Formula 1 drivers young and old are excited by the prospect of returning to Istanbul Park later this year.
According to reports, a November Turkish Grand Prix is set to be confirmed next week along with two races in Bahrain and the finale in Abu Dhabi to round out the heavily revised 2020 calendar.
Remarkably, only three current drivers, Sergio Perez, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton were on the grid when Istanbul last hosted F1 back in 2011, while Kimi Raikkonen won the inaugural race back in 2005.
In addition, Valtteri Bottas and Romain Grosjean also competed in GP3 and GP2 races at the circuit, regarded by many as Hermann Tilke’s finest creation.
“It would be mega,” Grosjean told Autosport last weekend about a potential return.
“I think it would be bloody awesome. It’s such a cool track. I really enjoy going there and racing.
“Turn 8 is a good one for the neck, so I think it would be very fast.”
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For the other 14 drivers, their experience is limited to video games and watching on TV, many as kids, but Esteban Ocon is among those keen to try it for real.
“Turkey is a fantastic circuit,” the Renault driver said. “If it comes to the calendar, awesome.
“It’s an old-school circuit, something I was watching on TV when I was younger. [The] massive left-hander, flat-out, is going to be pretty impressive.”
The one section mentioned by both drivers was Turn 8, the quadruple-apex left-hander that was a real challenge for all cars.
But like many great corners before it, Alex Albon does fear today’s cars will have neutered it.
“I don’t think we’ll even [have to] try,” the Thai claimed. “Maybe the start of the out lap. But still, it will be fun.
“It looks really cool, I’m excited. Liberty and Formula 1 are doing an amazing job choosing these kind of circuits.
“I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, or if they’re just choosing them because they’re the ones that are open to races [like] Mugello, Imola, and Turkey.
“We’re going to some of the best circuits in the world. It’s going to be a proper circuit. I’m all for it.”
