Stroll takes pole in Istanbul GP

Racing Point’s Lance Stroll will start the Turkish Grand Prix from pole position after overcoming challenging wet conditions at Istanbul Park to lead the qualifying Saturday, reported EFE-EPA.

It will be the first-ever pole start for the Canadian driver, who will set off ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Stroll's teammate Sergio Pérez will start from third place in the Turkish GP, a cherry on top for the British constructor, which is to rebrand as Aston Martin next year.

Stroll told the post-session press conference: "It’s a pretty special moment for me."

He added: “Especially after the last couple of months. It’s been a rough ride for me, since Mugello I haven’t scored a point, I haven’t scored a point since my podium in Monza, it’s been a rough run just with incidents, Covid and so much has been going on.

“But to bounce back like this and put it on pole position today is very special for me," he said, according to F1 media.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who could seal the world championship with a win in Turkey, will have to battle back from 6th place on Sunday.

The chaotic qualifying session in Istanbul had to be suspended twice. Heavy rain in Q1 put a halt to proceedings for 45 minutes as drivers struggled to find grip on the freshly-resurfaced track, which was already slippery in dry conditions during Friday’s practice round.

There was a second red flag just after restarting to remove the Haas of Romain Grosjean following a crash.

Red Bull’s Alexander Albon will start in fourth place ahead of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, who is placed ahead of Hamilton.

The Briton has a challenge ahead of him if he is to claim his seventh world championship on Sunday, which would bring him even with Michael Schumacher’s career record.

Renault’s Esteban Ocon is to set off from seventh, Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen — who won the first Turkish GP in 2005 — from eighth and Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas from ninth.

Completing the top-10 in the grid tomorrow is Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz was eliminated in Q2 as was his teammate Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.

Norris will start from 11th, Vettel from 12th, Sainz from 13th and Leclerc from 14th.