Button talks up Turkish track

Jenson Button expects the new Istanbul Otodrom to immediately become one of Formula One’s best circuits when it makes its debut this weekend.

The new track on the outskirts of Istanbul will play host to the inaugural Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday after feverish work to complete the 130,000-seater venue on time.

Designer Herman Tilke claims to have taken inspiration from Formula One’s most famous circuits in building the undulating 3.3-mile track and Button is convinced Istanbul will be a venue to savour.

The 25-year-old, one of the few drivers to have visited the track, said: “I was really impressed by the layout of the circuit. The design is very interesting and I think it’s going to make for some very good racing.

“The undulations that are part of the circuit make it very exciting from the driver’s point of view – especially when it comes to overtaking and in qualifying when you are pushing to the limit trying to find braking points for the corners when you can hardly see the corners.”