F1 | GP JAPAN, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “VERSTAPPEN CONTINUES TO IMPRESS. ANTONELLI DROVE LIKE A TOP DRIVER.

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Imola -MINARDI DAY

The Japanese Grand Prix was a very interesting race, perhaps not so much on the overtaking front, but in terms of lap times with the first six finishing within 19 seconds, the top three within little more than 3”.

Verstappen once again made the difference in Red Bull, confirming all his worth, after having given us a preview on Saturday by taking home an extraordinary pole position, ahead of the two McLarens, despite having an inferior car.

Tsunoda, in his first outing with Red Bull, paid for what is the true value of the car. If, during free practice he had managed not to make a bad impression in comparison to his teammate, in qualifying the Dutchman made the difference. Starting so far back it became difficult to catch up. He set good lap times, but he crossed the finish line 58’ behind.

This weekend consecrated the forces in the field in both the constructors’ and the drivers’ fronts. Although Piastri had something more than Norris, I agree with the strategies and the choices made by McLaren which, in any case, with second and third places, consolidated its leadership in the championship. In both qualifying and in the race, the team from Woking “gave” Verstappen a tenth of a second, which cost it the win.

Positive signs came from Mercedes which consolidated second place, thanks to fifth and sixth places with Russell and Antonelli respectively. In particular, Antonelli raced like a top driver on a demanding track like Suzuka which he, just like the other rookies,  did not know, setting not only the fastest lap of the race, which gave him not only the new track record and the youngest driver to set it, but he was the driver who completed the most laps with the “yellows”. After a defensive first part, from the 32nd to the 53rd lap he consistently lapped within a few tenths of a second from his best performance, recovering six/seven tenths of a second on his teammate on each lap. A strategy that decidedly paid off in terms of lap times. The support of an engineer like Bono, who worked alongside Hamilton for the last twelve years, is invaluable. Let us not forget that this is only the third round.

Although improving on a year ago, Ferrari finished in fourth place with Leclerc, 16 seconds from the top, which translates into a gap of almost three tenths of a second. This is not a lot, but it may not be easy to make up.

I was positively impressed by Hadjar, who was excellent in both qualifying – just behind Antonelli-, and also in the race with eight place and important points for the team.

However, there is little time because they go back on the track on Friday with the fourth round in Bahrein, a track that everyone knows very well, including the rookies.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP JAPAN, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “FERRARI, IT’S TOO EARLY TO TRY ANYONE. SUZUKA A VERY TECHNICAL TRACK”

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We are fast approaching the third round of the World Championship where the main changes are related to the grid, with Tsunoda joining Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, and Lawson taking his place in Racing Bulls.

I do not expect big changes in the cars (liveries aside) given the short time available to the teams, which will introduce important updates later, when they arrive in Europe.

Suzuka is a very technical track, and one of the most historic on the calendar, where the drivers will have the chance to express themselves, also because of the tight battle between the teams.  Amongst the rookies, it will be interesting to see who will adapt best to the track’s characteristics, as it will be new to all of them. The rain forecast for Sunday represents an additional unknown factor.

Japan is an important test to verify the forces on the field. We will see if McLaren’s supremacy will be confirmed, and if Ferrari and Mercedes will be able to close the gap. On the Ferrari front, we take note of the results of the first two GPs, but it is still early to try anyone and, above all, to pass sentences.

On the tyre front, Pirelli brings the C1- C2-C3 which represent the hardest compounds to cope with the historically very abrasive asphalt, even though the track has been resurfaced.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP CHINA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “GROUND CLEARANCE IS A PROBLEM FOR FERRARI”

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The Chinese Grand Prix, the second round of the world championship, confirmed the values in the field with McLaren bringing home the team’s first one-two ahead of an excellent Russell, once again on the podium, Max Verstappen and the pair of Ferraris.

Compared to what we saw a week ago in Melbourne, some positive signs certainly came from Ferrari, but I am convinced that even without the problem with his right front wing, Leclerc would not have been able to fight for the win. A win that, however, came in the sprint with Hamilton, who also took the pole position.

I believe it is precisely in this difference of performance, between the Sprint and the GP, that the real problem lies with the SF-25 which must race very low to be competitive. Qualifying, the Sprint and the race, are fertile ground, dictated by the limited mileage (100km), and less fuel on board. This situation changes drastically in the run up to the GP. To avoid wearing the skid pad, they are forced to raise the car, thus sacrificing performance. This, however, did not allow them to avoid the disqualification of both cars (even if for different reasons between Leclerc and Hamilton) that came when the race was already over, thus cancelling the fifth and sixth places.

