F.1 – Strategy Group: too many words, few facts

/in /by

So many words and zero facts. I have to sum up with these words the decisions taken by the Strategy Group, which met into the Biggin Hill aeroport in London, whose aim should be to he show and the format of the Formula 1. We are talking about a group of people working as part of the team, whose daily bread is the F1. This is why I am perplexed when I read these proposals. Rules that may be adopted in 2016 and 2017 seasons. Now the ball passes to the World Motor Sport Council.

SUPPLIES: inexplicably returned. After being abolished because considered unsafe and too expensive, the Strategy Group has rightly thought to propose them again, even though the open wheels have become more complex – not to say dangerous – with the entry in 2014 of complicated and expensive power-unit that are putting in great difficulty different teams. What would happen in case of problems or errors with the pipe union? Formula 1 is in economic crisis. If we exclude the first five teams, all the others are already without oxygen and, now, we force them to take on additional costs to buy back the equipment and manage their transport?

FREE TYRES: Each team would be free to choose the two compounds to be used in each Grand Prix. If I were the supplier, I would not ever accept. The best way to quickly improve the performance on the tour is to act on the tire choice. Therefore, small teams may opt for soft compounds also on a very selective track with the intent to stand out. Do not forget what we experienced at Indianapolis in 2005 …

 CLIENTS CARS: how many times has already turned up this proposal in recent years? It’s a long time I think that it is not the right solution to keep costs down. Cars built to win a World Championship have construction strategies and operating costs well above the car of second choice. I personally studied ithis way in 1996: Flavio Briatore joined the the Minardi Team, who was also CEO of Team Benetton. Together we tried to investigate synergies to reduce costs. After a careful study, two philosophy emerged and there were so different that we had to abandon the project. Everyone continued to produce and project separately. Furthermore, it should depreciate to the intellectual property of the team that would lose the title of “Constructor” with big repercussions in the economic value of the team itself.

So once again there were no new solutions that could portend a substantial changes, to reduce real costs. They have been rejected all cases of cost cuts, related to abolition of the wind tunnels or revise the system of payments between customer teams and engineers etc. Today we have engines whose costs account for one third of the entire budget. Unacceptable. We need to focus on simpler aerodynamics, having fewer staff in the company and also during the pit stop. It’s time that I feel ridiculous having to employ over 20 mechanics to change four tyres, destined to rise with supply. Staff which also covers the sponsors sings just in a moment when the car may have the best visibility. DRS? Technology that has a cost and that is useless, even on production cars.

Do we want to change? Why not try to do two shorter rounds on Sunday, totalling always 300 km, instead of entering the supplies, as well as increasing costs, complicated strategies and reading the race. Let’s think to make cars easier (now a front wing cost more than 100,000 €) and fast with tyres of 17″. We must make to remain fans excited with amazing and less complicated contests. Today races are made on tyre and fuel strategies. We also add the unknown supplies and will not solve anything. My idea is to get the public closer, now too far. Fans are forced to watch their heroes behind a network, at best, or a television. There’s a nasty habit of get closed inside the hospitality.

It’s time to create a group that is not directly involved in the team, but promoted by the FIA and FOA. Ecclestone and Todt have to monitor on proposals. There’s need for a Strategy Group which is absolutely detached from the teams, but knows very well F1 environment. Otherwise everyone pulls water to his mill and these proposals which are not going anywhere come out.

F.1 – Spanish GP: DRIVERS' SCORECARD

/in /by

Ferrari fans were very disappointed, because they expected something new and more decisive for the Spanish Grand Prix that, unfortunately, did not take place, as demonstrated by the 45″ of lead between Sebastian Vettel and the winner Nico Rosberg.

Unfortunately, they represent a step back of Mercedes’ run up. Podiums are good but because they help to keep high the moral in a difficult moment. Today, luckily, we miss those teams (i.e. McLaren and Red Bull) who only 12 months ago were constantly in top positions. The Team Principal Mr.Arrivabene himself, after the race, was very severe, stating that this gap is not fine at all. It will certainly be a very long way since we do not know the real limits of Germans. They ended the fifth Grand Prix of the season with the same power-unit, sign of reliability and strength against competitors which ask the fifth unit for car/year.

