Turkish Grand Prix: Qualifying Recap

Uralkali Haas F1 Team drivers Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin qualified 14th and 20th, respectively, for Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix, Round 16 of the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship at Intercity Istanbul Park.

Nikita Mazepin exited qualifying in P20 after Q1 – the opening knockout round, while teammate Mick Schumacher progressed to Q2 courtesy of P14 in a frantic session. With the threat of rain imminent, little time was wasted and both Schumacher and Mazepin successfully ran three new sets of Pirelli P Zero Red soft tires in Q1. 

Track conditions remained tricky after the earlier rain shower which blighted final practice. Schumacher set his best lap of 1:25.555 on his final tour – moving on to Q2 for the second time in his rookie year in P14. Mazepin’s last lap was his quickest, a 1:28.449 to place 20th overall – however, the Russian will start P19 on the grid with Scuderia Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz starting last following a grid penalty for a PU change. 

Schumacher joined the top 15 competing in Q2, the German setting a fastest lap of 1:25.200 to secure P14 on the timesheets – equaling his highest grid start of the season from the Russian Grand Prix.

P1 went to Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes with a charging lap of 1:22.868 in Q3 – the reigning World Champion beating out teammate Valtteri Bottas by .130 of a second. Bottas will inherit the pole on Sunday with Hamilton taking a 10-spot grid penalty for an ICE change.

Nikita Mazepin, Driver No. 9, Uralkali Haas F1 Team

“I went out there and obviously the grip was good enough on most of the track for the slick tires but Turn 1 caught me out so we boxed from that set and then I wasn’t really sure where to push, how to push. In these conditions I was caught out as we expected the rain to come so I had two laps to do, but obviously the rain didn’t come. I needed to do a lap and I did a lap, but it wasn’t good enough today.”

 

Mick Schumacher, Driver No. 47, Uralkali Haas F1 Team

“Those tricky conditions were fun to drive, I enjoyed it and I think we as a team took the right decisions at the right time. We analyzed it properly, we went through all the steps we usually do and found the right set-up for the right conditions. It’s gone well from FP1, it’s been a nice feeling on track in the car so I’m happy. We got to drive, show our performance and I think maybe we even had a tenth or two in there. Tomorrow, hopefully we’re able to keep the position or even be a bit further forward.”

 

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Uralkali Haas F1 Team

“All in all, a good day for the team today with getting Mick into Q2 and participating in it, unlike last time where he couldn’t. He shows with hard work – even if your car is not as good – you can still achieve results. Everyone did a great job, Mick driving and the team making no mistakes in a difficult situation with the rain coming and going, everything was done right. For Nikita, we tried our best but he just doesn’t get along with Turn 1 here. When he was on a fast lap, his time was disallowed because of exceeding track limits in Turn 1 so he couldn’t get a complete lap in. The team did a good job today and what more can you wish for at the moment.”