Istanbul (AFP)

After the "magic moment" of his 100th F1 victory, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) continues in Turkey the path of his other quest, that of an 8th record title, with only two points ahead of his rival Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

F1 falls into two categories: those who can win the title, and everyone else.

In recent years, the first of these groups could often boil down to one name: Hamilton.

But this season, after two thirds of the races contested, Verstappen is well integrated.

Before the 16th round out of 22, the experienced British rider has 246.5 points and the Dutch wisp 244.5 points. One is chasing a historic record of eight world titles, at 36, the other after a very first, at 23. The former has just won his 100th victory in Russia, the latter has already won seven GPs in 2021, out of 17 in total since his debut in 2015.

In Sochi, Hamilton angered Verstappen by talking about the "pressure" of playing for the title for the first time.

Asked again at a press conference about this supposed excess pressure, Verstappen again denied: "If at the end of the year we finish in first place, obviously it will be an incredible success and that is why we are working But even if we finish second it's still going to be a great season and in the end it's not really going to change my life. "

"You can't force it. You just have to work well and work hard," he continued.

The duel, which has already given birth to two accidents at Silverstone and Monza, resumes at the Bosphorus, in a rather unusual arena: this Turkish GP will be the 9th of the name only.

Visited seven times from 2005 to 2011, the Istanbul Park circuit once again hosted F1 in 2020, added to the calendar turned upside down by the pandemic.

Like this season for that matter.

The Turkish F1 Grand Prix circuit and driver and manufacturer rankings Matthias BOLLMEYER AFP

Last year, the Grand Prix offered its share of surprises, with Lance Stroll (Aston Martin, then Racing Point) in pole position for the first - and only - time in his career.

- Red Bull in white and red -

But during a chaotic race, Hamilton, who started 6th, had mastered the rain and his opponents to equal Michael Schumacher at the top of the Formula 1 pantheon with seven coronations.

Meanwhile, Verstappen finished 6th.

Just a weekend for the Dutchman to forget, or a bad omen?

"I think the circumstances will be quite different this year, hoping the tarmac will be a bit more grippy," he said.

Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull), during qualifying for the Turkish Formula 1 Grand Prix, November 14, 2020 in Istanbul TOLGA BOZOGLU POOL / AFP / Archives

In the rain, the refurbished asphalt had turned into an ice rink for the pilots eleven months ago.

This time, the 5.378 km track has been treated to avoid slipping and spinning, although it will be necessary to wait until Friday and the first tests (10:30 am) to begin to see more clearly.

"I think we understood some of the problems we had (in qualifying last year, editor's note) and that we corrected some, so I think we are better prepared," said Hamilton in any case, who had finished far from pole position in 2020.

Turkey welcomes the paddock on the date initially scheduled for the Japanese GP, canceled due to the health situation.

For the missed occasion, of a goodbye to Honda in front of the Suzuka public, Red Bull had prepared a special white and red livery in tribute to the Japanese engine manufacturer who left F1 at the end of the year.

It will be done remotely, on the Asian side of Istanbul, with the single-seaters of Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Pérez, white with the always red bull, inspired by the RA272, the first Honda to win in F1, during the Mexican GP. 1965.

As for the AlphaTauri single-seaters of Japanese Yuki Tsunoda and French Pierre Gasly, also equipped with Honda engines, only one word, "arigato" (thank you in Japanese), will be inscribed on the rear wing.

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