Behind Ferrari, there was Williams, that in the first four races made few mistakes. It will certainly be a tough nut for the second place in Constructors championship. This standings is much clearer over the past year in quality and performance. In Qualifying we saw a spectacular Red Bull that, unfortunately, is not able to repeat itself in race management, giving way to Red Bull’s rich cousins. The cause is also to be searched in the straights that PU Renault give to competitors. Let’s arrive to the votes.

Nico Rosberg – 10 He managed the whole weekend in an exemplary manner, becoming once again the “Nico” that last year contrasted Lewis. We hope that the internal struggle for the title will reopen, since all the others are light years away

Lewis Hamilton – 8 I saw him nervous. He suffered unjustly for the perfect weekend of his teammate. A champion like him should be able to manage these realities because Rosberg is not a Number 2. Up to now, he has been able to win three races perfect and with no problems

Sebastian Vettel – 8 because he did not make any mistakes in Qualifying and during the race

Valtteri Bottas – 8 Excellent race; he managed to keep up with Ferrari’s compatriot, putting his Williams between the two Reds

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 A vote of encouragement, because in the whole weekend has been behind his teammate. To keep Ferrari in second position in the world championship, he have to win the competition on Williams.

Felipe Massa – 6.5 a we do not live up to the first part of the championship. In Barcelona he has definitely lost the confrontation with teammate. He brought home a 6th place and important points.

Daniel Ricciardo – 7.5 still an appointment full of problems. He knew, however, how to achieve a good seventh place, even with a lap down

Romain Grosjean – 7.5 despite a car with several problems, he tried to his best to bring Lotus the points for the World Championship

Daniil Kvyat – 6 Some mistakes and a bad start, but the car is difficult to drive. He lost also the comparison with Sainz Jr. Anyway, he deserves more attention and less critics. I find foolish the comparison with Vettel.

From Campos to Sainz Jr.: the Faenza-Spain's axis

/in /by

Speaking about the Spanish Grand Prix, we can not forget Faenza-Spain’s axis, a twinning grown stronger and stronger over the years, through every Spanish driver, without only Pedro De La Rosa. The Minardi team led the way in 1987 hiring Adrian Campos. Today the baton has passed to Scuderia Toro Rosso, which can rely in its ranks on Carlos Sainz Jr., paired with the Dutchman Verstappen.

After its debut at the wheel of the M187, with its fourteenth placement as the best result exactly in Spain, Adrian Campos stopped in Faenza also the following season, along with Luis Perez Sala, before leaving the wheel of the M188 to Pierluigi Martini. For the team managed by Gian Carlo Minardi these were the first years in Formula 1 World Championship with its debut in 1985, but already in Detroit the first championship point was celebrated, thank to the sixth positiona of the manger from Romagna.

We arrive to the late 90’s and early 2000 with Marc Gené and Fernando Alonso. Before moving into Williams’ ranks ans then  Ferrari as test driver, Gené defends the colors of the Minardi team in the 1999 and 2000 seasons, together with Luca Badoer and Gaston Mazzacane, winning points in the European Grand Prix at the wheel of the M01 with Ford engine, before passing the baton to his compatriot and future bi-world champion Fernando Alonso. The last Minardi’s Spanish driver was Antonio Garcia, who in 2002 fallen was at the wheel of Mark Webber’s PS02 for a test-drive, before moving successfully in competitions. In his record of achievements, it appeared in fact the ninth place in the WTCC ’05, along with 2008-2009-2011 victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the wheel of Aston Martin and Corvette and 2009-2015 successes in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Considering the TR, 2009 was the year of Jaime Alguersuari and this year of son Carlos Sainz Jr. “They were really many Spanish drivers and I am pleased that since the Minardi Team signed his F1 debut in 1985, all drivers, except one, are passed to Faenza. For Minardi Team, along with Monza and Imola, the Spanish GP was the house race“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “I have wonderful memories of both Spanish fans and drivers, an I am still in good terms with them. The last Spanish arrived in Faenza is Sainz Jr; he has all the skills to do well. I hope he’ll have better luck than his proceeded Alguersuari, victim of RB’s mistakes. In 2006, I attended his debut in Formula, at Imola: pole, victory and fastest lap in both races. I thought about a future in F1, that there has been, bout too short“, the manager from Faenza concludes. He will in Barcelona to follow also Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello, busy in GP3 and GP2 as bearers of ACI Team Italia.

