Valtteri Bottas takes victory over Red Bulls at damp Istanbul Park.
P1 – BOT
P2 – VER
P3 – PER
Podium Finishers
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas showed his finesse in the wet taking his first win since Russia 2020. After starting on pole position (with his teammate in P11 thanks to a grid penalty), Bottas kept the lead from Verstappen at the start.
Bottas drove a flawless race, maintaining the lead throughout, and securing an additional point for fastest lap of the day.
Both Red Bulls completed the podium, with championship contender Max Verstappen in P2 and teammate Sergio Perez in P3 for the day.
What Happened with Lewis?
Despite starting P11, Lewis Hamilton soared through the front half of the grid to take P5 in a mere eleven laps. He would later take P4 on Lap 38 when the Red Bull of Sergio Perez pitted.
Thanks to Charles Leclerc’s late pit stop, Hamilton then took P3 with ten laps to go in Istanbul Park hoping his tires would make it to the end.
Unfortunately, the decision to stay out did not pay off as Hamilton locked up on Lap 51 with his intermediate tires effectively driving as slicks.
Much to his dismay, the seven-time world champion ended in P5.
Best of the Rest
Charles Leclerc looked primed for a podium finish on Sunday, thanks to Hamilton’s lock up. The Monegasque was passed by the ever-so quick Red Bull of Sergio Perez on Lap 52, ending P4.
The Alpha Tauri of Pierre Gasly managed a respectable P6, despite a five-second penalty from his tussle with Fernando Alonso on Lap 1.
Despite his early pit stop on Lap 35, Lando Norris secured P7, where he started the race.
The Ferrari of Carlos Sainz showed a spicy chili pepper of a performance, finishing P8 despite starting at the back of the grid in P19 because of engine penalties. It’s worthy mentioning Sainz might have faired even higher up in the standing as he had a lengthy 8.1 second pit stop earlier in the race. Well done, Smooth Operator!
Thanks to a late pass over the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll finished P9 in Turkey.
Esteban Ocon closed out the points for the day in P10 after starting 12th.
Looking Ahead
The title has swapped hands FOUR times in the last SIX races, with Max Verstappen leaving turkey on top by a mere six points. It’s lights out in Austin in two weeks’ time: who will be on top when F1 returns to the United States?
