The Turkish Grand Prix is still quite a new one on the calendar and this year’s event will only be the third to be staged at Istanbul Park.
Right from the off though, it was given the thumbs up by the drivers, and the purpose-built facility designed by Hermann Tilke - who else, eh? - is quite a challenge. The drivers always rave about turn eight, but there is a lot more to it than that.
The circuit features quite a lot of gradient changes and it is one of only two anti-clockwise tracks on the schedule - the other being Brazil. That makes it quite tough, as the drivers have to use the ‘wrong neck muscles’, something that may well takes its toll on some of the new comers.
Last year,
Ferrari dominated the weekend, with
Felipe Massa taking the win - the first of his career - and pole. That bodes well for the Scuderia this coming weekend and recent form in Hungary is also a very good sign.
I don’t think anyone expected the F2007 to be quite as good as it was at the Hungaroring and that may be a worry for McLaren-Mercedes, especially as Turkey will probably suit the longer wheel-based F2007.
Kimi Raikkonen is definitely on form after his drive to second in Hungary and, while Felipe struggled three weeks ago - he was even quoted as saying it was the ‘worst race of his career’ after he had problems in qualifying and started way down the order - that may give the Brazilian the jolt he needs to put in the same kind of drive as he did last year.
McLaren will, of course, be the other main contender and both Hamilton and Alonso will have a point to prove. Fernando will be keen to cut the gap to his team-mate, while Lewis will obviously want to extend it further as the season nears its conclusion.
Hamilton’s drive to his third
F1 victory in Hungary was spot on. It was an excellent performance and, despite the attentions of Kimi, he didn’t crack. That kind of composure is going to be crucial as the campaign draws to a close. It’s all going to be very, very interesting - mark my words.