F.1 – Road to Barcelona

/in /by

The Spanish Grand Prix is traditionally an important sign for season’s performances. In these three weeks of apparent silence all big teams have worked to bring to Barcelona the developments they’ve studied, both on chassis and power-unit.

Rumors speak about an improvement of 3/4 tenths for Ferrari, but only the circuit will give us the final report. Mercedes has still frozen the engines, while Ferrari and Williams have worked on all fronts. Unfortunately, we read too little of Lotus, Sauber, Force India and Toro Rosso. This signal is not positive.

Therefore, Formula 1 prepares his arrival in the old country, with Hard and Medium compounds. A good test for tyres, on an abrasive track characterized by lateral forces that don’t stress just stress just tyres. We’ll see if Mercedes will be able – as I believe – to maintain its leadership and if Maranello confirms his second place at Williams’ expenses.

Behind the top four driver, there’s battle for the fifth position. Excluding Manor – for obvious reasons – they are all very close. It will be interesting to follow their battles. As I mentioned in recent weeks, the days following Barcelona GP will be crucial, with several boards of directors at Renault-BMW-Audi, which could reorganize the F.1. We also have Mr. Red Bull eager to join Bernie Ecclestone’s CVC. It could trigger a vortex.

With regard to Spain, I have to talk about the Spanish drivers and the Spain-Faenza’s axis. With the exception of Pedro De La Rosa, every Spanish F.1 driver started from Faenza, and many of them from the Minardi team. We start in ’87 -’88 with Adrian Campo and Sala in the ’88 -’89 season, to get to Marc Gene in 1999-2000, Fernando Alonso in 2000-2001 and Antonio Garcia who tried with us in 2002. Moving to Toro Rosso in 2009, Alguersuari arrived, till today with Sainz Jr. For Minardi Team, along with Monza and Imola, the Spanish GP was a little ‘house’ race. I do have a very good relationship with all the drivers who still meet gladly.

With Barcelona also the preliminary series are getting going. GP2 will reach its second appointment, while the spotlights will switch on GP3. The ACI Team Italia with Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello will start; they are both Trident bearer respectively in GP3 and GP2. I’ll be personally in Barcelona to closely observe our young drivers and see what device put to use in order to enhance their growth. It’s a very important step of the work planned by Aci-Sport.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Formula 1 of tomorrow

/in /by

The current grid of Formula 1 Grand Prix is composed of: four engine suppliers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault, Honda), three constructors (Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren) and seven private teams (Williams, Force India, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Lotus, Manor).

But the scene may change soon. Here’s how and why.

Renault: The days after the Spanish Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of May 10th, an Extraordinary Board of Directors will be organized directly by the Chairman and CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, who will speak about the situation Renault in F1. At this point, three different ways can be opened: leave the Circus, get in first buying a team or raise technically a Power-Unit that is currently not up to competitors.

Audi: the group is facing a historic transition. Ferdinand Piech, Chairman and major shareholder of the group, resigned because of internal conflicts. This means that there may be internal struggles that call Piech into discussion. Mr. Ferdinand was not against Bernie Ecclestone, as rumours said in these months, but the current F1 didn’t suit him. What will be the new strategies? Will Audi be interested in buying Red Bull Racing?

BMW: in mid-May, the German company will have a new CEO in the person of Mr. Kruger a technician with great experience in motorsport. This is a signal to raise again the brand in a world like that of F1, although it is much talked and denigrated, it has great attraction, increasing the brand.

