F1 Turkish GP Live Updates - final practice and qualifying
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Track temperature is 13.6 degrees, and air temperature a chilly 11.9 degrees.
For those of you wondering, the risk of rain for this session is 90%. Hmm. "So, you're telling me there's a chance?"
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?
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.
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?
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.
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At times in the last session, drivers were on full opposite lock at barely half-throttle as the tyres scrabbled for grip with Daniil Kvyat likening the experience to ice-driving in his native Russia. Several drivers didn't set a time, including Lewis Hamilton - who called conditions "shocking".
Welcome back to Autosport's Live coverage of Saturday's action from Istanbul Park. We're all set for what promises to be a memorable qualifying session, if the Driving Miss Daisy-esque end to FP3 is to be used as a reference. We've just a little over 20 minutes until the action is set to begin - are you sitting comfortably?
With a little under two hours to go until the scheduled start of qualifying for the Turkish GP, we'll take this chance to step back and take a breather. But today's qualifying looks set to be one not to miss!
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Anyway, that brings a soggy end to FP3 which sees Max Verstappen take a clean sweep of top spot in practice ahead of the Turkish GP.
Checkered flag
Not sure if Raikkonen was looking for the perfect picture, or it is just so wet, but he comes to a crawl through the final corners to see the chequered flag come out before he completes his lap.
Radio Comms
Hamilton: "There's just no grip. It's shocking."
Later on in the lap Giovinazzi goes around again, this time at Turn 12, as if to almost underline how bad conditions are. That hasn't put off the Mercedes pair as Bottas and Hamilton come out to test conditions before qualifying.
Giovinazzi demonstrates why the 16 other F1 drivers are not out on track. With almost zero warning the Italian loses his car between Turns 2 and 3 and is very lucky to avoid serious damage. He nudges the barrier with his front wing and kicks up a load of grass and mud.
Raikkonen is spinning under acceleration in gears two and three as he starts a timed lap. Conditions look dreadful.
But enough about that, as both the AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo pairs come out of the pits. That's a whole four cars on track!
There are different levels of focus within each F1 garage currently. Mercedes look prepared to head out at any moment while peeks into the Red Bull and Renault garages show a far more relaxed vibe with drivers and team personnel chewing the fat.
Yesterday might have been dry but it was still extremely slippery on the track. While the rain throws a curveball, here's how the pecking order looked yesterday after Grand Prix editor Alex Kalinauckas picked through the numbers: 
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You can't blame teams and drivers for opting against further FP3 running if that is the case. Limited wet tyres, struggling to get temperature into the tyres and the risk of getting it wrong and damaging the car shortly before qualifying are fair reasons not to do anything silly.
Indeed, all the drivers are back in their garages as the rain intensifies. There is still over 23 minutes of the session to go but unless the rain relents that could be it for this morning.
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Rain
The track is properly wet now with Sainz drifting his McLaren through Turn 7, having had a hairy moment at Turn 2 seconds earlier. With the rain getting heavier that's put off most of the F1 drivers now.
Verstappen is out of his car and having a chat with Red Bull's reserve driver for this weekend Juri Vips. Bet he's asking for a go in his car, even in these conditions.
Leclerc has spun at Turn 3 and does well to bring his Ferrari to a stop before nudging the inside barrier. The Ferrari driver remains in second place in this session due to his early lap on the intermediate tyres.
All 20 drivers have ventured out on the track for at least an inspection lap in this session, Hamilton was the last to venture out, but only Vettel has notched up double figures on the lap count as teams look to preserve their limited wet tyre supply.
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Leclerc and Kvyat are the latest drivers to suffer moments at Turn 7. Given Turn 8 was billed as the ultimate test to the drivers pre-weekend it appears the corner directly before it is the real challenge – for entirely different reasons, granted.
Turn 7 appears particularly tricky in the wet as it claims its latest spinner, Sainz on full wet tyres, while laptimes are struggling to break the two-minute mark now.
Stopwatch
Verstappen has set a 1m48.485s on the intermediate tyres before the rain intensified to take top spot from Leclerc. Most drivers are pitting for full wets now as Kvyat becomes the latest spinner.
Rain
Norris has also spun, at Turn 7, but like Perez he was on his own and can only blame the conditions. The rain appears to be getting heavier too.
Ocon is the next driver to find himself facing the wrong way round, as he goes around at Turn 12, but this time it isn't the conditions to blame as he gets a nudge from Leclerc behind him. All accidental but clumsy.
Stopwatch
Leclerc is currently top of the early times with a 1m50.916s. All drivers are on intermediate tyres currently.
And the award for first spin of FP3 goes to Perez - not that he'll want that accolade. The Racing Point driver was sawing away with his steering wheel before his car won the wrestling match and the rear end whips around. He avoids any damage and continues.
You can never question the accuracy of the race control messages (risk of rain estimations aside) as it states "LOW GRIP CONDITIONS". Not wrong. All of the cars on track are gingerly circulating.
Green flag
FP3 is underway and Grosjean isn't waiting around as he heads out immediately, shortly followed by Ferrari duo Leclerc and Vettel.
So what does this all mean for FP3? In normal circumstances it would result in not a lot of track running but given conditions are unlikely to dry up this afternoon this will provide representative running for qualifying - so certainly a useful, albeit tricky, session.
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
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