Five years ago today, Valtteri Bottas put together the kind of wet-weather masterclass that defines careers — then never won another race. The Finn claimed his 10th and final grand prix victory at Istanbul Park, navigating treacherous, rain-soaked asphalt with precision while the title fight raged behind him.
Max Verstappen's second place was enough to reclaim the championship lead from Lewis Hamilton, who started 11th after a power unit penalty wiped out his pole position. Hamilton clawed back to fifth, a deficit that would loom large as the season reached its infamous Abu Dhabi finale.
The oddity belonged to Esteban Ocon, who ran the entire race on a single set of intermediates without pitting — a tire-whispering feat aided by Antonio Giovinazzi defying team orders to hold up Kimi Raikkonen. Ocon grabbed the final point in 10th.
For Bottas, Turkey 2021 marked the peak. He'd move to Alfa Romeo in 2022 and never reach the podium again.
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