Formula 1 in the coming weeks could change things both technically and politically. In this period Circus seems lethargic. But will be really this way? Do Bernie Ecclestone and Dietrich Mateschitz know something more? For several months it’s talking about a future Mr. Red Bull highly interested in buying CVC’s stocks. If that were so, he would be forced to leave the two teams (RBR and TR). Is it a coincidence that these rumours come out right now? Mateschitz has always said that F1 is a business fro him, being a marketing man. A very interesting scenario. A new breath of fresh air. We have a practical example. After purchasing the old Zeltweg circuit, he has been able to restructure and relaunch it. Last year, Red Bull Ring has experienced one of the most beautiful grand prix of the season, with lawns and bustling terraces and many initiatives. This year could be even better.

Well, maybe we’re in front of a big change.

F.1 – Minardi: “Simplest cars and battles and not 1000 hp”

/in /by

From the analysis of the first four races of the season, a huge mix of the forces on track emerged, compared to only twelve months ago: + 55 points at Ferrari – from fourth to second force of the World Championship, +19 Sauber and +12 Lotus balanced out the negative signs at McLaren (-43 points), Red Bull (-34) and Force India (-43), due to the technical crisis of two manufacturers Renault and Honda, but not only as in case of team of Vijay Mallya.

Despite the confirmation of the line-up and power-unit supplier (Mercedes) they get to eighth place, with only eleven points. The fault lies in the economic crisis, which is touching most of the grid. “Today, only five teams can save themselves financially and this can not and should not go unnoticed. It’s definitely useless and ridiculous to talk about engines with 1,000 hp or reintroduce supplies of gasoline, which can only complicate the studying of races as well as increasing costs again. To get out of this crisis, there’s need of well-defined programs, intervening on technical and sporting regulations”, Gian Carlo Minardi analyses at the microphones of www.minardi.it.

“I agree, although I do not share, the use of these complicated and expensive power-units in Formula 1, because I think the most correct scene is the WEC World Endurance Championship. Take a step back, towards the aspirated engines, in my opinion is complicated, because from 2020 the future of  mass-production cars will be facing the hybrid, the energy recovery and less polluting turbo engines. The high costs that the private teams have to consider do not work. A PU absorbs almost one/third of the entire budget for the majority of the teams. A truly unsustainable system, that today we are touching with hand“, the manager from Faenza continues. He suggests introducing cars with an easier aerodynamics that highlights the quality of the driver, without too much help.

“The DRS is useless, because it is a technology that will never find a place in mass-production cars. Would we like to about how wings have become complicated and burdensome? More than 100,000 € for a single front wing is not an enormous cost? It would be better to have simpler aerodynamics that allow overtakings on track, and not only through box’ strategies or the mandatory use of two compounds. If we now reintroduce also the supply element, we are really okay … Today we are looking at cars that “suffer” getting too close to those that are in front. It is not normal“.

It’s time to take remedial actions with serious and fast solutions. You have to attract fans with races full of overtakings and battles without any new-fangled technologies. We must find new trademarks. Today, everyone regret the duels of Villeneuve-Arnoux or, going further in time, to duel between Schumacher and Hakkinen at Spa-Francorchamps. F.1 must once again become the racing car of dreams, perhaps through wider tyres, aerodynamics that allows exploiting the wake, and why not, even using less mechanics during the pit-stop. One person for tyre could create more suspense.

Instead of just hearing about strategies and tires, it would be better to tell the duels with more suspense? “We have to take remedial actions. Do not forget that the problems at Renault are touching two teams that are financially solid, such as Red Bull and Toro Rosso. I hate to think how the future will be for those teams that already are out of breath ..” And we left behind only four of the nineteen appointments … An atmosphere almost like that of Alfred Hitchcock!

F.1 – Minardi: “Will Bernie manage to change course to this F.1?”