Red Bull has quite a different problem, if we can call it that, in the sense that it finds itself once again racing with only one driver, Max Verstappen. However, it is not possible that whoever comes alongside him has such enormous difficulties. It is probably a very difficult car to drive and manage, having been built entirely around the Dutchman who has a particular style of driving, putting his teammates in difficulty. I find it hard to imagine a different explanation, since the same “cousins” let themselves be faster and better performing than Lawson.

Racing Bulls managed to wipe out an excellent job by the team and its drivers with a totally wrong strategy that kept them outside the top 10 despite Ferrari’s double disqualification. They threw away important points, to the advantage of their direct rivals.

Once again, I would like to congratulate the rookies. Particularly Isack Hadjar who redeemed the bad impression in Australia, while I found the Jack Doohan’s penalty excessive. Well done “Kimi” Antonelli, once again in the points with the Mercedes and without making any mistakes, he occupies fifth place in the overall ladder.

Now we move to Japan, to Suzuka, another demanding “old style” track characterized by sandy escape routes.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP AUSTRALIA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN MINDBLOWING, PUT OFF. WILLIAMS A PLEASANT CONFIRMATION

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Between confirmations and twists and turns, also dictated by particular weather conditions, Formula 1 gave us an exciting first grand prix in Australia.

We rediscovered some results that had already emerged during the Bahrain tests, especially related to McLaren and Williams, and even Ferrari, albeit negatively.

We are looking at a mind-blowing McLaren that demonstrated incredible solidity, despite some mistakes by the two drivers.

Behind them we found an incredible Max Verstappen whose talent most probably hid Red Bull’s difficulties by making himself the protagonist of an amazing race keeping Lando Norris and Oscar busy from the first to the last lap. He tried to chase down the winner right to the end.

Third and fourth place for Mercedes with Russell and Antonelli. I was very pleased that the marshals backtracked on the 5” penalty given to “Kimi”, giving him back fourth place. I had found the decision very questionable. He was the protagonist of an excellent comeback, finishing his first grand prix ahead of Albon’s Williams. He certainly started from a position that did not reflect his true potential, favouring him in overtaking, however, he made only one slip where many made important mistakes, which were paid for heavily with retirement. The rain and the slippery asphalt brought out his natural talent.

The real surprise of the start of the season is probably Williams that confirmed the excellent signs seen in Sakhir. Decidedly underwhelming for the whole weekend was Carlos Sainz, who was also the protagonist of an important mistake in the race that an expert driver such as he should not allow himself.

Even Fernando Alonso was the protagonist of a mistake, ending up against the “wall”, but this time it was Lance Stroll who stepped forward to save Aston Martin’s Sunday by taking it to sixth place ahead of an excellent Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber.

So, we come to Ferrari. When the weekend entered the thick of things, see free practice 3 and Q3, they got lost. They got everything wrong, including the strategy. The perplexities that emerged during the tests were confirmed in Australia. In fact, compared to last year, they are the team that improved the least in the tests and we saw it today. The season is certainly long because there are still 23 grands prix, but in China and Japan important positive responses must come. We hope that it will be a salvageable job. Let us not forget that this year, with the 2026 regulations just around the corner, the commitment id double.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | WE’RE OFF, FINALLY! EVERYONE IS CHASING NORRIS AND PIASTRI’S MCLAREN BUT KEEP AN EYE ON MERCEDES

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We’re off, finally

What was seen in Bahrein counts for little. Three days really are too few to understand the forces on the field, also because there is a lack of fundamental data to analyse the times coolly.

Of course, the impression is of a McLaren ahead of the pack. For me, they are the car of reference. They picked up from where they left off in 2024… In fact, with a slightly wider advantage.

It will be interesting to see who the anti-McLaren will be. We are at the end of a technical cycle, and it is easier to take a leap forward for those behind, see Williams. This is why I expect an upwards compaction of performances. From what was seen, Mercedes is the car, together with the team led by Andrea Stella, that made the most important evolutionary step, with all the “ifs” and “buts” of the case. For this reason, it must be watched closely starting from Friday’s free practice.

