Leclerc hopes Istanbul track 'will still be slippery'

Charles Leclerc doesn't expect Istanbul Park's track surface to be as bad as it was a year ago, but the Ferrari driver hopes the venue's tarmac has retained part of its low-grid characteristics to help him secure a good result.

Last year's Turkish Grand Prix – the first since 2011 – was run on a freshly resurfaced track that proved very low on grip, an issue exacerbated by Pirelli selecting the three hardest compounds in its range.

The problem was made dramatically worse by the persistent rain that prevailed during the weekend, with drivers feeling like they were racing on ice.

This year, to improve grip levels, the entire track surface was treated and water-blasted ahead of this weekend's event. But Leclerc hopes the surface is "still slippery" for his own benefit.

"A lot of people complained [in 2020], but I was one of the only ones that was actually happy that it was like this because we were competitive, we were fighting for very good positions," said the Monegasque.

"And obviously a podium was possible. I enjoyed that weekend – it didn't end up the way I wanted, by being just under the podium, being fourth.

"But, overall, it was a positive weekend for us, and I hope we can reproduce that this year.

"I've heard some things have changed – obviously they have washed the track several times.

"So, let's see if it's as bad as last year. I don't think it will be as bad, but hopefully it will still be slippery and hopefully it will still benefit us."

Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz suggested that if the water-blasting treatment proved successful, then drivers could find themselves struggling with degradation this weekend.

• Read also: Sainz 'excited to have nothing to lose' in Turkish GP

"If it's more like Portimao, where the grip is not high but it's OK, then should be good fun," said the Spaniard.

"If it's like Barcelona or Silverstone – really high grip levels – then it should be also quite exciting because then the tyre wear could be quite an issue.

"Maybe for my personal interest I want them on the more extreme [side]. Then more different things can happen, and maybe more opportunity comes for me."

The current weather forecast for Istanbul is calling for a rainy Sunday, a prospect that Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel would welcome, because it would be "good fun".

"It was very slippery last year, we'll be hoping it's not as slippery," said Vettel. "This year we have spectators, so for the spectators, it's probably not so nice to have wet conditions.

"But for us I think it could mix things up, so I'm fairly open minded."

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