ISTANBUL // The images remain fresh, but are hard to reconcile with contemporary reality. When the Turkish Grand Prix joined the Formula One world championship schedule in 2005, it added several layers of pandemonium to Istanbul's customary traffic chaos. Such was the clamour that spectators simply abandoned their cars on the main highway and walked the final few kilometres to the circuit.
The novelty has worn off, however, and even last year's reduced ticket prices failed to stem the decline in sales. Istanbul Park has become a modern sporting curiosity, a vast stage with almost no live audience. It is perceived to be one of the circuits most likely to be dropped to make way for new events - and pressure on the calendar increased earlier this week. The United States Grand Prix is to be revived in 2012, at a purpose-built venue in Austin, Texas. Come what may, though, Turkey remains popular with competitors.
While many modern circuits are criticised for their proliferation of bland, slow-to-medium-speed corners, drivers appreciate Istanbul Park's varied topography and, particularly, Turn Eight, a fast, bumpy left-hander taken at about 260kph. Or possibly faster still, if you are driving a Red Bull-Renault. The team took the lead in both world championships following Mark Webber's victory in Monaco earlier this month, but the team have occupied pole position for each of this year's six events and could conceivably have won them all.
Martin Brundle, the former Formula One driver and now an analyst for BBC television in the UK, said: "From what we've seen so far, the only team capable of beating Red Bull is Red Bull, with strategic errors and so on. "All the teams are constantly developing update kits, but at the moment Red Bull always seem to work the best. They will be hard to catch." Back-to-back victories in Barcelona and Monaco - two of the season's most contrasting circuits, in terms of corner profile - underlined that the RB6 chassis is as adaptable as it is quick.
Webber described his victory in Monaco as "the greatest day of my life", but now has more prosaic matters on his mind - such as retaining his championship lead. "It's important to stay focused," he said. "The emotions after Monaco were incredible. It was nice to reflect on that for a short time, but then you have to get your head down and concentrate on keeping your form. "It's easy to talk about what you're going to do, but the key is getting out there and doing it."
Sebastian Vettel, his teammate, qualified on pole position in Turkey last year, but compromised his victory prospects by running wide on the opening lap. The German driver will have a new car this weekend, after a post-Monaco investigation revealed a defect - Red Bull has not specified what - on RB6 chassis number three, which Vettel has been using since the start of the season. Impartiality, too, is a vital part of the evolutionary process.
sports@thenational.ae