The cars are lining up on the grid, Kobayashi is the last man to take up his slot and the lights are on...

We are away on the warm-up lap. A lot of the cars starting on the left hand side (the even numbers) moving straight across to the much grippier right hand side. The left is off the racing line and very dirty, so the likes of Webber, Hamilton and Button will be hoping to get away cleanly.

Vettel is sat in his car with his eyes closed, visualising his race and no doubt trying to keep himself relaxed. If the race is anything like we saw in China three weeks ago all the drivers are in for a busy afternoon.

It's a sunny day in Istanbul, but the air temperature is only 16C. The track temperature is a much higher 35C.

If you want to get in touch with us here as the race unfolds you can do using the link above, or via Twitter @ESPNF1_live. Let us know who is your tip for victory this afternoon.

MarussiaVirgin on Twitter: "Timo back in the garage and getting out. Looks like a problem." Glock has lost fifth gear and Virgin are working on his car in the garage, changing the gearbox. His prospects of starting the race do not look good.

Sebastian Vettel lines up on pole ahead of Mark Webber, with the improving Mercedes of Nico Rosberg in third alongside Lewis Hamilton. It may be four pole positions in a row for Vettel, but we've seen McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari being closer to Red Bull in race trim recently.

Hello and welcome to ESPNF1's coverage of the Turkish Grand Prix. The fourth race of the 2011 season is just over ten minutes away, and we have an all Red Bull front row. And we all know what happened here last year...

Lap 1

Good start from Vettel, Rosberg slots in behind him while Hamilton attacks Webber. Hamilton gets hung out to dry around the outside of turn three and runs wide, allowing Webber, Alonso and Button through. The Renaults are close together in eighth and ninth behind Schumacher.

Lap 2

Massa puts a good move on Heidfeld down the inside of turn one. Perez pits for a new front wing after early contact. Hamilton has a look up the inside of Button in to turn 8, but sensibly backs out of it. Petrov tries to go down the inside of Schumacher in to 12 but Schumacher doesn't leave him enough room and ends up damaging his front wing on the rear of Petrov's car.

Lap 3

DRS is now enabled. Petrov radios in to say he can't tell if his car is damaged. Barrichello passes Heidfeld in to turn one, while Hamilton uses his DRS on Button but can't get through in to turn 12.

Lap 4

Hamilton continues to shadow Button, as Vettel pulls away at half a second per lap from Rosberg.

Replays of the start show Rosberg getting away very well, and then Hamilton getting in too deep in to turn three and having to back off.

Lap 5

Hamilton is clearly quicker than Button but can't find a way through. Webber drives clean past Rosberg on the outside of the run down to turn 12 for 2nd place, while Alonso keeps a close watch just behind.

Lap 6

Hamilton passes Button up the inside in to turn 12, but then runs wide in 13 and 14 to allow Button back through. In a replay of last year Hamilton retakes the place in to turn 1.

Alonso is all over the back of Rosberg.

Lap 7

Alonso uses his DRS to drive clean past Rosberg as well on the run down to turn 12, and will hope to chase down Webber in 2nd. Vettel already has a 5.4s lead.

Lap 8

Schumacher is working his way back up the field in 19th.

Button returns the favour on Hamilton and passes him up the inside in to turn one. Massa is closely following the squabbling pair.

Lap 9

Massa drives straight past Hamilton using the DRS along the back straight, but the pair immediately pit.

Hamilton is now struggling to hold on to the back of Button and is coming under pressure from Massa as he slides the McLaren through turn 8.

Petrov pits from eighth.

Lap 10

Alonso and Webber pit.

Hamilton has a better stop and gets the jump on Massa, the pair side-by-side down the pit lane but Massa relinquishing. Massa had to avoid Hamilton as he rejoined.

Lap 11

Vettel comes in, and surely Button will follow him.

Hamilton is told he is looking at "Plan B". Could well mean a four stop race.

