continue their teams form at this venue, but expect them to be fighting within the top ten. The nature of their car, similarly to the Mercedes, will be suited as a flowing track like this one.
Ferrari
The great Italian icons suffered an awful 2020 season, with Turkey being one of the very few shining lights. And their improvements in 2021 will only provide them with great confidence heading into the weekend.
Carlos Sainz is coming off of his third podium of the season, whilst Charles Leclerc will have his head slightly down given recent results. But, in last years disaster of a car, Leclerc was looking on for a podium until the final three corners of the race. Attempting to make a move on the inside of Perez for second place in the slippery conditions, Leclerc ended up sliding straight past and then wide which demoted him to fourth over the line. He was less then pleased, as he showed on the radio. In fairness, he did fumble the bag – but the opportunity to rob second was too much for him to turn down.
It was a nice move, until it wasn’t.
Vettel took advantage of the situation and calmly stole the podium away from his teammate, and crossed the line just three tenths away from second place. Even before the events of the last three corners, both Ferrari cars were fighting for the podium in the slip and slide that was that race.
In those conditions, that specific car was competitive. That could be quite telling, that car was bad. This season’s Ferrari is a different team, and arguably are more of a ‘team’ then previous years.
However, there was not as many competitive teams around them for the Turkish event last year.
McLaren
How can you not mention McLaren considering how their last month, and season, has been. There is not much more to say. Momentum is a wonderful tool.
A handful of laps away from consecutive wins, McLaren are in a lovely little groove at this moment and cannot be left out. A fifth and eighth place finish last season was not entirely that special, especially as Lando Norris finished just over a minute from the lead.
But, that was 2020. It cannot be compared to the machine that McLaren and Norris has been this season.
They can throw another exciting twist in the story for this weekend, as nobody has any expectations. Even if the drivers are met with rain, the conditions should not be like previous. Wet or dry, McLaren, Norris and Daniel Ricciardo have already proven that their orange piece of work is competitive in all conditions. Do not count them out.
The Motorsport Formula 