The brief one-week break is almost over, as the limelight is all set to land on the exciting Istanbul Park for the Turkish GP. Istanbul made a sound return onto the F1 calendar in 2020 after remaining in hiding for most parts of the 2010s.

And what a comeback it turned out to be! The combination of newly laid tarmac and the wet weather offered F1 fans a weekend of hard racing on an ice rink. Hence, there were quite a few frowns showing up when F1 laid an uncertainty over the return of Istanbul Park in 2021.

Well, luck has definitely played by the fans’ interest. The Turkish Grand Prix is here against the underlying odds. And we are hardly a day away from the press conference. So, let’s take a look at the pair-up of drivers. Yes, there are a few exciting combinations to look forward to.

How the F1 drivers pair up for the Turkish GP press conference

The press conference will take place on Thursday at 1:30 PM local time. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll will pair up with 2021 title contender, Max Verstappen. Daniel Ricciardo will join the conference alongside his Alpine (then Renault) successor, Fernando Alonso.

Haas Rookie, Mick Schumacher, will pair with the 7-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez will pair up with former Red Bull driver, Pierre Gasly; the duo is still amidst an internal battle to secure a spot alongside Verstappen.

Other pair-ups

• Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel
• Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc
• Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen and Williams’ George Russell
• Haas’ Nikita Mazepin and McLaren’s Lando Norris
• Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Williams’ Nicholas Latifi
• AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz

Team’s press conference schedule

This press meet will unfold later on Friday at 1:00 PM local time. And the team principals of Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, and Alpine will not be taking part.

AlphaTauri’s Franz Tost, Aston Martin’s Otmar Szafnauer, and Ferrari’s Laurent Mekies will be joining together for the press conference. Similarly, the other pair-up comprises Alfa Romeo’s Frederic Vasseur, Haas’ Guenther Steiner, and Williams’ Jost Capito.

Overall, the build-up to this weekend is exciting enough. And, with rains predicted through Saturday and Sunday, we could well be in for a repeat of the 2020 Turkish GP. But, will this year’s event at Istanbul Park live up to the sky-high expectations?

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