Circuit length: 5.3440km
Race Distance: 309.9520km
Lapcount: 58
Lap Record: Juan Pablo Montoya 1m24.770s (McLaren, 2005)
Perhaps the most spectacular of Herman Tilke's circuits, Istanbul
Park has produced great racing action since it was introduced 2
years ago on the MotoGP and Formula 1 calendars. It is the one rare
venue where Michael Schumacher did not win. The track is one of 2
this season that run anti-clockwise, the other being Interlagos in
Brazil.
Its layout requires a high-speed, medium downforce configuration,
and the elevation change is on the high side. Turn 8 with its 4
apexes is one of the most exciting corners, as are the first corner
(which mimic's Interlagos's) and the hairpin at the end of the back
stretch.
Many things point towards a strong result for Ferrari at this
weekend's race. The previous 2 winners, Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe
Massa, are driving for the Scuderia, and their car is better suited
to fast circuits such as this. They will need all the points that
they can get as championship leader Lewis Hamilton is ahead of them
by 13 and 14 points respectively, and leads his teammate Fernando
Alonso by 7 points. The spectre of a severe penalty for McLaren due
to the espionage and qualifying incidents still looms, with the
appeals scheduled to be heard next month.
One thing that is almost certain though is that the race will be
much more lively than the last round!