Lots of pit stops as Rosberg and Heidfeld come in too, and Rosberg comes out just in front of Hamilton and Massa.

Lap 12

It all gets very busy in the slow last sector, as the two Renaults get close and Petrov almost pushes Heidfeld in to the pit lane.

Button doesn't pit, he continues and may be trying to hang on to a three stop race. Kobayashi is up to fifth having not stopped yet, he's on hard tyres.

Lap 13

Button is passed by Vettel and then pits.

Kobayashi is now holding up Rosberg, Hamilton and Massa.

Button has Vettel right behind him, already having made a pit stop. Webber is closing in on the race leader having set the fastest lap.

Lap 14

Rosberg on hard tyres is a sitting duck and Hamilton gets up the inside in to turn 12. Rosberg pushed him hard to the inside but had to relinquish.

Kobayashi pits to release the trio of Rosberg, Hamilton and Massa.

Used soft tyres go on Button's car, and he comes out well behind Massa and Hamilton.

Lap 15

Schumacher pushes Kobayashi on to the grass on the run down to turn 12, but the Sauber man makes it through, and then Sutil dives up the inside too. Not a good day for Schumacher so far.

Massa now pressureing Rosberg, who is struggling to stay in touch with Hamilton. Mercedes not appearing to have the race pace today.

Button is told over the radio that he is in very good shape and that the cars in front are four-stopping. So clearly a three stopper for Button.

Lap 16

Hamilton is gapping Rosberg but is over half a second off the pace of the leading trio of Vettel, Webber and Alonso. Strong showing from Alonso so far, just 2.7s behind Webber.

Lap 17

Liuzzi is travelling very slowly having just had a pit stop.

Hamilton is told to look after the rear tyres in turn eight. With heavy fuel loads at this early stage the tyres are being worked extrememly hard.

Lap 18

Massa is told to go for maximum power in his attempts to pass Rosberg.

Alonso and Webber just took 0.1s out of Vettel at the front. It's settled down there and the three are seperated by just 5.7s.

Lap 19

Perez is quick in the other Sauber, setting the fastest lap immediately after pitting for a 2nd time.

Liuzzi pits again, clearly had a problem. Kobayashi is up in 11th after making his pit stop, having started last.

Lap 20

Hamilton makes his 2nd stop.

Rosberg does well to come back at him using KERS, goes round the outside of 12 and the inside of 13 to regain the position. It's put Button right behind them though.

Massa makes a good move down the inside of Rosberg in to turn 9.

Button is catching Massa and Rosberg, and is quicker than Hamilton too. The front three are currently in a league of their own.

Lap 21

Massa gets by Rosberg, and then Button gets involved in the action in to turn 12, side by side with Rosberg and taking him on the outside of the last corner with an impressive move.

Lap 22

Rosberg and Heidfeld pit again.

Replays on board with Button show him cutting back on Rosberg in turn 13 and then out-dragging him round the outside of the last corner. He's now all over the back of Massa.

Webber pits.

Lap 23

Button passes Massa on the run down to turn 12, and Massa locks up and almost runs in to the back of Button. The Ferrari man has to pit, coming in immediately after Alonso.

Vettel is still showing good pace at the front, and may well be able to complete the race on three stops. Alonso is now a second a lap slower than him.

Lap 24

Vettel yet to pit for a second time and is still lapping quicker than Webber who has fresh rubber. It's all shaping up very nicely for the championship leader.

Rosberg is again on hard tyres, and passes di Resta in turn six. Heidfeld then follows suit in to turn 9.

Lap 25

Vettel pits, but has enough in hand to come out comfortably in front of Webber and Alonso. Alonso sets the fastest lap of the race but is not even in shot with Vettel.

Lap 26

Alonso is closing in on Webber, with the gap down to about a second. Button is 9 seconds further back. Petrov has jumped Massa in the pit stops.

Lap 27

Alonso sets another fastest lap and is well within a second of Webber.

