The 2011 Turkish Grand Prix Thread

[Ed]

This is the place to discuss everything related to the fourth round of the 2011 season taking place at the Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey between the 6th and the 8th of May.

To submit your 10 'n' Pole Picks for Turkey click here, to register in the competition click here

Track Layout



The event timetable for the Turkish Grand Prix.

Friday
1st Practice 10:00 local time - 07:00 GMT
2nd Practice 14:00 local time - 11:00 GMT

Saturday
Practice 11:00 local time - 08:00 GMT
Qualifying 14:00 local time - 11:00 GMT

Sunday
Race 15:00 local time - 12:00 GMT

For the latest Formula 1 News check out the F1 news page

[Ed]

Qualifying results

Position Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Total laps
1 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:27.039 1:25.610 1:25.049 12
2 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:27.090 1:26.075 1:25.454 10
3 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:27.514 1:25.801 1:25.574 15
4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.091 1:26.066 1:25.595 13
5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:27.349 1:26.152 1:25.851 16
6 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.374 1:26.485 1:25.982 14
7 Vitaly Petrov Renault 1:27.475 1:26.654 1:26.296 15
8 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:27.697 1:26.121 1:26.646 13
9 Nick Heidfeld Renault 1:27.901 1:26.740 1:26.659 13
10 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:27.013 1:26.395 - 16
11 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:28.246 1:26.764 - 10
12 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:27.392 1:27.027 - 14
13 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:27.625 1:27.145 - 11
14 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1:27.396 1:27.236 - 14
15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1:27.778 1:27.244 - 11
16 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:27.620 1:27.255 - 9
17 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 1:28.055 1:27.572 - 7
18 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1:28.780 - - 8
19 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1:29.673 - - 8
20 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1:30.445 - - 8
21 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1:30.692 - - 7
22 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:30.813 - - 8
23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1:31.564 - - 8
24 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari No time - - 2

[Ed]

Race results

Position Driver Team Race Time/Gap
1 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:30:17.558
2 Mark Webber RBR-Renault +8.807 seconds
3 Fernando Alonso Ferrari +10.075 seconds
4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes +40.232 seconds
5 Nico Rosberg Mercedes +47.539 seconds
6 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes +59.431 seconds
7 Nick Heidfeld Renault +60.857 seconds
8 Vitaly Petrov Renault +68.168 seconds
9 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari +69.394 seconds
10 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari +78.021 seconds
11 Felipe Massa Ferrari +79.823 seconds
12 Michael Schumacher Mercedes +85.444 seconds
13 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes +1 Lap
14 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari +1 Lap
15 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth +1 Lap
16 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari +1 Lap
17 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth +1 Lap
18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault +1 Lap
19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault +2 Laps
20 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth +2 Laps
21 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth +3 Laps
22 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth +5 Laps
Retired
Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes +14 Laps
Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth Did not start - Gearbox

[Thaddeus]

Gave Alonso the driver of the day seal of approval. I think it was between him and Vettel. Entertaining race, but the DRS made passing too easy.

[jacfan]

Gave Alonso the driver of the day seal of approval. I think it was between him and Vettel. Entertaining race, but the DRS made passing too easy.

Sorry but I disagree. Everyone was complaining that there was no overtaking as it was too hard to overtake and consequently the races were boring and now there is overtaking and you are complaining that it is too easy!!!!!

[jacfan]

IMHO Michael Schumacher is starting to look like a mobile chicane. Don't think his comeback is what he expected and maybe he should hang up the helmet and keep some dignity.

[Thaddeus]

I wasn't complaining about a lack of overtaking :p

Also, I only said the DRS at this race made it too easy. I think it worked quite well previously.

On Schumacher: I agree. I think he has the raw pace still but he's lost sharpness in close contests, and he's reckless when he should be subtle and cautious when he should be brave. Sad, but he ought to call it a day.

[cmlean]

I'm really torn between two.
Vettel controlled the race from the front, matched strategy of the opposition when necessary and did enough to win.
Button drove well and pulled off some superb passes when the opportunity presented itself.

I could also go with Alonso for him extracting the extra performance out of the Ferrari.

Add Webber to the mix for the way he positioned himself to challenge Alonso for second when the race end was near.

It's just that no one driver did anything really special.

Given that, it was interesting watching the strategies unfold throughout the entire race.

So my pick is.........

[jido]

For me, I don't care which driver did his best-- Sunday was Alonso's day.

Everything went right for him and he got a podium finish.

[jacfan]

Sorry Thaddeus. Hubby agreed with you!!!

[Thaddeus]

Np, jacfan

Also, I'm puzzled as to why Webber is running Alonso close for driver of the race. He was inferior to Vettel despite having a slightly more advanced car and 3 hours extra set-up time.

[jido]

Right, what was there in Webber's race that earned him more votes than Vettel?

If I was to chose three, it would be Vettel, Alonso and Kobayashi.

[cmlean]

I went with Vettel.
He controlled the race from the front and never looked in danger of getting beaten.

[jacfan]

I really could pick one driver as being outstanding this week.
Perhaps Mark got the votes for the way he held off a charging Alonso. Not sure.
I know I was on the edge of my seat pushing Mark as hard as I could with will power.

[Julian Mayo]

ABOUT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE FINESSE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH TOO MUCH HORSEPOWER FOR THE TYRES IS THE BARRA !!
LOOKI' FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN A V8 SUPERCAR...SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TAKE ON JAMIE IN THE DRY.....(THE GIZ IS THE RAINMASTER !)