Lewis Hamilton has set himself the challenge of grabbing pole position on Saturday, knowing it is his best chance of escaping from the Turkish Grand Prix with his world championship dream unharmed.
That this weekend is potentially harmful to the Briton’s quest for title No 8 became clear here at 11.30am on Friday with confirmation that he would be receiving his fourth engine of the year and, therefore, be sent down the grid.
Hamilton has a new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) but not an entire new power unit so he slides back 10 places rather than 20.
Lewis Hamilton is looking take pole position in the Turkish GP qualifying
Hamilton was the fastest in both practice sessions in Istanbul on Friday
It was not what Hamilton wanted, and he said as much. He believed he could eke out his existing two engines and save on the penalty. But, to his chagrin, Mercedes’ crack engineers with all the data to hand overruled their star driver’s instincts. So he goes up against Max Verstappen, his one rival for the crown, with a hand tied behind his back.
‘I need to be on pole to limit the loss, and understand the car well enough to do best over the long runs,’ said Hamilton. ‘I am just trying to find the right balance.
‘I don’t know how much more there is to come, but we always find something during the evening. I will then have a lot of work to do on Sunday, either way, whatever the weather.
‘The Ferraris are going to be hard to pass, as are the Renaults and the McLarens. Ferrari seem to be improving throughout the year. It is good to see them getting stronger.’
Certainly, all is not lost for Hamilton here in the wind-blown track 30 miles from the central sprawl of the old imperial capital with all its majesty and madness.
First, he can take succour from finishing yesterday’s two practice sessions in first place. Verstappen was half a second adrift in both.
There is also the example of the Dutchman roaring from last place to finish second at the last race in Russia, with the helping hand of late rain that presented the opportunity to make a timely change of tyres.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has admitted they have had a few issues with the circuit
Even a Hamilton
