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The Grand Prix of Turkey is back on the calendar - A look back at the past

25 August 2020 at 14:07
  • GPblog.com

In 2005, Formula 1 visited Istanbul Park for the first time for a championship race. The circuit has been on the calendar up to and including 2011 and did not return after that because the government refused to co-finance a GP. Many drivers found it a sin, because it was a popular circuit. Now nine years later, the circuit is back, somewhat unexpectedly, because this is due to the corona pandemic. Time to look back at the past.

Anticlockwise

The circuit, located in Istanbul, Turkey is relatively long with 5,338 kilometers. The circuit is designed by the famous designer Herman Tilke and the driving direction is counterclockwise over 58 laps.

The races on this circuit have guaranteed spectacle on several occasions and as the drivers can really appreciate this track, it is good to see that this circuit returns. The Turkish Grand Prix will take place from November 13th to 15th before the Formula 1 race to the Middle East for the final part of the season.

Massa triple winner

In total, the circuit has hosted seven Grands Prix over the span of seven consecutive years. Felipe Massa has proved to be the absolute gentleman and most successful on this circuit, as he won the Turkish Grand Prix in 2006, 2007 and 2008 when he competed for Ferrari. He also achieved his first ever pole position here in 2006.

However, the first Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park circuit was won by Kimi Raikkonen in his McLaren in 2005. After the 'dominance' of Massa in the following three years, Jenson Button (2009), Lewis Hamilton (2010) and Sebastian Vettel (2011) won.

Controversy

The Turkish Grand Prix in the seven years that it was held has always been on top, but in 2006 there was a moment when not everything went well. For example, the person who would hand over the prize was announced as a representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The FIA, which is politically independent, was not happy about this and this caused various stakeholders to be concerned about the future of the Grand Prix. In the end, it was fined and the race was organized several times in the following years.

F1 teams respond to return