The top three were covered by less than a second in Turkey

The Turkish Grand Prix was a fantastic race – and it didn’t need a single drop of rain to liven things up.

F1 Fanatic readers rated the Turkish Grand Prix higher than any other dry race weekend since our “Rate the Race” polls began at the start of 2008.

After the criticisms of ‘boring F1′ following the Bahrain Grand Prix, what conclusions can we draw about the state of F1 fro the Turkish GP?

Why we saw a great race

Why did we see such a good race in Istanbul? Rob put forward one convincing explanation:

From my technically ignorant viewpoint, it seems that the McLaren and Red Bull cars’ handling characteristics – one faster in slow corners and in a straight line, the other faster in high-speed corners – combined with a track which has a good variety of fast and slower sections, and the grid positions of the top four drivers all combined to keep them racing together.
Rob

Rob’s dead right. But there was one other element which conspired to keep the front runners close together.

The top three were covered by less than a second on some laps. And for that we have the refuelling ban to thank.

Last year Lewis Hamilton would have had a much easier job winning this race. McLaren would have fuelled him up for his middle stint, brought him in later for his final stop to leapfrog the Red Bulls and collected an easy victory.

The great strength of the refuelling ban is it forces drivers to to fight for their wins on the track.

And when F1 drivers spend lap after lap in close proximity with their rivals, you’re far more likely to get the kind of drama we saw on Sunday.

What F1 can learn from it

Just as it would have been foolish to rush into knee-jerk changes following the Bahrain Grand Prix, it would be wrong to conclude from one great race that everything is fine in Formula 1 at the moment.

It wasn’t just at the front of the field that we saw quicker cars trying to pass slower ones. But not only were passes for position still in short supply, there were several examples of how it was impossible for some drivers to get close enough to even try a pass.

And Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica crossed the line separated by less than two seconds – but it rarely looked as though any of them might try a move on the other.

Jaime Alguersuari caught the Sauber drivers by up to three seconds per lap at the end of the race, yet couldn’t get close enough to overtake.

This is the long-lamented aerodynamic problem again. If drivers cannot get close enough to their rivals to put pressure on them, we’re not going to see close racing.

We already know the teams are banning the powerful double diffusers next year to reduce the cars’ aerodynamic downforce. They should seriously consider further reductions in wing size to make it easier for cars to run closely together.

If all they do next year is push the balance further towards less grip and more power, that will be of far greater benefit to F1 than unnecessary changes to the race format. As John H put it:

This was a great race.

We always look to the past with rose-tinted spectacles (“look at this, wheel to wheel stuff they’re almost touching… Mansell gets in there… etc…”) but try to imagine Murray and Hunt commentating on today’s race and you’ll realise F1 is in good shape these days – not bad.

We don’t need overtaking every five minutes to make a great race. Keep races long. Stay away Briatore!
John H

What do you think made the Turkish Grand Prix such a good race? Was it a one-off or the sign of things to come? have your say in the comments.

Race rating data

The chart below shows the result of over 67,000 votes cast rating the last 42 races out of ten:

F1 races rated out of ten, 2008-2010 (click to enlarge)

This is part of “Making F1 better”, a series of articles looking at ways to improve Formula 1. Fore more information see the introduction: Making F1 better: a discussion series

Making F1 better

• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Making F1 better: series round-up
• Addicted to aero (Making F1 better)
• Improving F1 means solving a three-dimensional problem (Making F1 better)
• What should F1 be? (Making F1 better)
• When was F1 at its best? The rose-tinted spectacles problem (Making F1 better)
• Making F1 better: a discussion series

Image (C) Red Bull/Getty images

Horner also confirmed that Mark Webber had been instructed to turn his engine down before Sebastian Vettel, because he had used more fuel.

And he added that Helmut Marko no long blamed Webber exclusively for the crash.

Horner has also written an open letter pledging “both drivers will continue to be given equal treatment”.

