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

This weekend's Turkish Grand Prix will serve as the latest battleground for Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's race for the 2021 F1 title race. Hamilton, who has a two-point advantage over the Dutchman, will be looking to extend his lead over the Red Bull driver.

Verstappen will be hoping for the exact opposite as he'll be seeking victory after being on the backfoot in the previous race in Russia due to an engine penalty. The 16th race of the season is expected to throw in a surprise or two which could mix up the results quite a bit.

With that in mind, here are the top five reasons why the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix is a must-watch:

#1 Red Bull or Mercedes - Who holds the edge?

Being a venue that was pressed into service after a 10-year absence in 2020, the teams struggled to find their footing on the Istanbul Park circuit last year. A brand new track surface turned the pecking order on its head after drivers found it tricky to extract any kind of grip.

Consequently, we were treated to the unlikely spectacle of Lance Stroll starting on pole for Racing Point. Mercedes were nowhere close to the ultimate pace to begin with but Hamilton somehow managed to eke out a win and called the surface "S*it" afterwards!

Although the Turkish Grand Prix organizers have assured teams and drivers that the track surface won't be a cause for concern this time around, the proof will, as they say, be in the pudding. Until the cars run some laps around the track, it's impossible to predict what's going to happen.

#2 We might have a wet Turkish Grand Prix

The 2021 season is a gift that keeps on giving and another one that could well be on its way is the weekend forecast. It just does not look good if you're a fan of a straightforward dry race.

According to weather forecasts, there is a possibility of rain during the Turkish Grand Prix weekend. Should that transpire, expect the on-track action to get sprinkled with a fair bit of unpredictability for added measure.

We've had rain play a part multiple times this season. On those occasions, the cream has risen to the top, with drivers like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris separating themselves from the pack.

If the Turkish Grand Prix forecast holds true, we should be treated to yet another driving masterclass by one of the usual suspects.

#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.