08/05/2008 12:15

Natalie Le Clue

The Turkish GP is a fairly new addition to the F1 calendar, but already it ranks among the favourites for both drivers and spectators.

The Istanbul Speed Park is of course famed for its awe-inspiring turn eight, the same turn that, even though you're in your living room, has you holding your breath as the cars plunge towards the first apex.

The fifth race of the season is also the first of the anti-clockwise tracks in the calendar. In common with the more modern circuits, Istanbul Park is a demanding and big challenge for engines.

Approximately 67% of the lap is spent at full throttle, well above average when compared to other tracks. The circuit also includes a long period of around 16 seconds spent at full throttle, between turns 10 and 12. Engines must be obedient in the fact that they have to pull strongly from low revs all the way to their 19 000 rpm limit, while power delivery at high revs also has to be fine-tuned to avoid upsetting the car balance in turn eight. Statistics of this fine balancing act speak for themselves, as if a car is assembled 0.1% incorrectly the car will start the race with 40 things wrong, a scenario that no team can afford.

Efficient

McLaren's biggest problems at present appear to stem from a lack of traction out of corners, as their drivers are having to waste crucial time before being able to punch in the throttle while having to cope with a sliding car and the back stepping out under braking, a real hand-full for any driver to cope with. This is in direct contrast to the Ferrari car which appears stable and seemingly on rails and especially efficient in the more technical parts of the circuits, thanks to the shortened wheelbase enabling its drivers to negotiate the slower corners with much more confidence.

Ferrari could not wish to find themselves in a better position after winning the last three races, and recording one-two finishes in past two Grands Prix.

Even with two especially dominating wins by Raikkonen, he is never over-confident about the car or his racing form. Never one to celebrate in a gaudy fashion, Raikkonen's temperament allows him to keep everything in perspective while focusing on the job at hand, always aware of the fact that anything can happen in F1.

Familiar feel

BMW are almost there. Just one little push and they'll be in a position to claim a victory. The progress they have made in the last two years is nothing short of remarkable. Are they the second best team in F1 at the moment? On paper one would have to say yes. Their qualifying form has been inspired, but their race pace is still a little off-target. Robert Kubica is a prodigiously fast driver who knows what the team requires of him and he delivers.

It is only the fifth race of the season, but it is hard to ignore the decidedly reminiscent feel this season is taking on, one that is familiar to all racing fans. Do the dominant and effortless victories ring a bell? Michael Schumacher anyone? One cannot help but think about the time when F1 was merely a synonym for the 'The Michael Schumacher Show'. The man responsible for this nostalgia is Raikkonen. The scary thing about the Finn's recent form is that, barring unreliability, it doesn't seem as if anyone has an answer for the reigning world champion.

Lose further ground

The Turkish GP has been dominated by Felipe Massa who is regarded as somewhat of an Istanbul Park specialist. The 2008 season hasn't been too memorable thus far for Lewis Hamilton and with his campaign stuttering a bit it seems that he has lost some of his intensity. There is no time for 'damage limitation' this weekend. Sunday's race will be about one thing for Lewis: winning.

McLaren cannot under any circumstances afford to lose further ground to Raikkonen, and if they do, it will leave the British team in quite a spot of bother.

Raikkonen, Massa, Hamilton... only one first place. We know what that means: flat-out, on-the-edge of your seat racing. F1 at its finest. The smart money can only go one-way. Be assured that the winner will be driving a red car and just maybe he'll be Finnish.