The qualifying session and the sanctions have shaped the starting grid for the Formula 1 Turkish GP . That is why Lewis Hamilton, despite being the fastest in qualifying, will start eleventh. And is that the British driver dragged a penalty of ten positions on the grid on Sunday for having changed engines in Istanbul.
Another who has also taken advantage of the Turkish GP to change his power unit, in his case for an evolved version, has been Carlos Sainz . For this reason, his sanction has been greater and he will occupy the last position on the grid. Since it was going to be like this no matter how the qualifying session ended, Carlos Sainz chose not to participate in Q2. The Madrilenian only took to the track when Leclerc was in trouble so he could take his slipstream and sneak into Q3.
Benefited from the suspension of Lewis Hamilton were Valterri Bottas and Max Verstappen , who despite being second and third respectively in the qualifying session, will face the Turkish GP from first and second on the grid. Thus, the Dutchman, who is only 2 points behind Hamilton in the fight for the Formula 1 World Championship, will have a good opportunity in Istanbul to regain the lead.
Fernando Alonso also benefited from the suspension of Lewis Hamilton. The Asturian finished sixth in the Turkish GP qualifying session but will start from fifth on the grid behind Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly . Behind Fernando Alonso will be Sergio Pérez , Lando Norris , Lance Stroll , Yuki Tsunoda . All of them together with Sebastian Vettel , despite the fact that the latter did not reach Q3, will come out ahead of Hamilton.
Classification result
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION ⏱️@LewisHamilton quickest in qualifying 🚀
But @ValtteriBottas will start from pole in Istanbul due to his teammate’s grid penalty 🚦#TurkishGP 🇹🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/YaMFkU9Lhs
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2021
This is the starting grid
1. Valtteri Bottas
2. Max Verstappen
3. Charles Leclerc
4. Pierre Gasly
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Sergio Pérez
7. Lando Norris
8. Lance Stroll
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Sebastian Vettel
11. Lewis Hamilton
12. Esteban Ocon
13. George Russell
14. Mick Schumacher
15. Daniel Ricciardo
16. Nicholas Latifi
17. Antonio Giovinazzi
18. Kimi Raikkonen
19. Nikita Mazepin
20. Carlos Sainz
