F1 Turkish GP Live Updates - final practice and qualifying
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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.
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.
Anybody up for more Bernd Maylander facts while we wait?
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.
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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?
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
The safety car is now out on track to get a feel for the conditions.
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.
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.
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So, hands up who predicted this top 10?
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
Red flag
Red flag is out.
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.
Radio Comms
Verstappen has also pitted for full wets as Hamilton reports, "it's raining a crazy amount now".
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?
Stopwatch
Ocon now goes quickest on his second lap with a 2m06.115s to move ahead of Bottas, with Stroll up to third.
Radio Comms
"Raining heavily now," says Verstappen. "I can't take my hands off the wheel."
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.
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.
Yellow flag
Yellow flags in sector 2 as Latifi has a spin at Turn 8.
Radio Comms
"I have no grip compared to the McLaren," complains Verstappen who is following Norris - also shod with intermediates incidentally.
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...
Looks like a mix of intermediates and full wet tyres chosen - both Red Bulls in the former camp.
Green flag
And we're green for the Q1 roulette wheel to start. Who is feeling lucky?
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.
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.
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.
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
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