Turkish Grand Prix: Who will win?
The band is banging louder as the Turks welcome the Formula One teams to the scenic and beautiful country of Turkey. The Istanbul Park of the Turkish Grand Prix is ready to host the cars race around for the sixth season along its track. The newly built track is rich in modern technology and could prove a little tricky for the drivers at times. There have been times when the drivers claimed that their heads continued to spin even after many days due to this track. The eighth corner of the track offers 5G, which is the most challenging part of the entire circuit.
For this scintillating season, all eyes looking towards the Red Bull team. They are shining brighter than a star. All through the season, the Red Bull team has managed to pull off victories after victories. With Mark Webber's victory in Monaco, things are shaping up well for the team. On a personal note, it was Webber’s second consecutive win of the season and the fourth of his career. His team mate Sebastian Vettel also seems to be in great form and momentum. Of all the participating teams, his chances are thought to be the brightest. Red Bull has all together won nine races in Formula One racing so far.
If Webber wins this race, he will equal World Champion Jenson Button’s record of winning three successive races, which he did last year with his teammate Brawn.
Alan Jones in 1980 and 1981 was the last Australian to have won three in a row including his last two races for the 1980 season and the first one he ran in 1981.
Red Bull seems to be coming up with all it can to become the victors at Istanbul. So far, Ferrari has won two hundred and eleven times and with one hundred and sixty six victories, McLaren is the second most successful team. Williams stands in third place after having one hundred and thirteen wins.
For Red Bull, the year has been wonderful with perfectionist consistency. They have started every race of this season on pole position after winning three pole positions by both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber individually. McLaren and Williams jointly hold the record for the gaining fifteen pole positions in one season.
However, Webber stands as the only driver of the season to have won from pole position and has done this consecutively in the last two races held in Spain and Monaco. If he does well at the practice sessions and is able to get hold of the pole position, it will be enough to frustrate the other drivers.
Previously, in the year 2000 till 2001, Ferrari took seven pole positions in a row. Nevetheless, the team has not been able to return to the pole since the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008. In 2007, Felipe Massa of Ferrari took three successive pole positions to set a new record in Formula One racing.
Since 1981, when Jones topped the standings, Webber is the first Australian to reach to the top at the points tally. In this season, four drivers have led the total six races so far which include Alonso, Massa, Button and Webber.
Red Bull’s cars had witnessed one of the best seasons. In all of the last ten races they have had, at least one of their cars was successful to stay in the front row. On the other hand, Championship leader Jenson Button, despite his two wins, has not been able to start in the first row since the Turkish Grand Prix in June last year. However, November’s Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi last year marked McLaren’s last start on the front row.
In the last five Turkish Grand Prix, there was only one race that was not won by the driver starting on pole position. That was when Button won with his team mate Brawn last year after starting from the second place.
Though many expect Webber to out shine this year at Turkey but Brazilian driver Massa’s record could not be over looked at this track with his three successive wins. The countdown has already started; Sunday is expected to be a make or break day for many.
Tags: