“It’s like driving on ice,” said Max Verstappen, a statement echoed by his rivals as Formula 1 cars hit the track at Turkey’s Istanbul Park for the first time since 2011 in first practice, with Dutchman setting the pace in a Red Bull one-two…
The Turkish circuit was drafted back in F1 after Covid 19 forced sweeping changes to the 2020 calendar, leading to delight from the drivers who were excited by the challenge.
However, what they were not anticipating was just how slippery the 5.338km circuit would be, the lack of grip down in part to the surface having only been re-laid a few weeks ago and Pirelli bringing their hardest tyre compounds, having made their selection before it became clear new asphalt would be put down.
Valtteri Bottas set the early pace, but it was around 20 seconds slower than anticipated lap times, so tricky were the conditions as drivers worked the steering wheel hard in a bid to keep the car pointing in the right direction.
Practice 1
