Felipe rules Turkey : Race 5 review

It all fell into pieces for Felipe Massa as he completed his Turkey hat-trick in round 5 of the World Formula1 championship in Istanbul. Though the drive was nowhere near a superlative one, he did manage to pull off quite a few seconds from the fast roaring McLaren of Lewis Hamilton for whom he "gave way" in lap 35. 3rd place was the best Kimi could hope for in an uneventful weekend with a second race engine. So, it's again scarlet vs silver for the top step of the podium or will it change when F1 returns to Monaco in 2 weeks time?

Lewis went with an unfamiliar 3stop strategy in an otherwise bumpy long sweeping track of Istanbul. I use the word unfamiliar cos he did had his troubles in the same track last year caused by some hard act on the tyres, credited only to Lewis' driving style. After the warning from Bridgestone, McLaren rightly added 1 more stop in his strategy book which eventually shaded a win. Massa had pace but I wonder there were some grey hairs in the Ferrari pit when Hamilton overtook him quite "easily" but that we better assume is a 'knowingly let through' as he was aware of Hamilton's plans. The Iceman lost some places in the start but soon made it up and eventually finished on the podium but more importantly, defends his lead on the championship.

So, let's leave Turkey behind and move to Monte Carlo to a circuit where the average speed is as low as 180 kph. McLaren usually have the upperhand in those so called street circuits but can Ferrari triumph for the fifth time in a row? That's the big Q.........let's wait n watch


Standings Drivers

1. Kimi Raikkonen 35
2. Lewis Hamilton 28
3. Felipe Massa 28

Standings Constructors

1. Ferrari 63
2. BMW 44
3. McLaren 42


Next Race : Monaco GP Sunday 25th May