ISTANBUL
Racing Point's Lance Stroll on Saturday won his maiden Formula 1 pole position with 1'47''765 at Intercity Istanbul Park.
With over 58 laps, the Turkish Grand Prix was held at Intercity Istanbul Park on a 5.3-kilometer (3.3 miles) track, delivering one of the most chaotic F1 qualifying sessions.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 14: Lance Stroll (18) of Racing Point competes in the qualification lap of 2020 Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park circuit in Istanbul, Turkey on November 14, 2020. Racing Point team's Lance Stroll takes 2020 Turkish Grand Prix pole position. ( Serhat Çağdaş - Anadolu Agency )
Drivers had difficulty controlling their vehicles in the qualifying sessions because of the slippery ground due to heavy rain that stopped the race for 45 minutes in the first session.
The qualifying sessions continued after the rain died down, bringing surprising results. Canadian driver Stroll got a thrilling maiden pole position amid the wet qualifying session.
Stroll said he was "shocked" to clinch the maiden pole position in the dangerous race.
"I can't really put it into words right now, I'm shocked! [...] It's one of the biggest highlights of my career, for sure. We dream about these moments growing up and it's pretty special," said Stroll after the race.
"There were a lot of things we weren't sure about coming into qualifying. We didn't look that competitive in Q3. I'm so happy right now, I put that lap together at the end and I was under a lot of pressure," he added.
Red Bull Racing Honda's Max Verstappen, trailed 0.290 seconds behind Stroll, whereas Sergio Perez of Racing Point BWT Mercedes came third, 1.556 seconds behind the Canadian driver.
British driver Lewis Hamilton, attempting to secure his seventh title at Istanbul Park, finished in sixth place with one minute and 52.560 seconds.
10 drivers eliminated in qualifying sessions
A total of 10 drivers were eliminated in qualifying sessions one and two in the Turkish Grand Prix on Saturday.
The qualifying session was red flagged after heavy rain made driving conditions hazardous at Istanbul Park Circuit.
Lando Norris, Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Kevin Magnussen, Daniil Kvyat, George Russell, Romain Grosjean and Nicholas Latifi were eliminated during the first and second qualifying sessions.
The race will begin at 1010GMT on Sunday without spectators due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Having won nine races this season, Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton sits at the top of the drivers' standings with 282 points and is seeking the seventh Formula 1 title of his career in Istanbul.
Mercedes already won the constructors' championship for the seventh time in a row ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix.
