Bottas Wins Wet 2021 Turkish Grand Prix
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas nearly led start to finish in winning a wet 2021 Turkish Grand Prix with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finishing a distant second and Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, claiming the third and final podium position.
On a slightly rainy day with a wet track, all cars started and finished the race on the intermediate wet tires. Bottas started from pole position and led the first 39 laps of the race without incident until the pit crossovers temporarily gave the lead to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for eight laps. Bottas reclaimed the lead, passing Leclerc with 11 laps remaining in the race and held on for a comfortable win over Verstappen, who never challenged for the lead in the race.
Perez claimed third after fending off a brief challenge from seven-time defending Formula One world champion, Lewis Hamilton, who began the race in 11th and gradually moved up through the field until he got to Perez and was unable to pass the Mexican on his one attempt at doing so. Hamilton then pitted late in the race and dropped behind both Perez and Leclerc to finish fifth.
With the race results, Verstappen now leads Hamilton in the Formula 1 driver’s championship by six points – 262.5 to 256.5 points.
2021 Turkish Grand Prix Top 10 Finishers
1] Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
2] Max Verstappen Red Bull
3] Sergio PĂ©rez Red Bull
4] Charles Leclerc Ferrari
5] Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
6] Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri
7] Lando Norris McLaren
8] Carlos Sainz, Jr. Ferrari
9] Lance Stroll Aston Martin
10] Esteban Ocon Alpine