Once again uncertain weather provides surprises even in qualifying for the Turkish Grand Prix. At Istanbul, Lewis Hamilton snatches the virtual pole position and the track record, but will start only eleventh due to the penalty received for changing the internal combustion engine. In front of everyone there will therefore be his teammate Valtteri Bottas, who will have to keep Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at bay alongside him.
The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc did very well, third on the grid after a troubled Q2 and ended well thanks to a ‘little’ help from Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard, last due to the complete replacement of the power unit, provided a great tow in the last sector for the Monegasque, after taking out Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren in Q1.
The qualifying of Pierre Gasly was decidedly positive, fourth with the AlphaTauri after setting the absolute record in the first sector of the track. Behind him there will be Fernando Alonso and the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez (who once again missed the decisive moment after a good weekend so far, at least compared to Verstappen), then follows Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda.
Eliminated in Q2 Sebastian Vettel, Esteban Ocon and George Russell, who tried to qualify for the last stage with the medium tire until the end in view of a possible dry race. A great shame for the Williams driver, who was improving before making a mistake in the last corner of his last attempt.
A great afternoon for Mick Schumacher, who with the ‘Cinderella’ Haas manages to pass the cut of Q1 putting out (as mentioned) Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren, Nicholas Latifi’s Williams and the two Alfa Romeos of Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen. The usual Nikita Mazepin closes the group on Saturday, paying for the many mistakes in turn 1.
F1 |2021 Turkish GP, the final starting grid
| 1st Row | 1. Valtteri Bottas (M) 1:22.998 Mercedes | |
| 2. Max Verstappen (M) 1:23.196 Red Bull | ||
| 2nd Row | 3. Charles Leclerc (M)1:23.265 Ferrari | |
| 4. Pierre Gasly (M) 1:23.326 AlphaTauri | ||
| 3th Row | 5. Fernando Alonso (M) 1:23.477 Alpine | |
| 6. Sergio Perez (M) 1:23.706 Red Bull | ||
| 4th Row | 7. Lando Norris (M) 1:23.954 McLaren | |
| 8. Lance Stroll (M) 1:24.305 Aston Martin | ||
| 5th Row | 9. Yuki Tsunoda (S) 1:24.368 AlphaTauri | |
| 10. Sebastian Vettel 1:24.795 Aston Martin | ||
| 6thx Row | 11. Lewis Hamilton* (M) 1:22.868 Mercedes | |
| 12. Esteban Ocon 1:24.842 Alpine | ||
| 7th Row | 13. George Russell 1:25.007 Williams | |
| 14. Mick Schumacher 1:25.200 Haas | ||
| 8th Row | 15. Daniel Ricciardo 1:25.881 McLaren | |
| 16. Nicholas Latifi 1:26.086 Williams | ||
| 9th Row | 17. Antonio Giovinazzi 1:26.430 Alfa Romeo | |
| 18. Kimi Raikkonen 1:27.525 Alfa Romeo | ||
| 10th Row | 19. Nikita Mazepin 1:28.449 Haas | |
| 20. Carlos Sainz** s.t Ferrari |
- * 10-place penalty for the replacement of the ICE
** relegated to the bottom of the grid for the use of the fourth seasonal power unit
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