Sidepodcast

Race day in Istanbul, and unfortunately while it’s overcast it’s likely to remain dry throughout.

A key point of today’s race could well be the warm up lap, Ferrari have struggled to get temperature into their tyres in Turkey’s cooler climate and with Massa on pole you can expect a hard and fast lap from the Brazilian. Will it be enough though? The good news for Felipe is the run down to the first corner is short enough that he should be able to cover his position into the tight left-hander, the rest of the lap could be tricky though.

Further down the field we have Coulthard in a significantly better position then previous efforts, but can he avoid a first lap collision from the middle of the pack? And can Heidfeld come through the traffic from his relatively lowly qualifying position?

We’re opening this thread a little earlier than usual, so please let us know your pre-race thoughts and predictions. Tell us where you are and what you’re watching too.

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Brilliant stuff, F1 in Turkey is looking at an unpredictable qualifying, and we’re really excited!

There may be no-one in the stands to appreciate it and it may be cold and damp for all the people in the paddock, but tyres are the story of the day. Getting temperature into the black rubber will be key to a good position this afternoon and Ferrari look to be struggling in this area.

Red Bull on the other hand seem to have found exactly the setup they need, (especially on the softer compound), and with both cars in the top three in FP3, what can they do when it really matters?

The weather will likely be a key factor for the next few hours. Some rain is predicted, but when it will fall is something of an unknown quantity. We still don’t really know how the ‘08 spec cars will handle in the wet, maybe today we’ll find out?

We’re watching ITV’s qualifying coverage, which is also available online. Don’t forget official live timing on f1.com.

Say “hi” if you’re in the comments, and maybe even tell us what you had for breakfast!

Saturday dawns and good lord a number of teams have a lot of work to do!

Today’s final session is 60 minutes long, the weekend’s gear ratios have now been selected, race engines and gearboxes come into play and with any luck we’ll find out who has the pace on a light fuel run.

Yesterday teams faced problems with cold temperatures, a green (and sometimes wet) track, but what challenges will today bring? At the moment it’s dry out there, but cloudy and there’s little chance of rain early on in the day.

It doesn’t need repeating (oh, go on then) that we’ll be following live timing online, and as ITV don’t cover this session, it’s TVlizer coverage for us this morning.

Additionally 5Live are covering practice on 5Live Sports Extra.

Shout if you’re about, and if you have better visuals than us, please let us know.

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Formula 1 returns to Turkey much earlier in the season this year. In fact it barely feels like we’ve been away. This change of schedule is likely to cause problems for the teams, with reduced tyre temperatures being a significant problem.

Join Sidepodcast as we look ahead to this weekends race, back at the events that unfolded last year and also catch up on the current state of the championship. You’ll probably not be surprised to see Nico Rosberg turn up somewhere too.

Additionally, this episode of Inside Track features special guest, and competition winner Scott Woodwiss, who does a sterling job of commenating on a hot lap around the Istanbul Otodrom.

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Free Practice 1 was something of an odd affair, with track organisers seemingly keen to disrupt proceedings by cleaning two sections of the track just prior to practice beginning. With teams seemingly unwilling to risk running on a part wet / part dry circuit they all opted to stay in the garages until late into the session.

On top of this FOM’s weather data appears to have failed completely, leaving us to peer at the sky for meteorology indications. Bernie owns this track, but you’d struggle to see he’s influence anywhere this morning.

What we do know is that when the cars finally made it out of their garages the results were chaotic. Almost everyone managed at least one spin as the tyres struggled with the green track and the cooler climate Turkey is experiencing right now.

During the break the GP2 cars have been practicing under darkening skies, and we might see some rain during this next 90 minute session.

Free Practice 2 begins at 2pm local time (12pm in the UK). As before we’re following Formula 1’s live timing online and watching ITV’s video coverage too.

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Formula 1 returns to Istanbul Park in Turkey for only the fourth time in the track’s short history and this time it’s appearing much earlier in the F1 calendar.

How much difference will this make to the on track action? Well it’s much colder than previous years and that may have caught Bridgestone out a little bit. Today will be something of a leap into the unknown for both them and the teams, especially in the cooler first session when the track is less rubbered-in.

Don’t hold your breath but there has been a rumoured threat of rain, which, should it come to fruition is bound to mess up the teams plans and further confuse the tyre data.

Free Practice 1 is a 90 minute session and it begins at 10am local time (8am in the UK). We’re following Formula 1’s live timing screens and watching ITV’s online coverage.

A handy track guide is available from Allianz should you need a reminder about corner names and speeds.

Christine will be with us for all of the first session and a most of the second one. We’ll do our best to be the eyes and ears of anyone who’s unable to watch.

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