/in /by

I’ve read Pino Allievi’s interview to Bernie Ecclestone on the Gazzetta dello Sport. I’ve already talked about that issues several times, since this Formula 1 makes one think and worry. I agree with Bernie. It’s time to review the technical regulations and come back to “simpler” and cheaper engines, leaving the manufacturers participating in the WEC Championship carry the commitment to built of new generation cars. Is not sustainable a system in which the cost of a Power-Unit represents 1/3 or 1/4 of the entire budget of a team. But that’s not all. To manage and enter these Power Units on the car, there is a considerable increase in costs on the remaining items.

If there’s no remedy in the short term, the risk is throwback to the seventies, when there was only one engine – Ferrari – against all motorized Cosworth. Today, the risk is to have only one challenge: Ferrari vs Mercedes.

The economic difficulties of some teams, the skyrocketing costs and the need to revise the rules are not the only clouds on the horizon. After what happened in Shanghai at Renault, reliable sources anticipate us that before the Spanish Grand Prix an Extraordinary Board of Directors will be held directly by the Chairman and CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, being about the situation Renault in Formula 1. It is not certainly a good sign. A Board of Directors finalized may open in two scenarios: direct engagement with its own team (we have already talked about), or other more drastic “situations”. It’s true that there are agreements until 2016 with Red Bull and Toro Rosso, but it would not be the first time that a manufacturer takes bad roads for our sport, giving the perfect excuse to teams (the few solid and well-funded ones!) that get an engine to withdraw without incurring contractual penalties. A similar scenario would be definitely traumatic. What kind of starting grid would remain? I will not even think about it!

In Bahrain, a hot weekend starts under many points of view. Team Principals have to present new solutions and Mr. E has to evaluate new entries in the Circus on the engines front. There are companies that stand there watching – someone having already ready engines – stopped only by the lack of long-term strategies. One above all is BMW, which just in mid-May will have a new AD, Mr. Kruger, a man with professional experience in Motorsport. It’s time to use all the needed energies, in order to safeguard what for me, and not only, it is still the most amazing sports show in the world.

F.1 – Road to Bahrain

/in /by

We’re quickly getting closer to Bahrain, the fourth appointment of this World Championship. A fifth part of the season is now gone. As we know, it will be a night race and this could penalize Ferrari, removing a part of the advantage of using the Soft and Medium tyres, even if track temperatures will remain hot (obviously as hot as Sepang levels). We get to the circuit that signed Ferrari’s reorganization in 2014. Last year, at the end of a race, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen used to close in ninth/tenth position. This year, we arrive with a very different spirit.

Ferrari presents itself as the second force of the World Championship, first among the terrestrials. A result that makes us think, especially after a 2014 full of tension. The stopwatch, real unique neutral arbiter, however, is unforgiving towards all. The German team has once again showed its supremacy in China, especially in fast laps, imposing itself from beginning to end. Lewis Hamilton has played not only with opponents, but also creating a few battles with the teammate, as we heard in the post-gp by Rosberg, alternatively angry and frustrated.

This Formula 1 that makes us think about and worry us especially for what happened in Shanghai at Renault. The disastrous Sunday has not gone unnoticed, creating many doubts and concerns. Kvyat and Verstappen are already preparing to use the third engine of the four available engines in total. The Dutch of Red Bull was forced to throw away an eighth place, which was gained on track just three laps to go. Reliable sources anticipate us that before the Spanish Grand Prix an Extraordinary Board of Directors will be held directly by the Chairman and CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, who will be about Renault’s situation in Formula 1. It’s certainly not a good sign. A finalized Board of Directors may open in two scenarios: direct engagement with its own team (we have already talked about), or other more drastic “situations”. It’s true that there are agreements until 2016 with Red Bull and Toro Rosso, but it would not be the first time that a constructor takes bad roads for our sport. Do not forget that there is another giant in great difficulty, Honda. Being in the rear, when just twelve months ago McLaren firmly occupied the score zone, is not an exciting show.

