Qualifying for Formula 1’s Turkish Grand Prix was red-flagged for 45 minutes due to worsening track conditions during Q1.
The session started on time despite the track being wet from varying levels of rainfall through the morning.
Drivers struggled desperately for grip, with plenty of trips off the road and spins in the opening minutes.
Then as the rain intensified further and visibility decreased, race control decided to halt the session with just under seven minutes remaining.
Tip-toeing around the track… 🌧#TurkishGP 🇹🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/WcGXGDfcxV
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 14, 2020
Renault’s Esteban Ocon was quickest in Q1 when it was halted, his 2m06.115s nearly a second clear of Valtteri Bottas – although the Mercedes driver had a lap three seconds quicker deleted for a track limits infringement.
Everyone had managed to set a laptime of sorts, albeit with a 15.5s field spread.
Charles Leclerc, Romain Grosjean, Pierre Gasly, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi were the bottom five at the time of the red flag.
Heavy rainfall stopped soon after the interruption, and the session restarted just over 40 minutes later.
