Positions for 1300 BST start of 58-lap race:

1.

2. H Kovalainen (McLaren)

3. L Hamilton (McLaren)

4. K Raikkonen (Ferrari)

5. R Kubica (BMW Sauber)

6. M Webber (Red Bull)

7. F Alonso (Renault)

8. J Trulli (Toyota)

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Join the debate on 606 By Sam Lyon

1305: Great start from Lewis Hamilton, who zips past team-mate Heikki Kovalainen even before the first corner. Kubica, meanwhile, jumps from fifth to third and Fernando Alonso comes from seventh to fifth. The extra grip on the racing line of the outside of the track has paid dividends for those three, there. Fisichella's Force India collides with a Nakajima's Williams and that means there will be a safety car.

1303: The lights are a bit slow in kicking in... but here we go...

1300: The cars kick off their warm-up lap and we're minutes away.

1258: The general feeling this weekend has been that McLaren have the pace of Ferrari at Istanbul Park... but arguably as interesting as the battle between the top two teams is the one within McLaren. Many might have expected Heikki Kovalainen to take a back seat to Hamilton this season, but far from it. How would it go down with the Briton if he is beaten by his team-mate today?

"Much depends on the start. I expect Massa to have a good opening and maybe Lewis to beat Kovalainen into second place. I'm pretty sure Kimi won't win this."
teewoods on 606

"Odd... Ferrari have got rid of this special nose and are back to the one they used in the first few races. Will be interseting to see how the fuel strategies pan out, but i feel Kimi might be heavier then Massa and will go on much longer."
bogaTYR on 606
Join the debate on 606

"Let's hope we have a bit of an upset this time around here in Turkey..."
Parag on 606

"Giancarlo Fisichella will be interesting... starting from the back he will hope to rise at least five-six places. The Force India is really improving and everyone seems to forget that."
RajivD on 606

1248: The latest forecasts suggest that there is the possibility of rain later in the race. Black clouds are starting to roll over Istanbul Park and that might just have a big impact on this race...

1246: Lewis Hamilton reflects on McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen's smash in Barcelona a fortnight ago, and it's clear he gets on well with the Finn - a lot better than he did with Fernando Alonso, that's for sure. It appears the Briton's biggest worry, after Kovalainen's health, was that the Finn still beat him at bowling a couple of days later!

Still, Hamilton is determined to overhaul his team-mate as well as Massa at the front, vowing to "be aggressive from the very start". Turn one will be his earliest opportunity so don't miss the start of this race folks.

"Hamilton is not a fan of the softs, that may be his biggest weakness this weekend."
theothefuture on 606

1241: Once again, it's dry in Turkey but, having been brought forward in the calendar, it's not a little cold, apparently. Still, the grid is a hive of activity as teams and drivers make their final preparations among the usual throng of pit-girls and enthusiasts. Under 20 minutes to go, now.

"Felipe's already put the pressure on himself by saying he "owns" this circuit. Perhaps that's his strategy for building confidence... this track has so many areas for overtaking that we must see some changes in the raceleader."
Davetroll on 606

1229: A quick congratulatory word for Honda's Rubens Barrichello, who sets a new Grands Prix record today by competing in his 257th race.

The Brazilian starts from 12th, having out-qualified British team-mate Jenson Button for the third time this year. Any romantics out there reckon he can snatch a point or two today?
Join the debate on 606

"I think Kimi is too far back on the grid for Massa not to win... but you never know, Heikki seems fired up after his crash; it would get great to have another driver in the mix for WDC lead."
*saltirelass on 606

"I think Massa will win, if he stays cool and does not crumble under pressure. It's very easy to make mistakes because the air temperaure is low, so on cold tyre you can make mistakes."
Ninad13 on 606

1220: A first front-row start for former BBC Sport columnist Heikki Kovalainen, of course, and I fancy him to impress again this afternoon (commentator's curse there, I'm sure). He looked fast on the soft tyres in qualifying, and it will be interesting to see what Lewis Hamilton's strategy is today after cutting a disappointed figure on Saturday afternoon.

"I think that if Massa stays first past turn one, he'll win. He's done it before, even under more pressure. However, if he slips back, I don't think he has a chance. McLaren's are lighter than Ferrari, but who says that's a bad strategy? We'll see..."
gilottil on 606

"Here's something on team strategy for you. Have a look at David Coulthard's today. There's a chance he'll go for a one-stop strategy and score his first points of the season. Last year Ralf Shumacher moved up six positions at Turkey with a one-stop strategy."
mightyMotoGPdude on 606

1211: Interesting thoughts from journalist Mark Hughes on Felipe Massa, who is aiming for a third straight victory in Turkey. He explains that, despite the fact Massa is often seen as a "driver of promise", the "blips we see in his performances are traits, not errors of inexperience. This is his level."

He goes on to add that "the talent within him needs careful marshalling," that he simply cannot match team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who is "psychologically airtight", and that while tracks like Istanbul Park play to Massa's strengths, "on anything more demanding - at places where you hit solid objects if you stray off-line - Kimi will invariably be comfortably ahead".

Victory today would keep Massa pretty much in line with Raikkonen in the championship - but if Hughes is to be believed, it would be only a "temporary illusion that he's ready to fight team-mate Raikkonen on a consistent basis".

1205: By the way, if you just can't bear to be without news from the Championship play-off semi-final first leg between Watford and Hull as well as the motor racing, check out Cheesey's live chat. Just don't forget to come back, or we'll only talk about you behind your back.
Premier League finale & Championship

"Massa does not come across as very confident; he is likely to lose his nerve and the lead. Kimi is very likely loaded with fuel and might come into play in the later phases of the race."
Massive_Messon on 606

1200: OK folks, are we ready to kick off a monster day of sport with a little F1?

Many may tell you today is all about the climax of the Premiership season, but there's plenty of time for all that. For the next couple of hours, at least, it's about F1. All right?

Coming into this weekend's Grand Prix, Felipe Massa insisted he and Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen were "very close" in terms of championship chances - and a third straight pole at Turkey suggests the Brazilian is ideally placed to close the gap on the title favourite.

But the McLarens of Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton will have been encouraged by how their cars fared in qualifying and will undoubtedly have an eye on victory themselves.

Throw in the fact that this season's four Grands Prix have garnered three different winners so far, and it might not be as predictable as we all think in Turkey. Erm... right?

Let me know how your think the race will go - and what that might mean for the championship - via text on 81111 or on 606.
Join the debate on 606

(BBC)

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