Turkish Grand Prix 2010 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton capitalized on Red Bull's spectacular self-destruction to win the Turkish Grand Prix, leading home Jenson Button for McLaren's second one-two finish of the season after championship leader Mark Webber and teammate Sebastian Vettel collided while fighting for the lead. The infamous incident on lap 40 - with Vettel attempting a pass on Webber who refused to yield, resulting in contact that eliminated Vettel and damaged Webber's car - shocked the F1 world and exposed the growing tensions within Red Bull Racing.

The race had been shaping up as another Red Bull procession, with Webber and Vettel running first and second from Webber's pole position. The Australian led comfortably through the opening stint, but after the pit stops, Vettel closed rapidly on fresher tires and attempted to pass his teammate approaching Turn 12. Webber, perhaps unaware of how close Vettel was or unwilling to yield to his younger teammate, moved slightly right on the racing line. Vettel's front wing touched Webber's rear tire, launching the German into a spectacular spin and retirement while Webber limped back to the pits with a puncture. The collision handed victory to Hamilton, who had been running third and inherited the lead when the Red Bulls crashed.

Hamilton controlled the final 30 laps brilliantly, with Button following him home in second to secure maximum points for McLaren. Webber recovered to salvage third place despite his damaged car, limiting the championship damage from what could have been a disaster. The incident sparked furious debate - Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described it as a "racing incident" but the blame was widely placed on Vettel for the risky move. The collision had enormous championship implications, costing Webber potential victory and damaging his points lead, while Vettel's retirement further hurt his title challenge. Most significantly, the crash exposed Red Bull's unwillingness to impose team orders between their drivers, a policy that would haunt them as the season progressed toward its dramatic conclusion.