Formula 1: Hamilton criticizes new Istanbul Park asphalt for being ‘too slippery’

The qualifying tours will take place today in Istanbul Park, which has re-entered the Formula 1 racing calendar after 9 years.

On yesterday’s training tours, the riders had a hard time running often on very slippery tracks.

The riders said the new asphalt and weather conditions of the track, which will host its first race after 2011, have transformed the track into an “ice skating rink”.

Last year’s F1 champion Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton criticized the track, saying the new asphalt pavement was a “waste of money”.

Pirelli also stated that he had not been informed that the track was paved again and that he had arrived in Istanbul on the wrong tires.

Hamilton, who has six F1 championships including 2019, said the new asphalt built on the Istanbul Park track is “wasted money”.

He said the track, which he found negatively “exciting”, turned into a scary experience with the new upholstery.

“This track was a very fun track to visit. But I don’t really understand why they spent millions re-paving the floor. They could just clean it instead of spending that money,” Hamilton said.

Adding that their current tires are not compatible with these conditions, Hamilton said: “The tour is very scary, it seems like there are puddles everywhere.”

Hamilton finished 4th in the training laps, lagging behind the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who set the fastest time in the training laps, jokingly said that if it rains, the tires will need studs.

Claiming that he came to Istanbul with the wrong tire choice, Pirelli Motor Sports chief Mario Isola stressed that he did not know the track was paved again and said: “We raced here a long time ago. Therefore, we still have that one. information in our mind. We didn’t know about this new situation. “I have no doubt that the road holding will improve until the race,” he said.

Vural Ak, chairman of the board of Intercity, which took over the management of Istanbul Park, defended the track and said: “The morning degrees were very interesting because 17 of the 20 drivers used the track for the first time. They were just as we expected. They fell into the shadows because the weather was cold. “The dew made that area very slippery. Places other than that were exposed to the sun and remained dry, so it turned into a half dry and half super wet track. They were very surprised when it happened. ”

Tomorrow the Turkish Grand Prix at 13:15 will start. The race will be run without an audience due to the coronavirus epidemic.

It had happened at Hamilton 1 Turkish Grand Prix in 2010.