THE MAIN EVENT

Back on F1’s radar owing to the pandemic, Istanbul Park returned to the calendar after a nine-year hiatus in 2020 – and a harum-scarem grand prix ensued after the promoter had the entire track resurfaced ahead of the event. That should have been it for Turkey, but coronavirus chaos has furnished another chance to host and Istanbul Park, after first being lined up to replace Canada, then Singapore, now slots into the date vacated by the cancelled Japanese GP.

One of Hermann Tilke’s better efforts, Istanbul Park features the iconic multi-apex, high-speed Turn 8. Although this one is for the benefit of the drivers and connoisseurs of in-car footage, because other areas of the track are better for racing in terms of overtaking opportunities.

2020 RACE RECAP

On a new surface rendered even less grippy by rain, Lance Stroll claimed his maiden pole for Racing Point and led much of the race with team-mate Sergio Pérez on his tail. It never dried enough for slicks, and Lewis Hamilton fought back to win after starting from sixth, rising to third on the opening lap, then slewing off-track and dropping back to sixth. From then on Hamilton was peerless, stopping just once for another set of intermediates.

Stroll fell back after apparently losing downforce to front-wing damage, which caused him to root his second set of tyres. Pérez lost second to Charles Leclerc on the final lap, only to regain it when the Ferrari went off at Turn 12. Hamilton’s win put his seventh world title beyond doubt.

KEY CORNER: TURN 12 A hard stop at the end of a long, kinked straight, Turn 12 is a frequent action area. Get it even slightly wrong and you’re compromised for the right-left which follows.

RACE DATA

Venue Istanbul Park

First GP 2005

Number of laps 58

Circuit length 3.314 miles Race distance 192.25 miles Lap record 1m24.770s Juan Pablo Montoya (2005) F1 races held 8

Winners from pole 5

Pirelli compounds C2,C3,C4

CAR PERFORMANCE Downforce level High Cooling requirement High Full throttle 66%

Top speed 199mph Average speed 110mph

TIMETABLE (UK TIME)

Friday 8 October Practice 1 09:00-10.00 Practice 2 13:00-14.00 Saturday 9 October Practice 3 10:00-11.00 Qualifying 13:00-14.00 Sunday 10 October Race 11:00

Live coverage Sky Sports F1 Highlights Channel 4