Turkey
Track Stats
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.34 km (3.32 miles)
Race length: 309.72 km (192.45 miles)
Most wins (drivers): Felipe Massa (2)
Most wins (constructors): Ferrari (2)
Last race (2007): Winner: Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:26:42.121
Pole position: Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:27.329
Fastest lap: Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari, 1:27.295
Only Ferrari’s Felipe Massa can explain the Turkish delight Istanbul
has given him over the past two years.
Taking two consecutive wins at the newly Hermann Tilke designed
track, highly acclaimed for the sweeping full throttle turn number 8, Felipe hopes to make it three this
year and if he can continue his good momentum from Bahrain and Spain then it would be a
great achievement for the Brazillian indeed. Beating Michael Schumacher as his
teammate in 2006 through qualifying and the race, Felipe proved he can be as
good as the rest and he’s going to have to do it again currently being in the shadow of his world champion teammate.
Kimi Raikkonen had the honour of taking
the first Turkish Formula One Grand Prix victory in 2005 with McLaren. It was
well fought for as Renault and McLaren were neck and neck in competition three
years ago. And after unparalleled success at the last race in Spain,
taking pole postion in qualifying, fastest lap of the race and effortlessly taking the win, Kimi at moment looks unbeatable.
Ferrari, then, have a stronger pair of drivers for this year’s
race. Who’s the strongest of the two however? Most would vote for Felipe as Turkey
being one of his few special tracks and he has thoroughly outpaced his teammates
at Istanbul – Kimi who came in
third place last year, and even retired seven-time world champion Michael
Schumacher in 2006.
But for Felipe, it will be much harder this year. When Kimi
finally out qualified Felipe in Spain
despite carrying a bit more fuel, Massa
was gutted and knew he’d have no chance winning. He’s only won races starting
in front of everyone else, whereas Kimi was the sole driver last year (apart from Alonso in the wet chaos of Nurburgring) and this
year to have won races starting from behind pole position.
Looking further backfield, the Turkish Grand Prix hasn’t
really given opportunity to the other teams, who struggle keeping up speed
against Ferrari and McLaren in the fast sweeping corners and the long straights
sections. In 2005 and 2006, Renault couldn’t manage a strong challenge for the
win despite being the championship winners of those years but if we were to take any suggestions from their performance in Spain, one is that they have made a considerable step forward. Question remains whether they can continue their form into Istanbul. BMW were the
only other competition last year throughout qualifying but even they slumped
down in pace during the race. Unfortunatly, there may be one pair of drivers’ short on the grid this weekend as Super Aguri may not even be able to take part in the race.
The spectacle Turkey
has produced over its young years isn’t too convincing that it’ll be a
thrilling race this time around. Last year, Kimi set the fastest lap of the
race with two laps to go despite being nowhere near contention of winning. He
admitted he had done it out of boredom:
"It is boring driving behind other cars," he said.
"In F1 these days the races are pretty much decided after qualifying, but
I just wanted to push like the other cars. It gives you something to do."
As part of the new rules introduced this year, the racing
should be slightly more exciting. The effects of no traction control, as shown
in most races so far, will be a factor to keep your eyes peeled on the television
as turn 8 will delightfully or catastrophically reveal the bravest drivers.
FUCK ISRAEL 