Let’s go back to the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix: Ferrari has certainly made a step forward compared to last season. The victory and two podiums are a clear and create excitement; let’s hope this’ll be helpful to overcome the gap that still exists. The current standings (1-Mercedes, 2-Ferrari, 3-Williams, 4-Sauber, 5-Red Bull, 6-Toro Rosso, 7-Force India, 8-Lotus, 9-McLaren, 10-Marussia) underlines the difficulties of Red Bull, Force India and above all McLaren. Sauber, taking advantage of the other’s difficulties, won important points. As for Toro Rosso, we wish the confirmation of a positive mood that showed it being consistently up or beyond the standard on track of Red Bull itself.

It will still be a hot weekend in the back box; everybody’ll busy to observe the movements and contacts of Team Principals, to grasp the possible evolutions.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – China Gp: DRIVERS’ SCORECARDS

/in /by

Lewis Hamilton – 10 He was absolutely perfect, throughout the weekend. He was disarming for all his rivals, when at the 30th passage (the 16th lap with Soft tyres) he marked the fastest time in 1’42″208 against a 1’42″565 of Rosberg and 1’43″018 of Vettel (scored in the 15th passage, with fresh Soft tyres).

Sebastian Vettel – 8 He did not make mistakes in making the most of his Ferrari, confirming as the second force in the world championship

Nico Rosberg – 8 The attempting to snatch pole to the teammate (missed for just 42 thousandths of a second) are the reason of this vote. For the rest, he seems resigned by the overwhelming power of Lewis.

Kimi Raikkonen – 8 Amazing start, with a first round as a true world champion that makes you forget a Qualyfing, once again, under his chances. He immediately got rid of the two Williams, helping with the fourth place to consolidate the second place among Ferrari’s Constructors.

Felipe Massa – 8 He continues to trouble his teammate, defending himself with a car that, for the moment, is not up to the 2014. Great his fourth place in Qualifying.

Max Verstappen – 8 Good race and he deserved the missed points because of  a technical problem, in the last kilometres. He gave us some good overtakings as an experienced driver, and not as a 17 years old driver who debuts in a F.1 world championship and on a track such as Shanghai.

Romain Grosjean – 7 As encouragement, for bringing the points to Lotus, which will have to work hard to return to the levels of 2013.

Fernando Alonso – 6.5 For the tenacity that he is putting into this season. He certainly did not expect it would be so hard.

Mercedes – 10 It wanted to forget right away the mistakes made in Sepang, legitimizing its technical advantage on track.

Ferrari – 8 Everything’s perfect in terms of strategies and reliability. Now is the second force in the championship, but work is not missing.

Williams – 7 It wanted to overturn a good project such as that of 2014, thus making a step back

Sauber – 7 Fourth power of the world championship, bringing home important points, waiting for the awakening of Red Bull and McLaren.

Toro Rosso – 7 Well done, it was a pity for the technical problems of Renault PU that have undermined efforts.

Red Bull – 5 It’s lost its guiding star. Strange for a four-times world champion team, with great technical and economic potential. The problems do not just come from the PU. Perhaps it need more peace and coolness.

Renault – 4 Looking for competitiveness, they’re sacrificing reliability. Verstappen and Kvyat will be forced to use down the third engine. And we have still to attend the fourth Grand Prix of the season.

F.1 – Road To Shanghai

/in /by

These are special days for me, because 30 years ago, exactly on April 7th 1985, began Minardi team’s adventure in Formula 1, in Brazil, ending after 340 Grand Prix in China, the scene of the next round of the World Championship. For many years China has been the arbiter of the world championship, especially when it was held at the end of the season.

It’s a Tilke’s circuit, with very similar characteristics to Sepang, where even the weather conditions play an important role on the final result. In recent years, we have experienced tests and races with variable weather. In 2014, for example, the Qualifying were under the rain, while race with dry conditions. Ferrari, in that circumstance, it was very good at exploiting this variable conquering the podium with Fernando Alonso.

It consists of 16 corners and 3 straights with an asphalt that does not solicit the tyres too. For this reason, Pirelli brings Soft and Medium. Two types of compounds that could favor the ST-15T, which does not exploit the tyres. The strategies will be played on two or three pit stops. Last year most of the team opted for two stops.

