2011 Turkish Grand Prix programme

Have all the important information for this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix at your fingertips with the F1 Fanatic race programme:

The race weekend

2011 Turkish Grand Prix preview – Can Red Bull and McLaren be caught in Turkey?

2011 Turkish Grand Prix – Full race weekend details including support race information.

GP2 2011: New cars, new tyres and 26 drivers trying to reach F1 – Preview of the new GP2 season which starts this weekend at Istanbul.

Reserve drivers

The following changes to the usual driver line-up will be made for first practice only:

Nico Hulkenberg will drive Adrian Sutil’s car in first practice.

Daniel Ricciardo will drive Jaime Alguersuari’s car in first practice.

Tyres

Pirelli are supplying the hard (silver colouring) and soft (yellow colouring) tyres this weekend. They have changed the sidewall designs to make it easier to distinguish between the two.

Teams will be given extra sets of new development tyres to test on Friday.

Stewards

The drivers’ adviser to the stewards in Istanbul is Derek Warwick, who is making his third appearance in this role.

He joins FIA World Council member Lars Osterlind and the FIA’s Silvia Bellot. Bellot is a graduate of the FIA’s trainee steward programme and has previously worked as a steward for the World Rally Championship, GP2,
GP3, BMW Europe, DTM and World Series by Renault.

The track

Williams preview the Istanbul Park track:

Istanbul Park is rightly regarded as one of the best modern circuits.

It stands apart from many of Hermann Tilke’s other creations by having at least one corner worth getting excited about – the famous turn eight.

It also boasts plenty of gradient and a good opportunity for overtaking into turn 12.

What a pity, then, that so few spectators make it to the race, and its place on the 2012 calender is in doubt.

• Mercedes explain the challenge of Istanbul’s turn eight
• Istanbul Park – circuit information

The weather

Cool and damp weather is expected this weekend. Friday practice is most likely to be damp.

• Wet start to Turkish Grand Prix weekend

Following the race live

F1 Fanatic Live will be open for your comments during every session.

Join us for every lap of the race, qualifying and practice at these times:

Friday 6th May 2011

Turkish Grand Prix Free Practice 1: 10:00-11:30 (UK time: 8:00-9:30)
Turkish Grand Prix Free Practice 2: 14:00-15:30 (UK time: 12:00-13:30)

Saturday 7th May 2011

Turkish Grand Prix Free Practice 3: 11:00-12:00 (UK time: 9:00-10:00)
Turkish Grand Prix Qualifying: 14:00 (UK time: 12:00)

Sunday 8th May 2011

Turkish Grand Prix: 15:00 (UK time: 13:00)

More session times and live coverage details here: 2011 Turkish Grand Prix TV Times

Also, make sure you follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the race weekend:

• Follow F1 Fanatic on Twitter for news, comment and more
• Follow F1 Fanatic Live for updates during every session
• Follow F1 Fanatic Update so you never miss an article

2010 Turkish Grand Prix highlights

Last year’s race was all about inter-team battles.

Red Bull looked on course for a one-two finish until Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber collided while disputing the lead.

Then Jenson Button mounted an attack on team mate Lewis Hamilton – despite Hamilton having been told his team mate would not pass him.

Fortunately for McLaren their fight for position proved less destructive, and Hamilton led home Button and Webber to win.

• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix: McLaren take one-two as Red Bull hit self-destruct
• Webber and Vettel lose one-two finish for Red Bull after collision
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn’t pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix

Previous Turkish Grands Prix

2009 Turkish Grand Prix: Vettel’s mistake lets Button in for another win
2008 Turkish Grand Prix: Massa wins third consecutive race at Istanbul
2007 Turkish Grand Prix: Massa first as puncture stymies Hamilton
2006 Turkish Grand Prix: Maiden win for Massa
2005 Turkish Grand Prix: Raikkonen wins but Alonso limits damage

Join in the 2011 F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship

There’s F1 races tickets, DVDs and more to be won. Play for free by guessing the top five in each race.

The deadline for entering your predictions has been extended. You can enter and edit your predictions up to the start of qualifying on Saturday:

• F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship

Image design by PJ Tierney