Why Mercedes' Istanbul edge is both stronger and weaker than it seems

Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton dominated the opening day of action for the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, on the Istanbul circuit’s much improved track surface. But the Black Arrows squad’s position isn’t quite what it seems. Here’s why

Alex Kalinauckas Oct 8, 2021, 6:11 PM

Upd: Oct 9, 2021, 8:37 AM

Formula 1 drivers are famously never entirely happy. There’s always something. Although maybe that doesn’t apply to the eternally-smiling Daniel Ricciardo…

The pack arrived at the Istanbul Park track for its return to the Formula 1 calendar after a nine-year absence in 2020, eager to sample one of Hermann Tilke’s best and most famous creations. And they got a horrible surprise.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.