Here’s the Q&A in full:

Question: What happened on lap 40 of the Turkish GP?
Christian Horner: We had a unique situation during the Turkish GP where the first four cars were separated by two seconds, with Mark having led every lap until lap 40. The race was the fastest of the season to date with all four drivers pushing each other extremely hard.

On lap 38, Mark changed his mixture setting based on his fuel consumption to a slightly leaner mode, which had an average lap time loss of about 0.18 seconds, whilst maintaining the same revs. Sebastian had conserved more fuel than Mark during the race and therefore was able to run in a slightly better mode for an additional couple of laps.

On lap 38 and 39, Sebastian’s pace picked up and he closed right up to the back of Mark while under considerable pressure from Hamilton behind. After a very strong run through Turn 9, Sebastian got a run and strong tow and moved to the left to pass Mark. Mark held the inside line and adopted a defensive position, which he is entitled to do.

When Sebastian was three quarters of the way past, he moved to the right. As Sebastian moved to the right, Mark held his position and the ensuing result was contact that resulted in Sebastian retiring, Mark damaging the front-end of his car and the team losing a one two finish. Ultimately both drivers should have given each other more room.

Q: Was either driver to blame for the incident?
CH: What we expect from our drivers, as team mates, is that they show respect for each other and allow one another enough room on the race track. Unfortunately neither driver did this on Sunday and the net result was an incident between the two. During the previous six one-two finishes we have achieved, there have been many incidences of close racing between our drivers and they have previously always abided by this understanding.

Q: What do you think about Sebastian’s actions when he got out of the car?
CH: The adrenaline was flowing and obviously there’s a great deal of frustration when you’ve just crashed out of a race. It will be discussed and I am certain that the air will be cleared before Canada.

Q: Some people commented after the race that Mark was to blame – why was that?
CH: Ultimately we win as a team and we lose as a team and on Sunday we lost as a team, as a result of our two drivers having an incident. Having looked at all the information it’s clear that it was a racing accident that shouldn’t have happened between two team-mates. After looking at all the facts that weren’t available immediately after the race, Dr. Marko also fully shares this view.

Q: What do you think would have happened if Mark and Sebastian hadn’t collided?
CH: Our priority as a team is to finish first and second, irrelevant of the order. The Turkish GP was the closest race of probably the last twelve months with significant pressure coming from both of the McLarens. Sebastian’s pace improved from lap 37 onwards and he appeared to be the faster of the two Red Bull drivers. Had the incident not have happened, I believe we would have achieved a one-two finish and a maximum score for the second race in succession.

Q: Were you happy that Sebastian challenged Mark for the lead at that point in the race? You had a one-two, so why not stick with that?
CH: With the pace of the McLarens and with it looking like Sebastian was the quicker of the two Red Bull cars, the priority was to win the race. With intense pressure from Hamilton behind, who was in a McLaren that had a significant straight line speed advantage, it would have been impossible to back Sebastian off. Therefore it was acceptable to us for him to attempt an overtaking manoeuvre.

Q: Were there any team orders given for Sebastian to pass Mark?
CH: Neither driver was given any instruction to change position. There are no team orders within Red Bull Racing, other than that the drivers should race each other with respect.

Q: How will you resolve the situation?
CH: We’re a very strong team and we will sit down and discuss this openly with the drivers in order to learn from what has happened and avoid a situation like this arising again. One of the strengths of Red Bull Racing is the team spirit here, which has contributed to the performance that we have achieved so far this season. The drivers are both intelligent individuals and this issue will be resolved prior to the Canadian Grand Prix.

Q: How will you deal with the drivers? Have you already spoken to them?
CH: I have spoken with both drivers, who are both disappointed with what happened. They recognise that they represent the team and so are not only disappointed for their own loss, but the loss of points for the team who put in so much hard work before the race.

Q: What’s the plan going forwards for the team? Will one of the drivers now be given number one status?
CH: Both drivers, as has always been the case, will continue to be given equal treatment. The Turkish Grand Prix has been a costly lesson for both drivers and we are confident that this situation won’t happen again.

