Five notable moments from the Turkish Grand Prix

Turn 8:

The first notable moment on this list is not a racing event since it only concerns a particular turn... but not just any turn. When the circuit was inaugurated in 2005, the layout was a real (nice) surprise, especially when we know that the German Hermann Tilke was behind its design. Often author of boring and soulless circuits such as those of Sochi (Russia) or Abu Dhabi, to name but a few, the architect had this time surpassed himself.

Fast, technical, hilly as you wish, the 5,338 km circuit was praised by almost all of the drivers. But it was turn number 8 that caught everyone's attention: a triple left which was negotiated at more than 250 km/h. The pilot received more than 4G in the back of the neck for several seconds. Since the F1 modern cars are faster than the models of fifteen years ago, the passage through this corner will only be more spectacular although slightly facilitated by better downforce generated by the current single-seaters.

Juan Pablo Montoya's race in 2005:

In this year 2005, the battle for the title rages between Fernando Alonso (Renault) and Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren). Kimi got off to a sluggish start from pole position but managed to definitively get rid of the two Losange cars before the end of the first lap and won his only victory on Turkish soil, his fifth that season. But the race of his teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, is the real attraction of the event. Despite starting in fourth position and a complicated second stop, second place seems assured for the fiery Colombian.

However, on the 55th lap, the McLaren driver took a second lap from Tiago Monteiro's Jordan and fell under his nose in the braking zone. The Portuguese collides with Montoya who spins.

Juan Pablo returns to the track in front of Alonso but has to deal with a car altered by a damaged diffuser. On the penultimate lap, he went wide in turn 8 and was passed by the driver of the Renault. Juan Pablo finally finished on the last step of the podium.

The 2008 edition:

The 2008 Turkish Grand Prix was certainly one of the most competitive races on this circuit. The duel promised to be intense between the Ferrari (Felipe Massa on pole and Kimi Räikkönen 4th) and the McLarens (Heikki Kovalainen 2nd and Lewis Hamilton 3rd). At the start, Massa took off perfectly while Kovalainen was sandwiched between his teammate and Robert Kubica (BMW).

To make matters worse, his compatriot Kimi Räikkönen touched the left rear wheel of the McLaren. The contact is light but enough to force Heikki to return to the pits, suffering a puncture. He will finish in a distant 12th place. The departure is marked by another clash, much more spectacular, since Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India) goes over the Williams de Kazuki Nakajima. An accident fortunately without consequences except the abandonment of the two drivers.

When the safety car faded on the third lap, Räikkönen took 4th place from Fernando Alonso (Renault). Massa leads the proceedings but on lap 24, Hamilton authoritatively overtakes him at turn 12 and takes the lead. Unfortunately for him, his team's three-stop strategy is far from optimal and Lewis cannot prevent Massa from signing his third consecutive victory on this track. The young Briton from McLaren even had to resist Räikkönen, who completed the podium, at the end of the event.

This race was also the scene of an important celebration since Rubens Barrichello (Honda) competed here in his 257th Grand Prix and thus became the most experienced Formula 1 driver in history, beating the record previously held by Riccardo Patrese. Barrichello now has 323 starts to his name, an incredible figure but one which will normally be beaten by Kimi Räikkönen at the end of the 2020 season.

The premiere of Felipe Massa:

The Ferraris of Massa and Michael Schumacher (in that order) set off from the front row during the second edition of the Turkish Grand Prix in 2006. At the start, Schumacher rushed into the Renault of his title rival, Fernando Alonso, to prevent him from passing . Behind them, Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault) spins and sows discord in the peloton. Many drivers are left behind or have to return to the pits to repair damage to their cars.

Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren) is the most notable victim of this carnage. After changing a flat tire, the Finn hit the wall shortly after returning to the track, his car no longer having any grip. Up front, Massa's domination is uncontested and the That day, the Brazilian won the first of his eleven victories in F1. Felipe will also be undefeated both in qualifying and in the race at Istanbul Park from 2006 to 2008.

The other highlight of this Grand Prix was the duel for second place between Alonso and Schumacher which lasted until the last few hundred meters of this race. The Renault Spaniard will only cross the line with a tenth lead over the seven-time German world champion!

The hanging Hag-Webber:

The clash between the Red Bulls, during the 2010 edition, is the most significant event to have taken place during a Turkish Grand Prix to date. However, everything started well for the energy drink team. Championship leader Mark Webber starts from pole position while Sebastian Vettel starts third.

On the 18th lap, the single-seaters of the team based in Milton Keynes lead the race but found themselves under pressure from the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. On the 39th lap, Vettel attempted an aggressive overtake, on the straight opposite the pit line, on his teammate who left the minimum possible space inside. But when braking for turn 12, Vettel shifted slightly towards the Australian at very high speed.

The German's right rear tire explodes and he retired instantly while Webber had to change front wing and finished third. Huge disillusionment in the Red Bull clan when the double seemed practically acquired. This event will mark the start of a very stormy relationship between the two pilots. As war breaks out in the RBR pit, another battle continues on track.

Freed from their main rivals, the McLarens compete for victory at the end of the race and prove that two teammates can fight fiercely for the laurels without ever touching each other. Hamilton eventually manages to hold off his compatriot and teammate, Button, (who, ironically, was not supposed to attack the sister car since both drivers had to save fuel). Ferrari had nothing better to offer than a 7th and 8th place (Massa-Alonso in that order) to celebrate the 800th Grand Prix in its illustrious history.