F1 Turkish GP Live Updates - final practice and qualifying
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Of course, it's not the only time we've had rain in Turkey. Sebastian Vettel had a major prang in practice back in 2011, although his Red Bull mechanics worked wonders to ensure his RB7 was repaired for him to win the race.
Unless things change dramatically, we're set to have our first wet qualifying since Styria back in July - on that occasion, Lewis Hamilton was a full 1.2s quicker than Max Verstappen, while Carlos Sainz Jr was an impressive third for McLaren and George Russell qualified 12th before being bumped up a place by a penalty for Charles Leclerc. With the drivers' adaptability set to be a key performance differentiator, will we see a similarly jumbled grid today?
As a reminder, Verstappen has led all three practice sessions so far this weekend, with Leclerc second in both FP2 and FP3 before the rain really intensified. But Alex Albon was near the top of the timesheets for much of yesterday's FP2, while Vettel of course has history here - so it might not be a foregone conclusion that the teams' number ones will have it all their own way.
One driver in a curious situation today is Russell, who took a new Mercedes internal combustion engine, turbocharger and MGU-H this weekend and has become the first driver this season to take a grid drop. Will we see the charging Saturday performances we've become accustomed to this season, or will he prioritise race set-up and give Nicholas Latifi a chance of outqualifying him for the first time?
For those of you wondering, the risk of rain for this session is 90%. Hmm. "So, you're telling me there's a chance?"
Track temperature is 13.6 degrees, and air temperature a chilly 11.9 degrees.
Here's your five-minute warning. Not long before we get to see some very expensive cars scrabble for grip like a couple of Fiat Puntos in a Tesco carpark.
TV cameras just catching sight of an Istanbul dog roaming the track - that sight will be enough to give Bruno Senna nightmares, wherever he's watching from.
Those of you with long memories and oversized anoraks may remember that the Brazilian hit a dog in the GP2 support race back in 2008. Not a sight you wish to see.
Green flag
And we're green for the Q1 roulette wheel to start. Who is feeling lucky?
Looks like a mix of intermediates and full wet tyres chosen - both Red Bulls in the former camp.
It's an eventful outlap for Verstappen, who goes straight on at Turn 9 and then half-spins when he boots the throttle upon rejoining. Somehow, we don't think he'll be the last...
Radio Comms
"I have no grip compared to the McLaren," complains Verstappen who is following Norris - also shod with intermediates incidentally.
Yellow flag
Yellow flags in sector 2 as Latifi has a spin at Turn 8.
The first quick time is posted by Bottas, who is following one of the AlphaTauris through the final sector. It's a 2m07.001, which puts him four tenths ahead of Ocon.
Drivers being told that there's more rain on the way as Grosjean has a big slide off the road at Turn 5 in front of Albon - who has pitted to swap his intermediates for full wets.
Radio Comms
"Raining heavily now," says Verstappen. "I can't take my hands off the wheel."
Stopwatch
Ocon now goes quickest on his second lap with a 2m06.115s to move ahead of Bottas, with Stroll up to third.
Both Ferraris started the session on intermediates, but have pitted to switch to wets too. Leclerc is currently in the drop zone in P16 - will deteriorating conditions prevent an improvement?
Radio Comms
Verstappen has also pitted for full wets as Hamilton reports, "it's raining a crazy amount now".
Verstappen is the man currently on the bubble in P15 while Albon has moved up to P8. Kvyat meanwhile has a spin coming onto the pit straight in the AlphaTauri, also on wets.
Red flag
Red flag is out.
Information
As Gasly recovers from a spin at Turn 7, race control has thrown the reds - no cars off that we can see on the timing screens, so appears the decision has been taken that it's just too wet to continue.
That's not necessarily curtains for Leclerc though - he may be in P16 and currently facing the drop, but we may get the session underway again after an interlude.
All the same, given how much standing water is out on the track, it would take an awful lot of jet-dryers to make any meaningful impression.
Verstappen is just 0.007s ahead of Leclerc so would go through to Q2 by the skin of his teeth in P15 if we were to see no improvements when/if the session restarts.
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We're currently being treated to replays of drivers spinning left right and centre. Looks like Latifi is the winner of the brown trouser moment award though for his backwards effort at Turn 8.
Incidentally, the Canadian rookie also had another moment at Turn 7 - which explains his 7s deficit to Russell, the Williams pair in P19 and P20.
Twitter
So, hands up who predicted this top 10?
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It looks like the rain has eased a bit, so we should be able to get going again soon even if the track doesn't appear as though it's going to dry anytime in the next week.
We're currently wondering about the longest qualifying sessions due to stoppages - anybody remember Brazil 2009? Seem to remember Tonio Liuzzi having a go at shunting his Force India and causing a lengthy stoppage in a classic Sao Paulo rainstorm.
The safety car is now out on track to get a feel for the conditions.
Ocon is quickest by just under a second at the moment, but interestingly it's Bottas who has the quickest first and second sectors. It'd be interesting to see where the Finn lost the time in the slow final section, which is all about traction in these conditions.
Information
As a reminder, there are 6 minutes and 56 seconds left on the clock, which should give the drivers just enough time for three hot (or, should that be cold?) laps.
Bernd Maylander has had his fun for the day and brought the safety car back to the pitlane. No sign of a thumbs up from the veteran German driver though, as he remains deep in conversation with his FIA colleague in the passenger seat.
Did you know? Bernd Maylander won the Nurburgring 24 Hour race in 2000 in a Porsche run by Phoenix Motorsport? His co-drivers that day were FIA GT Maserati exponent Michael Bartels, DTM hardman Uwe Alzen and 1993 Porsche Supercup champion Altfrid Heger.
Still no word yet from race control about when we'll get this session restarted. The tense wait continues for Leclerc, Grosjean, Gasly, Russell and Latifi - the men currently occupying the bottom five positions.
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
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