Button pits from fourth, putting on another set of soft tyres. he rejoins just ahead of Rosberg and Heidfeld in seventh place. The left rear was slow going on for Button, and he's lost out to Massa.

Lap 28

Alonso is told about the transmission to Webber, and stays right on his tail.

Webber is told to try and open the gap to Alonso, as Vettel sets the fastest lap and stretches out his lead to 8.5s.

Lap 29

Alonso passes Webber on the outside of the braking zone of turn 12 to take 2nd.

Hamilton's pace has improved, but is still 0.7s a lap slower than Vettel and Alonso. He's in a race of his own in fourth at the moment, over 17 seconds adrift and 10 seconds ahead of Petrov.

Alonso is matching Vettel's pace, but is likely to stop once more than the race leader.

Lap 30

Button and Massa are battling it out for sixth, jsut behind Petrov. Rosberg is in close company too as is Heidfeld. The gap from fifth to Buemi in tenth is just under 7 seconds.

Lap 31

Massa is pressuring Petrov as Button has a look up the inside in to the last corner. These three are very evenly matched at present.

Hamilton is closing on Webber's pace, but 17 seconds back. Alonso matching Vettel but still 9 seconds off the lead.

Lap 32

Alonso has pulled away from Webber, putting a 2 second gap between himself and the Red Bull.

Lap 33

Di Resta and Perez pit from 15th and 17th. A less competitive weekend for the rookies so far.

Schumacher pits for a third time, as he tries to undercut those in front of him as he currently runs 14th.

Lap 34

Rosberg pits and rejoins in 10th.

Vettel managing the gap and his tyres. Button is getting hurt behind Massa and Petrov as he aims to go for a three stop strategy.

Lap 35

Massa also pitted and comes out just ahead of Schumacher.

Horrible stop for Hamilton, McLaren unable to get the front right wheel off and losing about 10 seconds.

Hamilton pits, as Button finally makes the move on Massa down the straight towards turn 12.

Lap 36

Alonso makes his third stop, and stays ahead of Webber.

Massa passes Kobayashi up the inside in to turn 12. replays show he ran wide in to turn eight and lost places to Schumacher, Sutil and Kobayashi.

Webber pits from third, and comes out in clear air.

Lap 37

Replays show Rosberg passing Barrichello for eighth using the DRS. It's been a bit too easy to out-drag cars down the back straight today.

Hamilton then beats it with a 1:31.5s, but he's currently behind Buemi who is sixth.

Vettel set the fastest lap of the race on lap 35, showing the life he still has in his tyres.

Lap 38

Vettel has a 25 second lead now, although he has made only 2 stops to Alonso's 3. The race is his unless the Ferrari can go to the end of the race on these tyres.

Lap 39

Buemi is yet to pit for a third time and is still ahead of Hamilton, in fifth place now.

Alonso and Webber are less than 2 seconds apart.

Lap 40

Vettel also pits and has the length of the pit straight as a lead.

Button pits for the final time and crucially rejoins ahead of Petrov.

Rubens Barrichello is holding off Heidfeld for ninth place. Heidfeld passes him before turn 11, while Massa gets past Schumacher on the run down to 12 directly behind them.

Lap 41

The front runners could theoretically continue to the end of the race on these tyres if they can make them last, but only Vettel and Button are likely to be able to do so.

Buemi pits from fifth.

Lap 42

Rosberg is up to fifth, 3.5s down on Hamilton. Vettel has a 7 second lead on Alonso.

Lap 43

Only Timo Glock is not running, and he didn't even start the race, so technically no-one has retired today so far.

Alonso is matching Vettel's lap times, and they are both on the hard tyre. Webber is 3 seconds further back on the same pace too.

Lap 44

Maldonado is under investigation for speeding in the pit lane.

Button on the hard tyre can't keep pace with Rosberg, but Mercedes are getting ready to stop again.

Lap 45

The closest battles out on track at the moment are Petrov, Heidfeld and Massa for seventh, as well as Schumacher and Buemi for 10th.