Q: Were there any positives from the race for the team?
CH: Up until lap 40 the race had been very positive for us. Despite our significant straight line speed disadvantage to the McLarens, we had managed to not only maintain position with Mark through the pit stops against Hamilton, but we had also managed through strategy and excellent pit stop work for Sebastian to leapfrog Hamilton during the pit stops. We were being pushed very hard, but appeared to have the race within our grasp until lap 40. We will now move on from this as a team and concentrate on the Canadian Grand Prix.

Q: What is Mr. Mateschitz’s opinion of the incident?
CH: Dietrich has spoken with both drivers following the incident. He has always supported both drivers equally and summed it up by saying, ”**** happens… we shouldn’t talk about the past, but concentrate on the future. The fact is that we not only have the fastest car, but also two of the best and fastest drivers”.

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

• Hamilton's engineer got it wrong over Button pass, Whitmarsh admits
• Technical review: Turkish Grand Prix
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn't pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix
• Hamilton praises "incredible development"
• 'It won't happen again' - Webber
• Kobayashi: 'Q3 means more than a point'
• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Horner blames both drivers for crash
• Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix - the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review

Review all the action from a thrilling Turkish Grand Prix

Find all the F1 Fanatic Turkish Grand Prix coverage in one place below – from Friday practice to the post-race review and our live comments on every session.

Race

Turkish Grand Prix in pictures

Turkish Grand Prix review – McLaren take one-two as Red Bull hit self-destruct

Webber and Vettel lose one-two finish for Red Bull after collision – So far our poll of over 4,000 fans show three-quarters blame Sebastian Vettel for the collision with his team mate

“Mark should have let Vettel pass” – Marko – Red Bull management blame Webber for the crash

Rate the race: Turkey – What did you think of the Turkish Grand Prix? Rate the race out of ten.

Turkish Grand Prix result – Lewis Hamilton takes his first win of 2010

Championship points after Turkey- Webber takes sole championship lead while McLaren pass Red Bull in constructors’ title race

Turkish Grand Prix analysis – Pit stop hiccup fails to stop Hamilton

Turkish GP team-by-team: McLaren – Hamilton “surprised” by Button’s pass
Turkish GP team-by-team: Red Bull – Vettel and Webber on collision course
Turkish GP team-by-team: Mercedes – Fast pit stop saves Rosberg
Turkish GP team-by-team: Ferrari – Poor race prompts Valencia upgrade
Turkish GP team-by-team: Williams – No points after poor race
Turkish GP team-by-team: Renault – Petrov misses out on points
Turkish GP team-by-team: Force India – Liuzzi struggles again
Turkish GP team-by-team: Toro Rosso – Two-stop gamble fails to lift team
Turkish GP team-by-team: Lotus – First double DNF
Turkish GP team-by-team: HRT – Hydraulic problems stymie drivers
Turkish GP team-by-team: Sauber – Kobayashi takes first point of 2010
Turkish GP team-by-team: Virgin – ‘New team win’ for troubled Glock

Turkish Grand Prix fastest laps
Turkish Grand Prix stats and facts

Qualifying

Turkish Grand Prix
qualifying in pictures

Turkish Grand Prix qualifying – Webber claims third consecutive pole position

Alonso misses Q3 as Ferrari struggle – 12th place for Alonso

Di Grassi 23rd after engine problem – Virgin driver out-qualified by Senna

Turkish Grand Prix grid – Seventh pole position of 2010 for Red Bull

Turkish GP pre-race analysis – As expected, having both drivers start off the racing line proved a problem for McLaren

Practice

Turkish Grand Prix
practice in pictures

Glock says turn eight is “nothing special” and blue flags need to stay (Interview) – Virgin driver Timo Glock talked to F1 Fanatic before the Turkish Grand Prix

Hamilton heads Button in first practice – McLaren started the weekend strongly

First practice interactive chart – Red Bull showed good pace even on worn tyres

McLaren fastest again in second practice as Red Bull hit reliability trouble – Vettel and Webber had car problems in second practice