We come from a ten days “hangover” thanks to the victory of Seb, where it is rightly praised this imported result, but I loved the statements of Maurizio Arrivabene at the end of GP: “...feet on the ground and drive”. I do not think that Mercedes will give other gifts, but Shanghai will be a good test for Maranello, that will try to confirm itself as second force of the World Championship, ahead of Williams. The W06 has shown, however, to have still a considerable technical advantage.

To date, the surprise is Toro Rosso, at the fifth position among the Constructors, a few points behind Sauber and Red Bull, which is in chaos. The two young drivers in Malaysia have managed to get behind Ricciardo and Kvyat, bringing home two important results despite a PU Renault (the same of elder cousins) did not live. This means that problems of RB11 do not comes only from the engine. We hope that they stop arguing and start working in the same direction.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – Minardi: “Monza, along with Silverstone and Monte Carlo, is Formula 1”

/in /by

These are difficult days for Motorsport in the Old Country. Emerging countries are making their way quickly and so, after losing France in the last few years, this year it is the turn of Germany, which will have its Formula 1 Grand Prix. Hockenheim and Nurburgring stand aside. “We are talking about circuits that are part of a nation at the height of motor racing, not only sportingly speaking. However, they will not have a Grand Prix. This should make us think about”, Gian Carlo Minardi says.

Unfortunately, also in Italy could occur the same shortly? In 2016 the agreement between FOA and Monza will expire. The Italian Grand Prix is at great risk. At this time, Monza track, the Temple of Speed, is called an effort on two fronts: the renewal of its structures, to adapt to the needs of the two and four wheels, and finding all necessary resources (22-24 million euro) to prolong the agreement with Mr. Ecclestone. “So far, Monza has enjoyed privileged treatment compared to the average of the European and non-European countries”, the manager from Faenza says. With the current contracts, the only source of income for the event organizer comes from ticket sales. “Royalties and logistics depend on FOA. Too little to survive and cover all costs”. Minardi, however, focuses the attention to an important aspect.

“In seven/ten days, a Formula 1 Grand Prix moves, in areas where it takes place, a turnover amounting to 100-120 million dollars, reaching hundreds of millions of people per event, through television and newspapers around the world” – staggering numbers – “that only the Olympics and various World Championships can reach, but every four years. Formula 1 represents a real economic benefit for state assets. Precisely for this reason, Formula 1 must be treated as World Swimming Championships, the Olympics or World Football Championships, events in which not only the Sports Federation but also the Government can intervene. Do not forget that Italy has the Number One cultural heritage in the world, which is envied by all. Therefore, we should use Formula 1 as a magnet to attract tourists, studying holiday packages, Pre and Post GPs, with worldwide tour operators. Besides, we are talking about a city which is easily accessible by plane and high-speed trains”.

The policy implemented by emerging nations, like Malaysia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Russia and so on, is going in this direction. “They bet on Formula 1 to grow tourism, commercial and industrial sectors. Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur were the first among the new entries in recent years. Petronas itself has taken advantage of Motorsport’s image to become a global giant. The same holds true for cities like Imola or, going back several years, Adelaide. Before F1, who knew them?“

Do not forget that Motorsport is not just a élite Sport. Behind every car, there are millions of jobs in the world and certainly hundreds of thousands in our country. An income that generates a quite relevant turnover. “This is the reason why I want to wish the President of Milan Automobile Club, Ivan Capelli, good luck for the start of negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone and our ACI President Sticchi Damiani, who cares about the existence of Italian Grand Prix and Monza’s safeguard. He will make every effort to find the right funds and agreements”. Gian Carlo Minardi concludes: “Monza, along with Silverstone and Monte Carlo, is Formula 1“.

F.1 – Malaysian GP: DRIVERS' SCORECARD

/in /by

After the great victory of Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari before the two Mercedes, let’s give votes to the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel – 10 He predicts that his victory was not easy, indeed. All we expected again two unattainable silver arrows, but instead he stood out with his Ferrari #5. Good job, as well as team’s job that get the exact strategies, since Qualifying. He was constantly attacking without making the slightest mistake. It was very mice the overtake on the World Champion, Hamilton.

