Konnichiwa!
Hm…
Hi!
Yes, right, we are in Turkey this weekend – not in Japan as originally planned. The Covid-19 pandemic means we’re not going to make it big in Japan for the second straight year. Fortunately, however, the Turkish Grand Prix is poised to step in. Granted, Istanbul Park doesn’t have Suzuka’s stunning high-speed 130R, but it’s home to another of the world’s biggest turns, the infamous Multi-Apex-Turn Eight. However, Istanbul Park is not a one-trick pony, but a real racetrack that always offers drama.
So follow you
| Round | 16 |
| Where | Istanbul Park |
| When | October 09-10 |
| Start time | 3:00 p.m. local, 1:00 p.m. BST, 8:00 a.m. EDT |
| follow | TEAMStream and the McLaren App for exclusive comments and insights |
What you say
“I’m looking forward to getting back on track after a disappointing end to the last Grand Prix. Since then, I’ve been spending a lot of time in the simulator, learning from the experience in Russia and I’m ready to get started again.
“The Turkish circuit is a real driver’s track and I’m glad we’re going back there after an exciting race last year. The fans out there are really passionate too so it will be great to see them all again. As always, we will work hard to keep the fight going in both championships. We know how important every race is until the end of the season, so we’ll do everything we can to get as many points as possible. “
“Back to Turkey! It’s a cool track that often has great races. We have worked hard since the last race to make sure we get going. Since we only got back there last year, we don’t have a lot of data on how best to set up the car Friday.
“The battle for third place among the constructors is very close at the moment and we know that every point counts, so we do everything we can to outperform our competitors every weekend. We got off to a good start into the second half of the season, so we’re traveling to Turkey to maintain and build on that momentum as we approach the final third of the season. “
“We are traveling to Turkey with the ambition to continue our strong run in the last third of the season. Despite a disappointing finish in Sochi, there was a lot to learn and a lot of positive things for us to prepare for future Grands Prix and to incorporate into our preparation for the next race.
“Turkey was a welcome addition to the calendar last year and we look forward to returning this season. We feel the support of the local fans very much and last year’s race was exciting with variable conditions, which could also be the case this year.
“We are coming to a crucial part of the season and with the calendar now confirmed through to the end of the year, the challenge ahead is clear. Simply put, we have to make sure that we collect as many points as possible every weekend to keep this battle for third place in the constructors’ championship going. The team, both at the factory and on the track, along with our colleagues from Mercedes HPP, have done a fantastic job so far in getting us into this position, but the battle is still close so we need to keep our focus, ours Intensity and give everything from now until the end of the year. “
What the statistics say
After the Turkish Grand Prix was removed from the calendar after 2011, the race at Istanbul Park last year was a new experience for Lando – not that it threw him off track as he came home in eighth and in the points . Although Daniel started in the 2011 F1 season, it wasn’t until after the Turkish Grand Prix that he got his first impression of Istanbul Park last year and, like Lando, achieved a top 10 placement.
They say it can be done three times, so with Daniel and Lando, who set the fastest laps each in the Italian and Russian Grand Prix, we could make it the third race in a row? If you look at last year’s Turkish Grand Prix, the answer is “yes” as Lando set the fastest lap of the race.
Go back a little further in the history books and you will find that we won the first Turkish Grand Prix in 2005: Kimi Raikkonen dominated the action, leading every lap from pole position. Five years later, Lewis Hamilton took the 12th Grand Prix victory of his career in Istanbul – who would have thought that he would one day reach 100 ?!
Tire compound choice for the Turkish GP
What to look out for
At times, the 2020 Turkey Grand Prix looked more like Bambi on ice. A newly paved stretch meant super smooth – and slippery – asphalt; Meanwhile, low temperatures and the occasional rain shower were tossed into an equation that resulted in drivers having great difficulty pointing an F1 car in the right direction – even in dry conditions. The solution for this year’s Grand Prix? Obviously more water. It sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but the track has been “water blasted” to avoid repeating the problems of last year.
Nor is it the case that Istanbul Park, with its combination of blind and multi-apex corners, needs to be made more challenging. Turn Eight has four, so four, the tips and drivers are loaded with more than 5 g. Elsewhere in Turn One you can see the riders tumbling downhill, not unlike Laguna Seca’s mind-blowing cork crew. And overtaking is definitely the order of the day here, especially Turn 12, where the drivers arrive at around 300 mph before they hit the brakes. Would you like to know more? Check out our route guide with McLaren F1 Test and Development Driver Oliver Turvey.
Weather forecast for the weekend
What to wear
Under my umbrella, she, she, uh, uh, uh …
OK, after what happened last time at the Russian Grand Prix, the irony has not escaped us that this week we recommend that you buy an item from the McLaren Store that can help you out when the sky opens up . It doesn’t hurt to be prepared for any weather, however – and the McLaren F1 Compact Umbrella is just what you need to get you singing in the rain.
McLaren Store
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Plus one
First win in nine years, first one-two in 11 years, first McLaren win for Daniel Ricciardo, Lando’s highest ranking so far in a Grand Prix. We all know that the 2021 Italian Grand Prix was a moment in McLaren history that will never be forgotten. But what if you could own a piece of that story? Well now you can. Both Lando and Daniel wore a pair of special anniversary gloves to celebrate our 25-year partnership with leading racing apparel supplier Sparco at the Italian Grand Prix, and now we’re giving away a pair signed by Lando and Daniel. To be the first to know how to get your hands on this incredible award, sign up for McLaren Plus now using the form below.
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The post McLaren Racing – Everything you need to know about the Turkish Grand Prix first appeared on monter-une-startup.
