Formula 1 drivers expect to find a much improved track surface when they tackle the Istanbul Park circuit today.
The venue of the Turkish Grand Prix was resurfaced last year ahead of F1’s first race at the track since 2011. However the late completion of the work and frequent rain during the weekend made for very poor grip levels.Following last year’s race teams and drivers said the poor state of the surface “cannot be the norm” for future events. The track has been cleaned to improve its surface ahead of this weekend’s race, and several drivers said yesterday they believe the grip levels will be better.
“I think we are all expecting it to be better than last year,” said Carlos Sainz Jnr. “It would be quite a surprise to have the same conditions as last year.
“Last year was very, very difficult. And very difficult also to understand why the grip was so particularly low, to a point that in the race we were quicker on an intermediate tyre than on a slick medium, and that’s why we all stayed on a ‘slick intermediate’.”
If the grip level has significantly improved tyre wear at the track could be high and lead drivers to make multiple pit stops during the race. “We are all expecting the grip to be better,” said Sainz, “how much better, that’s a different question.
“If it’s more like Portimao where the grip is not high but it’s okay then it should be good fun. If it’s like Barcelona or Silverstone, really high grip levels, then it should be also quite exciting because then the tyre wear could be quite an issue.
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“Maybe for my personal interests I want them on the extremes. The more extreme, the more different things that can happen and maybe more opportunity comes for me.”
Max Verstappen said the state of the circuit last year came as a disappointment on his first visit to the track for an F1 event.
“At the end of the day, it’s the same for everyone. That’s why we had to deal with that last year. But I think this track will be a lot better when we have normal grip conditions.
“I remember from when I was little playing the F1 game on this track it was one of my favourite tracks. So last year I was very excited to come back and I was a bit disappointed with just driving because of the grip level.
“I hope this year will be a lot of fun because the track layout is really interesting and really cool. So let’s hope for for better conditions.”
However Charles Leclerc won’t be disappointed if the track is still low on grip as it suited Ferrari last year.
“I’ve heard some things have changed,” he said. “Obviously, they have washed the track several times. So let’s see if it’s as bad as last year.
“I don’t think it will be as bad, but hopefully it will still be slippery and hopefully it will still benefit us.”
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2021 Turkish Grand Prix
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SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
8th October 2021, 8:03
I don’t mind low grip levels at all. Drivers these days are spoiled with high downforce cars that stick pretty much anywhere. These are the best drivers in the world. They should be able to deal with any circumstances thrown at them. And the conditions are equal to all. Portimao and Istanbul Park are the only GP’s of last year that I can fully remember. They were really exciting races.
S
8th October 2021, 8:43
Lower grip surfaces are always better at creating the conditions for races that most viewers want to see.
Why can’t more people realise why wet races tend to be among the best ones to watch? Hint – it isn’t the actual rain…
Nathan Patel
8th October 2021, 9:32
See, this is where I think a lot of fans are divided. For me, I want to see drivers and cars pushed to their absolute limit. It’s a frustration for me that we currently have these heavy cars that seemingly lumber their way around clunky circuits. I want to see that front-on shot of cars barrelling through Turn 8, suspension pitched fully over with the driver trying desperately to hold the car on the inside. While the race was absolutely brilliant last year, I felt I missed a lot simply because we didn’t see cars “going fast”, as that’s what differentiates F1 to other motorsport.
S
8th October 2021, 11:01
And they still would be – just that the limit would be in a different place.
Turn 8 as it is now isn’t a challenge at all – it’s not a corner, but merely a bent straight.
F3 looks more visually exciting and interesting than F1 usually does, despite being quite a bit slower. The cars are moving around, the drivers needing to make constant corrections and sacrifices and so there’s a resulting margin for variation and error in car/driver performance that leads directly to better racing opportunities.
As much as I respect everyone having their own individual opinions, I think a lot of people don’t really understand what they actually want or why they want it.
Sure, it can be impressive to see a car pushed hard on a grippy surface – but that isn’t conducive to the good racing, action or unpredictability that almost always results in the highest race scores – even on this site.
The thing that differentiates F1 from other motorsports is not the speed of the cars, but merely the technical regulations that lead to them. The driving and the racing is the same premise no matter which cars they are, and going faster isn’t necessarily better. Especially not with how F1 cars go faster, with aero effects doing more harm than good to the on-track product.
Jere (@jerejj)
8th October 2021, 8:50
Istanbul Park should indeed be more driveable this time around.
Feuerdrache (@xenomorph91)
8th October 2021, 9:10
Lay a new asphalt on tracks shortly before the GP at each round.