In recent days a lot of people have asked my opinion on Andrea Kimi Antonelli. During these years he has amply demonstrated all his technical worth, and his arrival in Mercedes is the result of this incredible work. He has certainly not been given anything for free. As we know, in this F1the car counts a lot. If he is supported by the car, he has all the credentials to do well right from the start.  However, the whole work environment must support him without putting too much pressure on him. Italy has been waiting for its World Champion since 1953…

Then there is Ferrari with Leclerc and Hamilton. I was positively impressed by Hamilton’s approach and by his positive attitude. He has incredible motivation. On the other hand, I have had the impression of a particularly nervous Leclerc, but then again, who would not know that with a seven times world champion by his side?

There are all the ingredients to experience an exciting first GP, with lots of questions waiting to be answered.  Whichever way it goes, it will take at least three or four rounds to get a clearer picture.

Good Formula 1 to everyone.

Gian Carlo Minardi

AN INTERVIEW WITH GIAN CARLO MINARDI “THE MCLAREN MP4/8 AT IMOLA THRILLED ME”

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At the start of the year, we met with Gian Carlo Minardi to review the highlights of the 2024 F1 World Championship, with an eye to next season. “We can label 2024 as one of the best championships in terms of reliability and competitiveness, with four constructors sharing the wins. We are approaching the end of a cycle, and it is desirable to assume that this season will also give us the same thrills and competitiveness. It was certainly a very long year with 24 grands prix which had its peak especially in the second part of the season with excellent times in qualifying and an open battle up to the last round for the constructors’ title, also characterized by the change of course by Red Bull.

2025 will give us many new elements on the grid with a lot of newcomers who will lower the average age of the grid, despite a 40-year-old (Lewis Hamilton) and a 43-year-old (Fernando Alonso) leading the way. We certainly expect many unknowns with the hope, as a fan, that Ferrari could entertain us even more. We are facing a very important year that will drag us towards a radical change in the regulations.”

2024 gave us a few probably unexpected novelties, including the debuts of Bearman, Colapinto and Lawson.

All young men who came into the world championship, participating in grands prix or in free practice on the Friday, showing that they were ready, demonstrating that the preparation of the training formulas is of a high level. Just in these days came the confirmation of Franco Colapinto’s move from Williams to Alpine as the third driver. Now we have to see if they will be able to astound after having impressed us positively.

Another new development, that we will see in a few weeks, is the collective presentation which will be held in London, shortly before the tests in Bahrein. A new way of putting on a show

… as well as the return to success of McLaren after 26 years…

McLaren made some mistakes that come with the growth of a team. Some mistakes become more obvious when you are fighting to win. These same mistakes made in the lower positions create much less clamour.  The team grows as the car becomes more competitive. I am sure that they will not make the same mistakes this year. It is the fee that must be paid to become successful. This is an almost compulsory passage. We saw this with Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari (to mention only a few) before they opened a winning cycle. I must congratulate Andrea Stella who, in a short time, was able to rebuild the structure by bringing it back to success. I seem to see a line that I like a lot: giving faith to young people.

In 2024 you often pointed out that, for you, the best line-up was McLaren’s.

And I confirm this. In 2024 McLaren had the best pair of drivers. Two very fast young men who were able to alternate at the top and encourage each other. They were not free from mistakes, but, as I said before, this is part of the growth path. This year both Lando and Oscar will be in contention for victory. I believe that Piastri has the credentials to soon become a world champion. Management will not be easy, but they already have the experience of last season.

… uneasy management for Ferrari we well.

With Leclerc and Hamilton, it will be difficult for Ferrari regardless, especially if they have, like last year, a car fighting for second and third place. It will not be easy with two contenders of that calibre. The situation will be different in the case of a dominant Ferrari. At that point the track will do the talking.

Formula 1 is passing through a positive time. Everyone wants to host a GP

However, we need to take it easy. At this time Formula 1 is going through a happy and positive moment, but I have gone through a lot of highs and lows in my career. The wind changes direction in an instant. We are faced with a very transient society, with young people who are easily influenced. This also applies to the car makers. Today they are here, but it takes an instant for something to change. It is F1’s past that tells us this.

Precisely concerning the future, the Sprints continue to hold sway. There are those who want to decrease or eliminate them and those who would like to increase them.

A calendar with 24 grands prix and six sprints is already very demanding for the work of the teams, also considering the budget cap. A possible increase in sprint races will not find me in favour, while I would opt to change the point system. Today I do not find it proportionate to the cost of this operation.