Second practice interactive chart – The RB6′s performance advantage around turn eight became clear

Vettel quickest in final practice – Meanwhile Hamilton survived a high-speed spin at turn eight

2010 Turkish Grand Prix – F1 Fanatic unofficial race programme – Pre-race guide

Live blogs

Turkish Grand Prix
pre-race pictures

How we saw the Turkish Grand Prix as it unfolded:

Turkish Grand Prix Practice 1 Live Blog
Turkish Grand Prix Practice 2 Live Blog
Turkish Grand Prix Practice 3 Live Blog
Turkish Grand Prix Qualifying Live Blog
Turkish Grand Prix Live Blog

Find coverage of every race this season here: F1 2010 Season

How can we improve our coverage?

What would you like to see more of in F1 Fanatic’s Grand Prix coverage? How can we make it better? Please post your suggestions in the comments.

Poor qualifying left Alonso mired in the midfield

Ferrari have promised a significant upgrade package for the European Grand Prix after a dismal showing in their 800th Grand Prix.

What has happened to the team that started the year with a one-two?

Open lap times interactive chart in new window

Felipe Massa

Beat Alonso in qualifying for the first time since Bahrain – a badly-needed result.

Couldn’t make any further progress on race day, gaining one position thanks to Sebastian Vettel’s retirement. He declared his frustration afterwards:

It was a very boring race for me, from start to finish, but it was also very difficult. I was always stuck behind Kubica and the two Mercedes, who were running at a similar pace to me. Very often I managed to get close, but I never had a real chance of overtaking Robert. I knew that, starting from eighth, it would be tough and so it proved.
Felipe Massa

Compare Felipe Massa’s form against his team mate in 2010

Fernando Alonso

Admitted he couldn’t have done better after being dumped out of qualifying in Q2. In a closely-fought session Alonso was slower than his team mate by four tenths of a second.

He started 12th and was sill there at the end of lap one, but his pit stop got him ahead of Kamui Kobayashi and Adrian Sutil.

Spent 36 laps battling Vitaly Petrov, finally getting alongside and banging wheels with the Renault driver to take eighth behind Massa.

At the end, I attacked Petrov and I hope the two points this brought me could turn out to be useful come the end of the year: I am sorry he got a puncture that stopped him finishing in the points, because he drove a good race. Despite everything, we are still in a good position to fight for the title. However, now is the time to react.
Fernando Alonso

Photographs of the damage to his wheel afterwards showed Alonso had been fortunate to make it to the end of the race.

Compare Fernando Alonso’s form against his team mate in 2010

But the team showed good pace and Robert Kubica beat both the Ferraris.

Open lap times interactive chart in new window

Robert Kubica

A solid but unspectacular race in which he tried but couldn’t find a way past the Mercedes drivers:

I knew we had a chance to get ahead of them during the pit stops and I had a very good out lap, but their pit stops must have been a bit quicker and so we couldn’t jump ahead.
Robert Kubica

Compare Robert Kubica’s form against his team mate in 2010

Vitaly Petrov

Had his best qualifying performance of the year so far, getting within half a second of his team mate.

Came under huge pressure from Fernando Alonso, spending much of the race with the Ferrari less than a second behind.

He finally succumbed with six laps to go and the contact caused a puncture. That dropped him out of the points but the late tyre change allowed him to set the fastest lap of the race.

Compare Vitaly Petrov’s form against his team mate in 2010

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

• Hamilton's engineer got it wrong over Button pass, Whitmarsh admits
• Technical review: Turkish Grand Prix
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn't pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix
• Hamilton praises "incredible development"
• 'It won't happen again' - Webber
• Kobayashi: 'Q3 means more than a point'
• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Horner blames both drivers for crash
• Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix - the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review

The McLarens very nearly finished in the opposite order

While the drama at Red Bull was impossible to miss, McLaren’s one-two win at Istanbul wasn’t a straightforward affair either.

After the race there was talk of “confusion” over the drivers’ instructions to save fuel. Lewis Hamilton spoke of being “surprised” that Jenson Button caught and passed him – before Hamilton reversed the move.

