Ferrari Tried To Sign Lewis Hamilton
Follow all the action from the Turkish Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen resume their razor-tight race for the world championship.
An increasingly acrimonious rivalry between the pair sees Hamilton lead the standings by just two points, but he will have to come from behind to maintain that advantage this afternoon. The seven-time world champion was handed a 10-place grid penalty after Mercedes replaced his Internal Combustion Engine for a fourth time this season, one more change than is permitted under Formula One regulations. It means that Hamilton will start from eleventh on the grid, having been the quickest in qualifying. His Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, inherited pole position having finished 0.13 seconds behind the Briton. Verstappen will start in second on the grid with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.
Despite his superior speed, Hamilton was wary in his analysis of his chances. “Tomorrow will be difficult but I will give it everything,” he said. “It is not the easiest overtaking at the moment and we are all on the same tyres.” Meanwhile, Verstappen said he was “pretty happy” with the Red Bull’s performance in qualifying, despite admitting they did not have the pace to compete with Mercedes in Istanbul. Follow latest updates from the race below:
Bottas not in the mood to help Hamilton
Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas starts on pole, meanwhile, and is concentrating on his own race rather than assisting his colleague’s title fight.
The Finn told Sky Sports after qualifying: “Not easy conditions. Q1 was a bit on the edge with the damp. The last lap I missed a bit in the final sector with understeer. I’m on pole, and that should be good. I’ll focus on my own race tomorrow. I think that’s the way to go.”
Dan Austin10 October 2021 12:12
Hamilton going “maximum attack”
Speaking in his post-qualifying interview yesterday afternoon, Hamilton talked through his battle plan to try and make it to the podium in Turkey.
“My eyes are still solely set on winning the race,” he said. “It’s going to be hard from P11 but I’m staying on my toes and going maximum attack from the start.
“I’m just going to take it one step at a time tomorrow. It’s a long race, I have to stay out of trouble. That will be my priority initially, and then try to pick them off one by one.”
Dan Austin10 October 2021 12:09
Damage limitation exercise for Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is starting in 11th place this afternoon, despite being the fastest man around Istanbul Park in qualifying yesterday, thanks to a ten-place grid penalty for changing a component in his Mercedes power unit.
With Max Verstappen starting second, the seven-time world champion needs to cut through the field as quickly as he possibly can in order to ensure the Dutchman doesn’t take a sizeable Drivers Championship lead into the next round in the United States.
Dan Austin10 October 2021 12:06
Turkish Grand Prix
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Turkish Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton will need to come from behind on the grid to maintain his slender lead in the championship over Max Verstappen.
Dan Austin10 October 2021 11:03