Maldonado gets a drive through for speeding in the pit lane.

Lap 46

Alonso pits to cover Webber, which as good as hands Vettel the race victory, technical difficulties willing.

Di Resta has stopped on the pit lane exit, so becomes our first retirement.

Webber also pits for a last set of hard tyres.

Rosberg pits for the final time, as we see a replay of Buemi passing Schumacher.

Lap 47

Massa pits immediately for his final stop, but spins his wheels and it delays his stop as the mechanics can't get the rear tyres on.

Rosberg passes Massa for eighth using the DRS, as Hamilton pits from fourth.

Lap 48

Webber is now the fastest man on track and reeling in Alonso in 2nd.

Vettel pits to make sure he has no trouble with his tyres towards the end of the race.

Lap 49

Hamilton cruises past Button along the back straight. Button's really struggling with his tyres.

Hamilton on the radio thinking he should be higher up, but is told to focus on Button ahead of him and that there will be chances to pass.

Alonso is 6 seconds behind Vettel, with Webber catching him by 0.5s per lap.

Button is fourth, just 1.7s ahead of Hamilton.

Lap 50

Webber is within a second of Fernando Alonso, and 7 seconds off the lead.

Rosberg in sixth is closing in on Button now at about a second a lap.

Lap 51

Webber gets the job done in the final sector with a good battle, running round the outside of 12 and then the inside of 13. Alonso tries to come back at him along the pit straight but Webber parks his car well on the inside of turns 1 and 3 to hold him off.

Lap 52

Alonso can't keep in touch down the back straight, but the scrap has put the pair over 8 seconds behind Vettel.

Lap 53

Massa passes Schumacher down the inside in to turn 9, but then Schumacher passes him again in turn 13. the pair are battling for 12th place just behind Alguersuari.

Button slipping back quickly towards Rosberg, just a second ahead now and powerless to defend.

Lap 54

Schumacher makes it past Alguersuari in turn 13, with Massa alongside too. Massa passes Alguersuari on the exit of the final corner and then dives up the inside of Schumacher in to turn 1. Buemi is having a great race, currently seventh on a three stop strategy, he has Heidfeld all over the back of him though.

Lap 55

Rosberg cruises past the helpless Button along the back straight using the DRS.

Lap 56

Buemi has lost out to Heidfeld, and now has 9th-placed man Petrov in his mirrors.

Perez passes Alguersuari down the inside in to turn 9. The Toro Rosso struggling on old tyres having stopped three times, and he pits.

Vettel has a comfortable 8 second lead over Webber, with Alonso 1.7s further back.

Lap 57

Button in sixth should have a big enough lead over Heidfeld to make it to the end of the race where he is.

Kobayashi is running tenth having started last.

Lap 58

Massa and Schumacher come home a dissapointing 11th and 12th, while Trulli beat Kovalainen in the Lotus battle and Karthikeyan finised 2 laps ahead of Liuzzi after troubles at HRT.

Hamilton finishes a distant fourth, half a minute behind Alonso, followed by Rosberg and Button. Heidfeld got within 1.5s in 7th ahead of his team-mate Petrov who got past Buemi on the last lap. Kobayashi completes the top ten.

Vettel crosses the line to take his third win of the season with another fantastic drive, and Mark Webber makes it a one-two for Red Bull. Alonso is just 10 seconds behind Vettel with a hugely competitive first podium for Ferrari this season.

Vettel takes the applause and skips up to the top step of the podium after another strong victory. Can anyone stop the reigning world champion? We head to Barcelona for the next race in two weeks time, so make sure you join us then on ESPNF1 to find out. Thanks for following.

Fernando Alonso looks happy with his third place as he congratulates Webber and Vettel.

Christian Horner tells the BBC it was a "very sweet victory today", as Vettel celebrates in Parc Ferme. He was in a class of his own today as he was even able to take a conservative fourth pit stop to cover the rest of the field.