Open lap times interactive chart in new window

Jenson Button

Turkish Grand Prix in pictures

McLaren enjoyed far better performance after a poor weekend in Monaco – and Button benefited from a problem-free race after suffering car trouble in the last two rounds.

Had it not been for Michael Schumacher’s spin in qualifying Button might well have taken third off Vettel in qualifying. Unfortunately Button had let Schumacher past before starting his final flying lap.

Schumacher got past Button at the first corner as Button took care not to run into his team mate. Unlike in Spain, this time Button made short work of Schumacher, passing him on the run to turn 12.

He never looked like passing Vettel in the opening stint, nor putting a move on his team mate – until the Red Bulls went out.

After that Button first closed on Hamilton, then passed him on lap 48, only for Hamilton to reverse the move at the next corner. Button then slipped back from his team mate – as the lap time chart above shows he was suddenly around half a second per lap slower.

Compare Jenson Button’s form against his team mate in 2010

Lewis Hamilton

Bounced back from a lurid spin at turn eight in final practice – partly thanks to him dragging the car back to the pits on at least two punctured tyres.

Hamilton split the Red Bulls in qualifying and put a handy pass on Vettel on the first lap to hold onto his second place at the start.

He fell back behind Vettel due to a slow pit stop and was close behind the two RB6s when they collided on lap 41.

It’s clear from the lap times that both McLarens began – or increased – their efforts to preserve their cars from that moment on. But Hamilton slowed down more than Button as he explained after the race:

I felt confident we could get a potential one-two, and we were trying to look after the tyres and save the fuel to the finish. The [lap time] target they gave me was perhaps a little bit slower than they’d meant, so Jenson was suddenly on my tail. I had a great battle with him, and was happy to get past because it was quite a surprise.
Lewis Hamilton

Reading between the lines it seems likely the pair were told to back off, the team wishing to avoid a repeat of what had happened to Red Bull.

But it’s unlikely that having Button pass Hamilton and then be re-taken by him figured in the team’s game plan at all, and they can consider themselves lucky it didn’t end in tears.

Compare Lewis Hamilton’s form against his team mate in 2010

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

• Hamilton's engineer got it wrong over Button pass, Whitmarsh admits
• Technical review: Turkish Grand Prix
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn't pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix
• Hamilton praises "incredible development"
• 'It won't happen again' - Webber
• Kobayashi: 'Q3 means more than a point'
• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Horner blames both drivers for crash
• Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix - the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review

Hamilton lost two seconds - and second place - in his pit stop

Lewis Hamilton scored his first win of 2010 in Istanbul – despite falling behind Sebastian Vettel twice during the Turkish Grand Prix.

Take a look at the race data in detail with the F1 Fanatic race analysis and interactive charts below.

Lap 1

Position change on lap 1

Turkish Grand Prix in pictures

By the end of lap one the top 13 drivers were all in the same order they started – but the first lap was a lot more exciting than that.

Both McLaren drivers lost places but took them back during the first lap, Hamilton passing Vettel and Button passing Schumacher.

Pit stops

Turkish Grand Prix pit stops

Sebastien Buemi and Nico Hülkenberg both pitted at the end of the first lap after colliding. But, unlike Fernando Alonso at Monaco, neither felt able to complete the remaining race distance without a further pit stop.

Lewis Hamilton lost a position to Sebastian Vettel in the pit stops not just because Vettel came in first – a stuck right-rear cost Hamilton more than two seconds.

An early first stop for Alonso paid dividends, getting him ahead of Kamui Kobayashi – who he’s been stuck behind until that point – and Adrian Sutil.

Race progress

You can see the position of every car on every lap using the interactive chart below.

View interactive chart full screen

Tick/untick drivers’ names to show their laps, click and drag to zoom

Drivers’ lap times

You can see the lap times for every car using the interactive chart below.

