F1 Turkish Grand Prix qualifying prediction, free tip & where to watch

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix qualifying from Istanbul Park on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports F1, 12.10pm Sunday

Best bet

Valtteri Bottas fastest qualifier
1pt 12-5 bet365

Preview

Lewis Hamilton stands on the brink of claiming a record-equaling seventh world drivers championship but the Mercedes star has made a low-key start to the Turkish Grand Prix weekend.

Hamilton was fourth fastest in the afternoon session having been 15th in the morning as Red Bull's Max Verstappen topped both Friday practices.

The newly-resurfaced Istanbul Park track proved extremely slippery. Although lap times in the afternoon were seven seconds faster than in the morning as the track finally yielded some grip, they were still three seconds away from Sebastian Vettel's pole position time when F1 last visited the track in 2011.

The teams have little more than guesswork to go on as they try to predict how much more the track will change over the rest of the weekend, and that could spice up qualifying and the race.

While Hamilton has won nine of the season's 14 races, his teammate Valtteri Bottas has tended to get grips with new tracks faster, and the Finn outpaced Hamilton again in both of Friday's practices.

Red Bull will no doubt be encouraged by Verstappen's pace - which was backed up by a much-improved showing from Alexander Albon.

But with Mercedes having claimed every pole position in 2020 - and front-row lockouts at ten of the last 11 races - it would be a shock if Verstappen can translate his Friday pace into qualifying.

Bottas has been fastest in qualifying at two of the last three races and with track conditions likely to continue to evolve, the Finn looks the pick to improve that record further.

Williams driver George Russell has dazzled with his qualifying performances this season. But the Brit will start from the back this week after picking up grid penalties for power unit changes.

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