The Turkish Grand Prix is a Formula 1 motorsport race that took place for the first time on August 21, 2005, as part of the 2005 Formula 1 season and last took place on May 8, 2011, as part of the 2011 Formula 1 season. The circuit circumference is counterclockwise. There was no Formula 1 race on the circuit after nine years before it was announced that he would return to the Formula 1 World Championships in 2020 after major schedule changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How did the years go at the Istanbul Park Circuit?
Exciting track events were seen in 2005, with many drivers spinning over the weekend due to too much pressure, especially at turn 8, where Juan Pablo Montoya ran wide with two wheels to confuse Jordan with Tiag Monteiro. The victory was won by Kimi Räikkönen, followed by Fernando Alonso, an event that had a significant impact on their World Cup battle towards its culmination.
The following year, Filipe Massa won pole position and victory in Tuzla. Ferraris were in the early stages of race 1-2, with Massa ahead of Michael Schumacher. The turn of Vitantonio Liuzzi brought a safety car and Ferraris had to pit in the same round. Alonso managed to beat Schumacher and the order remained until the end of the race. Massa repeated this in 2007 in front of his new teammate Räikkönen. Even in 2008, Massa won two stops ahead of triple Lewis Hamilton, although Hamilton overtook him during the race. In 2009 Jenson Button with Brawn-Mercedes and 2010 Lewis Hamilton of the McLaren-Mercedes team.
Bernie Ecclestone wanted to double the fees for organizing the race, so the year 2011 was questioned. However, Ecclestone confirmed that 2011 will have 20 races in the calendar, in addition to which the Indian Grand Prix was added.
On July 30, 2011, it was announced that the Turkish Grand Prix will not be on the calendar from 2012 due to the lack of an agreement on annual costs. On January 9, 2013, the government decided not to approve the Formula 1 agreement, which would hold a race in Tuzla in 2013. The project, which was to cost Turkey a total of about $ 20 million, had to receive state funding of $ 13 million. However, the government did not give its consent and the project failed.
Return in 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, several originally planned plants were cancelled. The Turkish Grand Prix was added to the revised calendar in August 2020 and the race weekend will take place on 13-15 November 2020.
How are you looking forward to the race?