Sebastian Vettel was “very happy” to score his first podium since Mexico last year after a “very intense” Turkish Grand Prix.
Starting 11th, the wet conditions at Istanbul Park helped the Ferrari driver as a lightning start saw him run third by the end of the opening lap.
A second pit-stop for intermediates, and the pace of teammate Charles Leclerc, appeared to jeopardise Vettel’s podium hopes.
But as the Monegasque ran wide at Turn 12 trying to pass Sergio Perez for second on the final lap, it allowed Seb to move back ahead and score his best finish of 2020.
“It was quite intense, quite long, but good fun,” Vettel said post-race.
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“I had a really good opening lap and I think I found myself already in P4. I was quite happy on the extreme [wet tyres] then we switched to inters, it was a bit more difficult in the beginning, and only towards the end, we started to find the pace again.
“It was very intense in the last lap. A bit of a surprise to get to snatch the podium at the end, but certainly very happy. I think it was a really enjoyable race and very tricky conditions.”
In the mid-point of the race, all the focus was on a move to slicks as the track conditions improved, but it never came as drivers felt more comfortable on the intermediates, which was better suited to the cooler temperatures.
“With 20 laps ago I was thinking about dries because the circuit was constantly drying and the tyres were worn, so ultimately we had slicks,” Vettel explained.
“I think it’s just a matter of nobody dared to put them on and there was some rain forecast in the end which didn’t come.
“I would have really liked to put them on because I think that would have been a chance to win, but yeah, equally happy with third.”