Istanbul (AFP)

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) will start from pole position at the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Max Verstappen (Red Bull), second in the F1 World Championship, while current leader Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will start from 11th place on the grid.

In qualifying on Saturday, however, it was Hamilton who set the fastest time, the Istanbul Park circuit record, on a wet track.

But the Briton will be penalized by ten places on the starting grid, because of an engine change on Friday beyond the quota authorized per season.

For the moment, only two points separate the Briton Hamilton from the Dutch Verstappen before the 16th round of 22 and it is their duel that will be in the foreground, even if Bottas has a chance to win the 10th Grand Prix of his career.

"I haven't won yet this year so it's a huge motivation," said the Finn, who will leave Mercedes for Alfa Romeo at the end of the season and will inevitably have much less chances of winning.

For statistics, Bottas signed his 18th pole position, although he was not the fastest on Saturday.

A point of the regulations which surprised the pilots themselves at a press conference.

- "Super offensive" strategy for Hamilton -

"I have the pole anyway not? No ... thin", reacted Hamilton, while Bottas admitted that it was "not fair".

"I don't know, I had pole ... I don't think the penalty should have an effect on that, but I don't really care to be honest," said Hamilton, who already has 101 pole positions.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton greets his fans after an excellent Turkish GP qualifying session at Istanbul circuit on October 9, 2021 OZAN KOSE AFP

On Sunday, Hamilton can in any case count on Bottas to, once again, play his role as a model teammate by being the first bulwark in Verstappen and depriving him of precious points on the road to the title.

Especially that "starting second is not a good position because, on the interior trajectory, there is no grip" while diving towards the first corner, regretted the Dutchman.

If he applauded "good improvements" concerning the settings of his car after difficulties on Friday, Verstappen does not think he can beat Mercedes on Sunday: "we will try to follow them already".

Trying to keep up with Bottas ... while keeping an eye on the retro.

Because Hamilton, starting from the best possible place despite his penalty and given his impressive pace, can come back and play a 101st victory: "it is the objective", he admitted, indicating that the strategy will be "super offensive".

In Russia two weeks ago, Verstappen had made an even bigger comeback.

Starting from 20th and last place because of a similar penalty, the Dutchman finished second behind his rival.

And last year here in Turkey, during an equally rainy weekend, Hamilton started only 6th before winning to win his 7th world title, tying Michael Schumacher's record.

The young Dutchman Max Verstappen comes out of his seat (Red Bull) after qualifying for the Turkish GP in Istanbul, October 9, 2021 UMIT BEKTAS POOL / AFP

Depending on the conditions (even if rain is unlikely) and the facts of the race, outsiders could also be involved in the victory, as has happened several times in recent months.

The second line will be 100% French-speaking with Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and French Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri).

Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso (Alpine) will follow in 5th place, accompanied by Sergio Pérez (Red Bull).

The other Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine) will start 12th.

© 2021 AFP