Formula One: Attack is the Best Defence at Turkish Grand Prix

Last weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park featured a thrilling duel fought between the two Ferrari aces and Mclaren’s Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton qualified fifth on the grid and had lamented a decision to go for his final grid slot on hard tyres during the Saturday qualifying session.

However, off the start-line, Hamilton’s Finnish team mate Kovalainnen made a poor start and Hamilton managed to leap frog all the drivers ahead barring Pole sitter Felipe Massa. Further back there was a touch of mayhem, the two Finns Kovalainnen and Kimi Raikkonen had a very minor coming together.

Although very slight, it managed to puncture the tyre on the left rear of the Mclaren and damaged the front wing endplate of the Ferrari. Also, Giancarlo Fisichella, who by now should perhaps have learned the route into turn one at this circuit, managed to find a third incorrect way to start the race in three years.

The Italian Force India driver steamed into turn one and missed his breaking point, plowing heavily into the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima, flying over the top of the Japanese driver's car and ending both their races. The incidents at turn one ended with the Safety Car being deployed.

With the end of the Safety Car period the battle at the front began afresh. The midfield battle would become furious between the likes of Rosberg, Coulthard, the two Toyotas of Trulli and Glock, and eventually, the recovering Kovalainnen.

Hoping to be part of the battle were the Honda duo of Button and Barrichello, who was breaking the record that weekend for most Grand Prix starts at 257. Sadly, Honda appeared to have moved backwards in terms of pace from their promising points finish at the Spanish Grand Prix.

During the course of the race Hamilton turned in some searing lap times to first keep pace with the Ferrari race leader and then shortly after, to actually pass Massa with a gutsy move which earned him the lead. Hamilton however, had to make a pit stop on lap 16. Massa didn’t make a stop until lap 18.

This would be the story of Hamilton’s race. He had been forced into taking a conservative three stop strategy approach to the race because of structural problems with his Bridgestone tyres. This approach though, turned into a super aggressive stance. On light fuel and hard tyres, Lewis turned in stunning times to be a constant threat to Massa. He finished the race in second place just over four seconds behind the Ferrari of Massa and ahead of title rival Raikkonen who he had held off in the closing stages using the less favoured soft tyres.

Elsewhere in the race, there were good performances from the Renault duo of Alonso and Piquet with Piquet having the more eventful afternoon. Fernando Alonso scored more points for Renault with sixth place. Mark Webber too scored well earning seventh.