Round 16 of the FIA World Driver’s and Constructor’s Championship sees Formula One travel to Turkey and Istanbul Park for the second time in two years following a nine-year break from 2011 until 2020.
Last time out in Turkey, Lewis Hamilton won the Grand Prix and claimed his record-equalling seventh world title, going level with Michael Schumacher in what was a dramatic race in the rain at Turkey which saw Sergio Perez finish in second, whilst Sebastien Vettel who was then at Ferrari overtook his teammate Charles LeClerc at the second to last corner, following the Monegasque driver’s tussle with Perez in the BWT Racing Point.
The Russian Grand Prix was the most recent race in this year’s calendar which also threw up another classic F1 race in the rain, as once again, Hamilton managed to earn a vital victory to move ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the World Driver’s Championship by two points, as the Dutchman drove an incredible race, coming from 20th on the grid, up to second, having been seventh with only a few laps remaining, whilst Carlos Sainz earned Ferrari a podium, with the latter two taking advantage of Lando Norris’ and McLaren’s ill-judged call not to pit for intermediates with only six laps to go, costing the 21-year-old his opportunity to win an F1 GP for the first time, in effect, gifting Hamilton his 100th win, the only driver in the sport’s history to reach triple figure wins.