Hamilton tops a topsy-turvy qualifying
Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed top spot during a thrill-and-spill qualifying for the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park Circuit yesterday.
However, Hamilton has taken a 10-place grid penalty for going over his allocation of three engines for the season, meaning his teammate Valtteri Bottas will start on pole ahead of Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
Mercedes fitted a fourth combustion engine on Friday. It means that regardless of Hamilton’s pole No. 102, he will start 11th. Crucially for Mercedes, though, is the fact that Bottas begins at the front of the grid and he will be tasked with holding up Verstappen as Hamilton battles through traffic.
Given the penalty, it could not have been a better day in the rain in Turkey for seven-time champion Hamilton as the damage is minimal going into Sunday’s race.
A rainy Istanbul meant there were plenty of spins on track as drivers battled for the perfect lap and pushed their cars to the limit.
AlphaTauri man Pierre Gasly and Williams’ George Russell both suffered lastsecond heartache as the Frenchman spun on the last corner of a flying lap and then the Briton ran wide just ahead of the finish line.