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Istanbul: Hot track, hot race

Istanbul - Red Bull and McLaren - and even the middle field - put on a scorching pace at Istanbul Park for the 2011 Turkish F1 GP in a race that brought all the excitement of top-class racing back to life.

Maximum use of kers and the new adjustable rear wings meant maximum challenges - and some seriously scary moments - as the world's best drivers fought it out in brilliant sunshine through a four-stop race.

At the flag, though it was a Red Bull 1-2, Sebastian Vettel ahead of Mark Webber, followed in third by Fernando Alonso for Ferrari and, 30 seconds later, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton with Nico Rosberg fifth.

VETTEL'S 13TH WIN

So defending Drivers’ World champion Sebastian Vettel, 23, consolidated his lead in the title race with a near-flawless drive. He led from his 19th career pole unchallenged to the flag conceding the lead only once during his pit stops, as he claimed his third win in four races this year.

It was the 13th win of his career and another day of celebration for the Red Bull team as Vettel's team mate Mark Webber overtook in a brilliant manoeuvre double World champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in the closing laps to finish second.

It was the team's first 1-2 of the season and came at the conclusion of an action-packed contest full of overtaking moves and incidents.

Alonso, revelling in a much-improved Ferrari, finished third ahead of Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, who came home fourth for McLaren after a typically roller-coaster afternoon that included one pit stop wrecked by a sticky wheel nut.
Nico Rosberg was fifth for Mercedes ahead of Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren, the 2009 champion losing ground after planning a three-stop race while most of his rivals went for four.

MASSA BEAT SCHUMI

Nick Heidfeld was seventh for Renault ahead of Vitaly Petrov in the second Renault, Sebastien Buemi of Toro Rosso and the dazzling Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber who finished 10th after starting at the back of the grid.

Brilliant stuff!

Michael Schumacher, 42, finished 12th for Mercedes behind Ferrari's Felipe Massa, his former team mate.

The race featured 73 pit stops - the most since the 1993 British GP at Donington Park that was run in torrential rain and won by the legendary late Ayrton Senna for McLaren.

"Yes," Vettel screamed over his radio at the end. "Yes! That's what I am talking about. What a race! We controlled it from the beginning to the end... thank-you." - Wheels24, AFP
 
Results from the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix, fourth race of the Formula 1 World championship

1 Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull) 1hr30min17.558
2 Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull) +8.807
3 Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) +10.075
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren) +40.232
5 Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes GP) +47.539
6 Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren) +59.431
7 Nick Heidfeld (GER/Lotus-Renault) +1min 0.857
8 Sebastien Buemi (SUI/Toro Rosso) +1min09.394
9 Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Lotus-Renault) +1min08.168
10 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber) +1min18.021
11 Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) +1min19.823
12 Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes GP) +1min25.444
13 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP/Toro Rosso) +1 lap
14 Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber) +1 lap
15 Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India) +1 lap
16Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Williams F1) +1 lap
17 Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams F1) +1 lap
18 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Lotus) +1 lap
19 Jarno Trulli (ITA/Lotus) +1 lap
20 Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL/Virgin Racing) +2 laps
21 Narain Karthikeyan (IND/Hispania) +2 laps
22 Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA/Hispania) +4 laps

Overall points standings

Drivers' points
1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) 93
2 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 59
3 Mark Webber (AUS) 55
4 Jenson Button (GBR) 46
5 Fernando Alonso (ESP) 4
6 Felipe Massa (BRA) 24
7 Nick Heidfeld (GER) 21
8 Vitaly Petrov (RUS) 21
9 Nico Rosberg (GER) 20
10 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) 8
11 Michael Schumacher (GER) 6
12 Sebastien Buemi (SWI) 6
13 Adrian Sutil (GER) 2
14 Paul di Resta (SCO) 2

Constructors’ points
1 Red Bull 148
2 McLaren 105
3 Ferrari 65
4 Lotus-Renault 42
5 Mercedes GP 26
6 Sauber 8
7 Toro Rosso 6
8 Force India 4
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