Istanbul Park track map

Istanbul Park – circuit information

The Istanbul Park circuit lies around 30 kilometres to the east of Turkey’s largest city by population. The purpose-built permanent road circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, opened in 2005 to host the Turkish Grand Prix.

The layout won praise for being more flowing and demanding than many modern circuits. The distinctive quadruple-apex left-hander turn eight was swiftly identified as one of its most distinctive and challenging corners, and spawned imitators on subsequent tracks, such as the Circuit of the Americas.

Nonetheless Turkey proved a short-lived addition to the F1 calendar. After the seventh Turkish Grand Prix in 2011, F1 didn’t return, and few other major series visited the venue.

However the championship made an unexpected return in the 2020 F1 season when the calendar was reorganised as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Istanbul was chosen as the venue for the 14th round of the season, in November.

Circuit information

Lap data
Lap length5.338km (3.317 miles)
Race laps58
Race distance309.396km (192.25 miles)
Lap record*1’24.770 (226.693 kph) by Juan Pablo Montoya, 2005
Fastest lap1’24.770 (226.693 kph) by Juan Pablo Montoya, 2005
Maximum speed (2010)321.4 kph (199.709 mph) by Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
DRS zone (race)Part of longest straight
Car performance
Full throttle69%
Power loss6%
Tyre energy (1-3)1
Brake energy (1-3)3
Downforce levelHigh
Gear changes per lap46
Fuel use per lap2.7kg
Strategy
Pit lane time loss17 seconds

*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix

Data sources: FIA, Williams, Mercedes

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