Kimi Raikkonen – 8 He made a mistake which is not proper to a World Champion in Qualifying and it costed him the access in Q3 and a slower start with the result of ending up in the middle of the group with a puncture. However, he managed to recover up to the fourth position.

Lewis Hamilton – 8 Fantastic pole position, but he was penalized by Mercedes in trouble with tyres on this track. Good his 1’43″161 at the 41st round, against 1’43″782 of Vettel at the 40th round.

Nico Rosberg – 7 He completed his homework, driving without malice, except scoring in the final an incredible time lap of 1’42’062, or 1″ faster than the best lap in the race last year. I’d like to have some explanation.

Felipe Massa e Valtteri Bottas – 6,5 After Australia, we will have certainly expected something more, but last year the Williams had been in difficulty. Maybe the car does not fit Sepang circuit or extreme heat. According to the current standings, they have become the third force.

Amazing battles at Red Bull, between Daniil Kvyat (7.5) and Daniel Ricciardo (7), and Toro Rosso. The two young drivers Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. are not betraying the expectations. To them I give an 8.

Pastor Maldonado – 5 FIA removes even 3 points from his license for excess speed under safety car. Now has several races behind.

Nico Hulkenberg 5 Sergio Perez 4 Weekend to forget for Force India and its drivers, which closed respectively in 14th and 13th place (out of 15 classified cars), Moreover, they lose 2 points on their licenses for the contacts against Kvyat and Grosjean.

McLaren – NC They are still too far away from the group and from top positions, despite an improvement over a fortnight ago. There is still much work to do.

F.1 – Road to Sepang

/in /by

After a first race in a semi-street circuit such as Melbourne, the Circus of F1 is ready to get to Sepang, on a permanent circuit with two straights about 1 kilometre long, medium-fast corners and quite stressed tyres. You go from speeds around 80-90 km/h out of the corners to reach 300 km/h at the end of the straight, before gearing down again in second. The car works in support and the asphalt is quite abrasive.

We are in the monsoon period, therefore track surface will be clean, but for the weekend are expected temperatures around 34 °C. Therefore, Pirelli will bring Medium and Hard compounds. It’s a Grand Prix pit characterized by 3-4 pit stops. Last year, only Force India tried the two stops, closing in fifth place with a gap of 47″, but the two Williams missed – 7th and 8th after a GP with difficulties – and Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari was out of the score zone. The choice of the two stop seems too risky, although this year the tyres get wear less easily.

After passing medical exams, Fernando Alonso will get at the wheel of his McLaren-Honda and Bottas will regularly on track, having recovered perfectly. Moreover, on Friday morning our bearer will be back on track, with Raffaele Marciello busy behind the wheel of the Sauber. The cars on the grid should go back to twenty, after the Australian forfeit Manor. So the interesting ideas will not miss. Once again, there’ll be fight between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, with the German driver forced to come up with something to keep in touch with the mate, without making mistakes. At the moment, in the internal challenge we are 1-0 for the World Champion. Behind them I see the advantage Williams on Ferrari, which has to contend with other Mercedes engines (Lotus and Force India). It will not be an easy weekend, where power consumption and can make a difference. After Vettel’s podium, Ferrari is called to repeat itself. But we must be down to earth. I read too much triumphalism. Let us remember that it is a team sport with developments step-by-step.

In Red Bull there is great nervousness, especially against Renault. The rumours on patron Mateschitz’ disinterest towards the F1 are increasingly insistent and the meetings between Red Bull and Renault are intensifying. This ferment could remove the focus required to recover the gap. Having dominated the scene for four years, so raise the tone at the first difficulty blaming the other teams have put in place an anti-RB policy to stop them, I do not find it correct. I clearly prefer the philosophy of Maranello when they say will win Mercedes on track.

Gian Carlo Minardi