Turkish Grand Prix report

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Points ‘on full’ for Red Bull in Istanbul

By Graham Miller

We were spoiled. The Shanghai showdown last time out was one of those races that got better as the days passed.

We hoped for more of the same in Turkey. But it didn’t quite happen. Sebastian Vettel started on pole for the fifth time in a row and now has a personal race on his hands. Can he overtake Ayrton Senna’s record of eight consecutive poles set 22 years ago?

It’s a bit of a side show. Thing is Vettel’s Red Bull appears to be so much better than everyone else that the Championship at this stage looks a formality for the 23-year old German.

He completed a faultless race. Was never troubled by rival or machinery to record his 13th victory in 66 Grand Prix and he’s loving it:

“We had a smooth race and a smooth start. Taking a lead meant we could stay out to see what the others were doing in terms of their strategy and react.
“But you always have to be prepared,” he added. “We were in control and I’m happy with the way we’re communicating and reacting. It’s a step forward from China and we’ve learned to keep our momentum.”

There was considerable excitement in his wake. Michael Schumacher driving into Vitaly Petrov for a start. Mind you Schumacher had the honesty to put his hand up afterwards and admit he was in the wrong.

Then there was Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button racing each other for every inch of Istanbul Park until Button’s inferior tyre strategy forced him to throw in the towel near the end. Button reluctantly acknowledged that his strategy was the wrong one.

Hamilton had his own costly pit lane blues. The McLaren mechanics had problems with an obstinate wheel nut in a tyre change which delayed things. Then he had to wait, impatiently, as Felipe Massa’s Ferrari cruised past for his pit lane stop.

Mark Webber meantime continued his Formula 1 master class. The Australian is experienced, mature and a model racer. An example for the current crop never mind any aspiring driver. He again used his skills and fluency to battle away before imperiously taking Fernando Alonso six laps from home for second place.

“That was eventful. Our start wasn’t easy. But it wasn’t the end of world. We started 18th last time so we proved the start shouldn’t be a problem. The fight with Fernando was unexpected,” Webber said. “He drove well but tyres and strategy played a huge role. And in the end we had a fresher set. But Seb is on his own. Second was the maximum I could get today.”

Alonso was content to finish his Ferrari in third.

“The car performed better than the first three races. I enjoyed racing again. And I enjoyed racing for podium positions. When you’re chasing second and third you can enjoy it. It’s good fighting with Red Bull these days. And next time we try again.”

Hamilton finished fourth with a what might have been question mark to take away with him. Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes was fifth and Button came home in sixth place.