View interactive chart full screen

Tick/untick drivers’ names to show their laps, click and drag to zoom

Lap chart

Turkish Grand Prix lap chart

Unusually, it wasn’t until the second half of the race that we saw the first retirement.

Vitaly Petrov was on course for eighth place before banging wheels with Alonso.

Sutil had to pass Kobayashi twice – doing it once at the start of the race and then again towards the end after his pit stop had dropped him back behind the Japanese driver.

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

• Hamilton's engineer got it wrong over Button pass, Whitmarsh admits
• Technical review: Turkish Grand Prix
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn't pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix
• Hamilton praises "incredible development"
• 'It won't happen again' - Webber
• Kobayashi: 'Q3 means more than a point'
• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Horner blames both drivers for crash
• Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix - the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review

Top 50 fastest laps

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

• Hamilton's engineer got it wrong over Button pass, Whitmarsh admits
• Technical review: Turkish Grand Prix
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn't pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix
• Hamilton praises "incredible development"
• 'It won't happen again' - Webber
• Kobayashi: 'Q3 means more than a point'
• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Horner blames both drivers for crash
• Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix - the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review

Vettel climbs out of his Red Bull after the crash

Lewis Hamilton won a dramatic and controversial Turkish Grand Prix.

Review the race in pictures below – including that controversial collision between the Red Bull team mates.

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

• Hamilton's engineer got it wrong over Button pass, Whitmarsh admits
• Technical review: Turkish Grand Prix
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn't pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix
• Hamilton praises "incredible development"
• 'It won't happen again' - Webber
• Kobayashi: 'Q3 means more than a point'
• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Horner blames both drivers for crash
• Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix - the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review

Images (C) Ferrari spa, Williams/LAT, Bridgestone/Ercole Colombo, www.mclaren.com, Getty Images/Red Bull, Force India F1 Team

The damage to Vettel's right-rear tyre after the crash

How did Sebastian Vettel suddenly get close enough to team mate Mark Webber to make the fateful move than destroyed their hopes of a one-two?

The interactive chart below shows how Vettel suddenly started lapping quicker than Webber in the minutes before the collision.

Rumours claim Red Bull instructed Vettel to turn up his engine shortly before the collision.

Open lap times interactive chart in new window

Sebastian Vettel

Turkish Grand Prix in pictures

Zoom in on the interactive chart above (click and drag) to see the laps running up to the lap 41 collision. It’s clear to see that Vettel, despite already being within a second of his team mate, suddenly found a couple of tenths more.

After the race the BBC reported rumours that Vettel was instructed to turn his engine up to get a power boost before the crash – and Webber had received the opposite instruction to turn his engine down at the same time.

It’s understandable that Red Bull would have wanted to help Vettel maintain his advantage over Hamilton. But with Vettel so close to Webber surely they would have realised it would leave Webber vulnerable to being overtaken by his team mate?

The team avoided such a scenario at the same track last year, instructing both their drivers to save fuel and hold position after Vettel had fallen behind Webber.

Vettel started the race from third place after a roll-bar failure in qualifying prevented him from improving his time.

Compare Sebastian Vettel’s form against his team mate in 2010

Mark Webber

Took his third consecutive pole position and held onto his lead at the start – despite coming under considerable pressure from Lewis Hamilton.

While the RB6′s speed through turn eight allowed him to keep Hamilton at bay, he was unable to keep team mate Vettel from getting a run at him.

After the collision Webber pitted for a new front wing but still brought the car home in third place.

Compare Mark Webber’s form against his team mate in 2010

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

• Hamilton's engineer got it wrong over Button pass, Whitmarsh admits
• Technical review: Turkish Grand Prix
• McLaren told Hamilton Button wouldn't pass him during the Turkish Grand Prix
• Hamilton praises "incredible development"
• 'It won't happen again' - Webber
• Kobayashi: 'Q3 means more than a point'
• A brilliant race in Turkey shows F1 is on the right track (Making F1 better)
• Horner blames both drivers for crash
• Renault aiming to beat Mercedes
• 2010 Turkish Grand Prix - the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review