Circuit info
Istanbul Park
Interesting facts
Set on the Asian side of Istanbul, in the Tuzla district, Istanbul Park was designed by Hermann Tilke and opened in August 2005; Bernie Ecclestone, who personally managed the circuit from 2007 to 2012, called it 'the best race track in the world.' The circuit's signature feature is Turn 8, nicknamed 'Diabolica,' a fast four-apex sweeping corner often compared to Eau Rouge and Suzuka's 130R, which became the template for later Tilke designs, including Turns 17-18 at Austin's Circuit of the Americas. Turn 1 is a steep, downhill left-hander right after the 650-metre start/finish straight; the track is also one of the few Formula 1 venues run anticlockwise, which places unusual strain on drivers' necks. On lap 40 of the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel tried to pass his own Red Bull teammate Mark Webber into Turn 12; the two cars touched, sending Vettel into a double spin and out of the race, a moment still remembered as a symbol of their rivalry. The 2020 race ran in the rain just two weeks after the track had been resurfaced; the fresh, rubber-free tarmac turned treacherously slippery, yet Lewis Hamilton still won comfortably from sixth on the grid, clinching his seventh World Championship to match Michael Schumacher's record. The Turkish Grand Prix dropped off the calendar after 2011 in a financial dispute; Formula 1 is set to return to Istanbul from 2027 to 2031 under a five-year deal announced in April 2026. The circuit is located in Istanbul, Türkiye. Formula 1 has raced here since 2005, with 9 races held so far, most recently in 2021. The first race here was won by Kimi Räikkönen, in 2005. The most recent winner here was Valtteri Bottas, in 2021. Felipe Massa has won here more than anyone else, 3 times. Among constructors, Ferrari has been the most successful here, with 3 wins. The lap record here is held by Juan Pablo Montoya, at 1:24.770 (McLaren, 2005).