F1: Stroll claims first career pole in wet qualifying session in Turkey

In a chaotic and dramatic Saturday session, Lance Stroll claimed his first career pole position on a wet and greasy track ahead of Sunday’s Turkish F1 Grand Prix.

Stroll takes pole after diabolical run through Istanbul Park

With the conditions precarious it seemed that the championship-leading Mercedes teammates weren’t willing to risk anything leaving the midfield drivers to fight it out for the front row.

The recently resurfaced Istanbul Park Circuit created challenges for the field with Ferrari’s Charles LeClerc falling out in the first qualifying.

Stroll was followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez who will start behind the Canadian in third place. Alex Albon completes the second row in his Red Bull.

World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton will start from sixth on the grid after being outqualified by the Racing Points, Red Bulls and the Renault of Daniel Ricciardo.

“It’s such a great way to bounce back after a few rough weeks,” a delighted Strol said after the session.

 “I’m a bit lost for words. It was such a crazy session – it’s been a crazy day since this morning.

“In these wet conditions it was just so slippery the whole way through qualifying,” Stroll added. “It was really just about being on the right tyre at the right time in the end there. We got on the intermediate at the end in Q3. I had one lap to deliver it at the end of qualifying, and I felt like I had the confidence in the car and the consistency in my driving to do it, and at the end of the session, I really pieced my lap together quite nicely, didn’t make any mistakes, and I’m sitting here on pole position.”

Lance Stroll

Turkish Grand Prix qualifying