The F1 field heads for Turkey this weekend for what may be one of the final races of the season with doubt still being cast over the races in the Americas with the Texas track's asphalt not up to scratch and COVID still running rampant throughout South America.
To Win Race
Max Verstappen 8/10
Lewis Hamilton 16/10
Valterri Bottas 18/1
Sergio Perez 22/1
Previous Race
We certainly got drama out in Sochi with a late rain shower costing Lando Norris what would have been a great win. Instead, Lewis Hamilton, who had moved to intermediate tyres before the rain hit, took the spoils with Norris sliding out with two laps to go.
Max Verstappen put in a shift and a half with the Red Bull man claiming second place on the podium despite starting the race in P20. The top two on the Drivers’ standings were joined on the podium by Carlos Sainz while my Value bet for the week, Daniel Ricciardo, just missed out on a podium place as he brought his car home in fourth place.
There were two very familiar names in the remaining Top 6 berths with Valterri Bottas taking fifth and Fernando Alonso claiming sixth.
Lando Norris recovered from his crash to claim seventh, while Kimi Raikonnen took eighth. Sergio Perez (ninth) and George Russell (tenth) rounded out the scoring positions.
The moment a first #F1 win finally slipped away from Lando Norris#RussianGP pic.twitter.com/W3ofVyM6Fb
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 26, 2021
Track - Intercity Istanbul Park
Situated in the country’s capital, the Istanbul Racing Circuit or Intercity track is a rather impressive venue that features a track with a number of straights and some sweeping corners.
In total, drivers will face 14 turns this Sunday with the most challenging of which being the sequence at turns four, five and six. The lap distance on Sunday will be 5.338 kilometres.
Last year we saw massive downpours which made for some entertaining racing and we could well be in for the same again as showers are forecast for all three days, with the most rain set to fall during qualifying on Saturday.
Last year’s Turkish Grand Prix was won by Lewis Hamilton with Sergio Perez claiming second and Sebastian Vettel rounding out the podium.
Value Bet
Lando Norris – Podium Finish 11/4
He was bitterly unlucky not to claim race honours in Russia, where he drove really well. He managed an eighth-place finish in Turkey last year, and I am quietly confident he will improve on that.
To Win Race
Max Verstappen 8/10
I’m all over Max here. He gave a brilliant account of himself last time out and despite having a poor race out in Turkey last year – finishing in sixth – I expect him to do well at the venue this time around. It’s also worth noting that Hamilton and Mercedes may well look to take a penalty here in Turkey to change out the power unit in the Brit’s car.
