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Formula 1 Turkish GP

F1 Turkish GP Live Updates - final practice and qualifying

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Race control inform us that a five-minute warning will be given before the session restarts. We've currently got what looks like a bin lorry with some brushes attached trying to clear some water away. Where are those NASCAR standard issue jet-dryer pickups we mentioned earlier?
The track-sweeper pictured is out at Turn 12, but there's also another one down at Turn 7. No need to worry about the other corners apparently, they'll be 'rite.
Anybody up for more Bernd Maylander facts while we wait?
Maylander won his one and only DTM race in the final round of 2001. On that day, he started second and capaitalised on a poor pitstop for team-mate Patrick Huisman (at 26s, even slower than Vettel's stop in Imola) to lead the rest of the way from Scotland's Peter Dumbreck.
Remarkably, that was the last time Maylander ever scored points in the DTM. In the next three years, his best result was only a P8 at the Norisring in 2002 before he lost his DTM drive at the end of 2004.
Information
And with that, we've been given our 5-minute warning - the session will resume at 15:55 local time.
Green flag
Here we go, we're back underway.
Verstappen, Raikkonen and Albon the first men out of the pitlane after queuing for a time. The classic gamble of track position versus tyre temperature...
Crikey, a big spin for Raikkonen straight out of the pitlane coming up to Turn 3 - cool as you like, he gathers it up again and carries on without losing track position to Leclerc behind him.
Albon is the first man to start a hot lap, getting all sideways as he piles on the throttle coming onto the pit straight. Everybody on the grid really earning their money today.
Red flag
Red flags out again.
Looks like it's for Romain Grosjean, who is stranded in the gravel.
Just three minutes 30s left on the clock, but that's not good news for Leclerc. Grosjean, who was P17 anyway, now surely won't make the cut.
The Frenchman's Haas just swapped ends on him at Turn 1 and immediately he went backwards into the gravel. That was moments after Leclerc went straight on at Turn 1, but managed to keep the car moving and crucially dig himself out.
The session will restart at 16:03 local time. Just enough time to scrub all the muck out of Leclerc's sidepods and have another crack.
As Grosjean trudges back to the pits, the teams are hard at work in the garages fitting tyres fresh from the ovens to ensure they retain their temperature as much as possible.
Green flag
We're underway again, with both Red Bulls once again the first out.
To confirm, it's full wets all-round this time. All eyes now turn to Leclerc - can he escape the drop zone?
Stopwatch
Verstappen launches to the top on a 1m57.485 - he's certainly safe with that.
Looks like Latifi has come a cropper out on track somewhere, but cars are continuing to improve, so we'll update you on him in a moment.
Albon goes second-quickest, 1.9s behind his team-mate, with Raikkonen up to third and the Ferraris of Vettel and Leclerc P4 and P5.
Information
Magnussen is pushed down into the drop zone by improvements elsewhere. He's eliminated, along with Kvyat - who spun at Turn 3 - plus Russell and gravel-botherers Grosjean and Latifi.
Replays show Latifi had a massive moment of opposite lock at Turn 8 which spat him into the gravel on the outside of the track. Another challenging session then for Williams as both cars drop out.
Race control says all laps set under yellow flags will be investigated after the session. Presumably, that refers to the stranded Kvyat - only just off the racing line - and Latifi down at Turn 8.
Lewis Hamilton didn't improve on his time and slipped all the way back to 14th, but survived by around 0.4s. Remarkably, his best time was 10s slower than Q1 pace-setter Verstappen, who blitzed everybody with the benefit of no spray in front of him.
Green flag
And now we're underway for Q2.
We should note, Hamilton's last lap in Q1 was deleted for track limits at Turn 1. No room for error for anybody out there - it's still a question of survival.
Norris and Sainz both appear to be on intermediate rubber for this session - a brave call, or an inspired one? We shall see...
Norris is the first man to set a time, a 2m00.633s, but it's deleted for track limits at Turn 6.
Stopwatch
That shuffles Raikkonen to top spot in the Alfa on a 2m01.230, but only briefly as Albon now goes fastest on a 2m00.026s.
Stopwatch
But Albon's time is immediately blown out of the water by Verstappen, who improves on his Q1 effort with a 1m57.125, just ahead of the Racing Points of Perez and Stroll.
Stopwatch
On his second timed lap, Raikkonen finds four seconds and jumps up to second on a 1m57.212. Meanwhile the two Mercedes are fifth and seventh, sandwiching early Q1-pacesetter Ocon.
Now Albon responds with a 1m56.721 to go briefly fastest, but look who's gone quickest of all - it's Lance Stroll!
Stopwatch
It's a 1m55.730s for Stroll, who holds on to top spot as Raikkonen moves up to second and Bottas to third, just ahead of Verstappen, Perez and Hamilton.
Stroll is currently nine tenths clear of anybody, with Raikkonen's next best a 1m56.611s.
Well, that didn't last too long. Verstappen now moves the goalposts again with a 1m53.486s, while Perez goes second, Bottas third and Hamilton fourth. Ricciardo meanwhile has jumped up to sixth, just behind Stroll.
Giovinazzi was on the bubble in P10, but moves up to eighth to shunt Vettel back onto the bubble, just ahead of Ocon, Leclerc, Norris, Gasly and Sainz.

By: Jake Boxall-Legge

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