Lewis Hamilton was fastest, but Valtteri Bottas will start from pole position for Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix.
In tricky conditions, Mercedes was simply too good for the rest as the seven-time world champion posted a new Istanbul Park lap record of 1m22.868s to be a tenth clear of his teammate.
However, a 10-place grid penalty for a new internal combustion engine means Hamilton will drop to P11 for the start, promoting Bottas to pole.
Max Verstappen had to settle for second on the grid, as Red Bull didn’t have the single-lap pace to fight for pole. But will be desperate to capitalise on Hamilton’s midfield start by finishing ahead.
Q1
Qualifying began with a rush of action as drivers tried to get a banker lap in before approaching rain.
The issue was areas of the circuit were still damp from practice making a clean lap very difficult on slicks.
Ultimately, the weather largely held off as conditions continued to improve and, despite nervy moments for Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen, the expected leaders got through safely with Lewis Hamilton fastest.
There was frustration for Daniel Ricciardo, however, as the Australian was eliminated in 16th by a late flier from Sainz.
More annoyingly for Ricciardo, the Ferrari driver will start from the back of the grid after taking a new power unit.
Happy Mick, Happy Team ??#HaasF1 #TurkishGP pic.twitter.com/l8ceW64QAa
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) October 9, 2021
Mick Schumacher made Q2 for the first time in his F1 career in 14th for Haas, while his teammate Nikita Mazepin was P20 as he struggled to negotiate the damp Turn 1 without going off.
Nicholas Latifi was 17th for Williams, ahead of the two Alfa Romeos with Antonio Giovinazzi ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.
Q2
All the leaders went for the medium compound in Q2, as the soft is not expected to be a good tyre in the race.
Mercedes continued to set the pace with Hamilton half a second clear of Bottas and six-tenths up on Verstappen in third.
In the battle to make the top 10, George Russell was comfortably on course for Q3 but a mistake at the final corner ruined his lap as he finished 13th.
“****! NO! NO, NO, NO! THAT WAS A GOOD LAP!” ?
Such a shame for @GeorgeRussell63, who has a little moment heading into the final turn which snatches Q3 from his grasp at the last second ?
Great work regardless, GR. More to come tomorrow ? pic.twitter.com/QyJfapGnyL
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) October 9, 2021
Sebastian Vettel will be the first driver with free tyre choice, starting 10th after Hamilton’s penalty. Esteban Ocon was only 12th, almost a second slower than teammate Fernando Alonso in Q2.
Schumacher was 14th as Sainz didn’t set a time due to his grid penalty.
Q3
It was Bottas with a 0.022s advantage over Hamilton after the first run in Q3. The Briton though would go out earlier than the rest with five minutes to go in anticipation of doing two flying laps.
Instead, Lewis only needed his first as he went fastest with his teammate unable to match it with his final attempt.
Even so, Bottas still starts on pole, while Hamilton lines up P11 after his grid penalty, pending any more between now and the race
YES BOYS!!!! ? It’s @LewisHamilton FASTEST in Turkey! And it’s @ValtteriBottas who’ll start from pole! pic.twitter.com/JiuaT5WfxV
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) October 9, 2021
Verstappen was three-tenths back in third for Red Bull, but is promoted onto the front row alongside Valtteri.
A brilliant late lap from Charles Leclerc puts him third on the grid, ahead of an equally impressive Pierre Gasly in fourth for AlphaTauri.
Alonso will start fifth with Sergio Perez a disappointing sixth, although in a good place to potentially try and hold up Hamilton.
Lando Norris begins seventh in front of Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda, who made Q3 for just the third time this season.
Back at the front, an interesting race awaits with Hamilton clearly the fastest driver but facing a perilous start in the mid-pack, while Bottas will be doing all he can to keep Verstappen behind.
Full results from qualifying can be seen below:
