With only two points separating 2021 Formula 1 World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in a thrilling title race, neither can afford a slip in the remaining seven races.
Their contest resumes this Sunday at the Turkish Grand Prix. Both are hoping the Istanbul track is much more reliable than it was last year, when it had just been re-laid to host an F1 race for the first time since 2011 and was far too slippery.
Drivers complained throughout practice and qualifying about the unreliable surface on the 5.3-kilometre (3.3-mile) course.
Verstappen said it was like an ice rink and placed sixth in the race after qualifying in the second spot. Hamilton profited from the unpredictability of the race to rise from sixth on the grid to win and clinch a record-equaling seventh world title.
“I remember from when I was little, playing the F1 (computer) game on this track and it was one of my favourites. Last year I was very excited to come back, and I was disappointed because of the grip level,” Verstappen said at his news conference Thursday. “I hope this year will be a lot of fun because the track layout is really interesting, so let’s hope for better conditions.”
Verstappen could be further behind in the standings considering he started the Russian Grand Prix two weeks ago from the back of the grid. He went over his allocation of three engines for the season and took a grid penalty for using a fourth engine.
Although Hamilton won in Sochi to clinch a record-extending 100th F1 win, Verstappen limited the damage by finishing a surprise second as the rain came thundering down and chaos ensued with just a few laps left.
Hamilton was touched by the reception he got in Britain – and in Paris during his visit to Fashion Week – for his hundredth win.
“It was incredibly positive. I went back to the UK, running around London (with) people shouting out ‘100!’ and being at restaurants,” Hamilton said on Thursday. “Just everywhere I was going people were super positive, in Paris also. I wasn’t expecting it, but it was really nice to see.”
Now Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is deciding whether it’s risky keeping Hamilton on his third engine for too long. It could be Hamilton’s turn to take a grid hit for an engine swap, to avoid a potential breakdown at Istanbul Park.
“It’s a possibility,” Wolff said. “Most important is that you don’t DNF (do not finish) because of a reliability issue.”
Ferrari has given Carlos Sainz Jr. a new engine, meaning he will start Sunday’s race from the back.
Verstappen is a major threat to Hamilton’s bid for an eighth world title to surpass Michael Schumacher and stand-alone among F1 greats. He leads Hamilton 7-5 for wins this season and 7-3 for pole positions.
While the drivers’ title race is close, Red Bull is dropping behind in the constructors’ and trails Mercedes by 33 points.
Some of that is down to bad luck, with Verstappen knocked out of the British Grand Prix by Hamilton and, in Hungary, getting bumped off track on the first lap after Valtteri Bottas’ poor start.
But it’s also because teammate Sergio Perez has not been scoring enough points. The Mexican driver has gone eight races without a podium since June when he placed third at the French Grand Prix. In those races, he has collected a mere 36 points compared to 84 in the first seven races of the campaign.
“I want to be back on the podium this weekend,” said Perez, who counts two wins among 12 career podiums but accepts he must do better in qualifying. “I am conscious we must get the car where it deserves on the grid.”
The Turkish Grand Prix took the slot normally reserved for the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. That race was cancelled in August amid the government’s coronavirus concerns.
Red Bull is powered by Honda engines but the Japanese manufacturer is pulling out of F1 at the end of 2021. Suzuka would have been Honda’s last race, so in honour of Honda both Red Bull and feeder team AlphaTauri will have special liveries.
The Red Bulls will have a predominantly white livery, inspired by the Honda that American driver Richie Ginther powered to victory at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix.
Pierre Gasly and home favourite Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauris will carry “Arigato” – Japanese for thank you – on the rear wings.