Top 5 reasons why the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix is a must-watch

#3 Which version of Lando Norris will show up?

The Russian Grand Prix was heartbreaking for Lando Norris after a late spell of rain combined with his questionable choice to stay out on dry tires, possibly robbing him of his first F1 win.

He will be looking to move on from that setback at the Turkish Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc went through something similar at the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix, as did George Russell at the Sakhir Grand Prix last year. Even Lance Stroll felt similar agony in last year's edition of the Turkish Grand Prix, finishing ninth after starting on pole.

However, it will be interesting to see which version of Norris we get at the Turkish Grand Prix. Did the previous race weekend jolt his confidence or will it serve as a valuable learning experience which he'll carry forward?

It's hard to deny that aside from the title contenders, Lando Norris has been the driver with the most eyes on him. His standout performances, especially in the wet, have been spectacular. With a wet weekend possibly on the horizon, Norris will be looking ahead to another shot at a potential maiden Formula 1 victory.

#4 Will Ferrari bounce back or throw in the towel?

The last couple of races have been a bit of an eye-opener for Ferrari. After securing a 1-2 finish at Ferrari's home Grand Prix in Monza, McLaren almost picked up another victory in Sochi.

Comparing that to Ferrari's zero wins and an ever-increasing points deficit (currently 17.5) to McLaren in the constructor championship, it's starting to look as if the British team have stolen the thunder from the Italian giants and are stretching their legs now.

The Turkish Grand Prix will see Ferrari return to the site of one of their rare podium finishes in 2020. In slippery track conditions, the red cars were among the few that could generate enough temperature in their tires to be competitive, as Sebastian Vettel edged out teammate Leclerc for third place.

Charles Leclerc hopes that the low-grip nature of the track's surface makes a return for this year's edition of the Turkish Grand Prix as well! Speaking to the press ahead of the weekend, he said:

“...A lot of people complained 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”

With Carlos Sainz already slated to start at the back of the grid with a new engine, the Scuderia could have shifted its focus to the 2022 season already. Is it a sign of Ferrari giving up on the battle for P3 against McLaren?

#5 The Turkish Grand Prix always delivers

The Turkish Grand Prix was first added to the calendar in 2005 and remained a regular fixture until 2010 before it was pressed back into service in 2020.

If there's one thing in common about all the races that have taken place at Istanbul Park, it's that not a single race was short on excitement.

The Turkish Grand Prix is held at a track conducive to wheel-to-wheel action for most of its 5.338km distance. The circuit is also a a driver's delight, with the iconic quad-apex Turn 8 standing out in particular.

While there is a threat of rain and the track might still pose grip issues, those factors will merely serve to add spice to the weekend. As in the past, the Turkish Grand Prix is shaping up to be an unpredictable event without any clear indication of a favorite. For F1 fans, that surely makes it a must-watch.