Istanbul Park

The Otodrom is the most unique Hermann Tilke design yet. Not only is it anticlockwise, one of five for the year, but it is constructed on four different ground levels with the track undulating itself at various sectors.

Located in Istanbul, it does not follow the standard Tilke pattern – long straights followed by a tight hairpin – as the highlight of the circuit is the notorious multi-apex Turn 8. That single turn is perhaps one of the most challenging high-speed corners in Formula 1 today. The amount of friction it induces on the rear left tyre is enormous and it would be interesting to watch cars loaded with a full fuel tank negotiating that bend.

The venue has now hosted six Turkish GPs and interestingly, Felipe Massa in his Ferrari has won three of the six events that he has participated here.

With 14 turns and plenty of gradients, the circuit has always produced interesting results despite the fact that the race has seen a few empty seats. And this dwindling audience on Sundays has been detrimental to its future as the Eurasian track needs to provide the much-needed vigour to local fans.