Sidepodcast

Live: Turkey - Free Practice 1

Here we go again, this time in Turkey. Our first anti-clockwise track on the calendar also throws up the challenge of Turn 8 and improved overtaking opportunities. But first, Free Practice.

Weather Update

So far, the weekend looks set to be warm, sunny and dry, but we have just seen one thunderstorm in Istanbul, that will have washed the track clean. Could it make an unexpected return?

One to Watch

BMW have been talking up their desire for improvements this weekend, and although they're not running KERS, they confirm that they are bringing lots of new aero bits and pieces to try and haul themselves from the back of the grid.

Predictions Please

Will Brawn still be riding high from their Monaco victory? Will Ferrari's improved pace continue? Will Toyota still be slow? Will these Free Practice times actually be representative of what we'll see on Sunday?

F1 Digest 2009 - Turkey Preview

• Length: 06:30 
• Size: 6.0 MB 
• File: digest101.mp3 
• Transcript: digest101.pdf 
• Torrent: digest101.torrent 

The racing moves on to Turkey, and whilst it's all politics in the news, teams and drivers alike are looking forward to the unique challenge that Istanbul Park produces.

Vital Statistics

• Date: 7th June
• Circuit: Istanbul Park
• Length: 5.3km
• Laps: 58
• 2008 Winner: Felipe Massa

Preview

Massa is looking to extend his record of three consecutive wins around Istanbul, but there are many teams hoping that their new developments will start to take shape and speed them up. With it being an anti-clockwise track, preparations will have been slightly more involved, as well.

Circuit Character Cup - Round 1 - Suzuka, Barcelona, Albert Park, Istanbul

We've got the hard work out of the way now, although I thought yesterday's matchups might have been a bit closer than they were. Nevertheless, we're moving on to the third heat of the first round.

Suzuka vs. Barcelona

Suzuka played host to the Japanese Grand Prix for year after year until Fuji decided to get in on the act as well. With plenty of history under it's belt, the circuit has plenty to offer. However, Barcelona is a staple for the testing calendar meaning most drivers know it like the back of the hand - does that add to it's character?

Albert Park vs. Istanbul

Hosting the first race of a new season is an honour, and even though Bernie likes to mess around with start times and dates, Australia certainly holds it's own in terms of providing great, if chaotic, racing. Meanwhile, Istanbul has done much to promote the sport in Turkey, and hosts one great corner - but can a circuit be judged on one corner alone?

Live Commenting: Turkey - The Race

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.

Some useful links for today's race:

• Official live timing
• ITV video feed (UK)
• Radio 5 Live audio commentary (UK)
• TVlizer channel 335

Live Commenting: Turkey - Qualifying

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!

Live Commenting: Turkey - Free Practice 3

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.

Inside Track - Istanbul

• Length: 05:41 
• Size: 63.0 MB 
• File: track5.m4v 
• Transcript: track5.pdf 
• Torrent: track5.torrent 

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.

Special thanks to Allianz SE, Toyota Motorsports GmbH, Red Bull Racing, Honda Racing F1 and RTV GmbH for the use of their video footage and photographs.

Live Commenting: Turkey - Free Practice 2

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.

5Live Sports Extra again have full audio coverage for this session. Usually it's Maurice and Ian in the commentary box for the second session of the day.

Live Commenting: Turkey - Free Practice 1

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.

Yell if you're around, won't you? And do let us know any of your early weekend predictions.