F1 | GP ABU DHABI, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN’S TITLE IS THE ANTECHAMBER TO THE FIGHT IN BOTH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2025. CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDREA STELLA”

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One of the most beautiful championships goes into the archives, especially the second half where several teams took home a win.  McLaren came back to win the world championship, a success in the constructors’ championship that had been missing since ’98.

A result the reflected the forces in the field. Certainly, they will have to revise some internal aspects to try to avoid repeating some mistakes, but they can start from a base that is already solid. Unlike Ferrari, Mercedes and, probably Red Bull, the reigning champion will be able to rely on the stability of the design and on the best pair of drivers, in my opinion, launched into the future. Andrea Stella has done an exceptional job in these years, bringing back to the top a team that had fallen to the rear. He is a fantastic young man that I had the luck to meet, and he deserves this victory that, historically, is the antechamber to fighting for both titles next season. This is precisely why I expect McLaren with an advantage for 2025.

It was also a positive second part of the season for Ferrari that closed this very long championship with second and third place, and they can celebrate second place in the constructors’ title, finishing only 14 points behind. Unfortunately, in one part of the season, they had lost sight of the main objective, making some mistakes that turned out to be decisive. Next year they are in for a major challenge with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc.

Behind Ferrari were the two Mercedes with Hamilton and Russell, ahead of the world champion Max Verstappen, once again the protagonist of a solid race. On the contact with Piastri, in my opinion the 10” second penalty was excessive. He was on the curb, and that was a far as he could go.  This could have been dismissed as a race accident with 50/50 responsibility or by penalizing McLaren’s Australian driver as well.

A positive race also by Gasly, an excellent seventh place with Alpine finishing in sixth place, behind the Aston Martin, and ahead of Haas, which is also growing and it too files away the season with Hulkenberg’s eighth place ahead of the “warrior” Fernando Alonso who continues to fight tooth and nail.

The aspect I appreciated most of this season was precisely the alternation at the top and the ability of the teams and drivers to turn things around from race to race. It really was hard to make predictions. We saw this both at the top with Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, and in mid table. Alpine was able to right the season, achieving a result that was almost unhoped for until a few races from the end, as did Haas.

We are approaching the end of a technical cycle and next year it will be even more interesting, together with the new developments in Mercedes with the arrival of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and the already mentioned Hamilton in Maranello. All that is left is to choose is who will be Verstappen’s teammate in Red Bull…

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

F1 | TOWARDS THE ABU DHABI GP WITH GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ABU DHABI HAS ACCUSTOMED US TO UPSETS. WATCH OUT FOR THE GRAINING”

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imola Minardy day GIANCARLO MINARDI

We have come to the final act of this very long season made up of twenty-four rounds that was able to keeps us in suspense on many occasions. Abu Dhabi has already accustomed us to major upsets and this year, we are again faced with multiple scenarios involving both the battle at the top between McLaren and Ferrari, and in the middle of the table between Alpine, Haas and Racing Bulls for sixth place.

We already have a novelty precisely on this point: Alpine will bring in Jack Doohan to make his debut in place of Ocon, “freed” to give him the chance of already driving with Haas in the post-race tests. Currently, the team led by Oliver Oakes is six points ahead of its direct rivals. An unhoped-for result until a few weeks ago.

The other challenge, for the title of vice-champion, is between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc currently separated by eight points in favour of the British driver. Despite being twenty-one-points behind, Ferrari will try everything to bring the world title back to Maranello. A title that has been missing since 2008. To find McLaren’s last win, we must go all the way back to 1998.

On the tyre front, Pirelli has brought the softer trio of compounds, made up of C3 as the Hard, C4 as the Medium, and C5 as the Soft. Given the scarcity of fast bends, the stress on the tyres is medium-low, and the strategy should be to aim at two stops. They will have to watch out for graining.

There is no lack of ingredients to also follow even the last round with great attention, which will then introduce us to 2025 with a day of collective tests. The grand prix will start on Sunday afternoon at 2.00pm, with the drivers committed to racing 58 laps of the 5.281km of the Yas Matina track.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP QATAR, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “VERSTAPPEN THE ONLY CERTAINTY IN THIS CHAOS“

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In this chaos of penalties, the only certainty is called Max Verstappen who took his latest win, demonstrating once again that he is a champion with a great vision of the race: from the mirrors he noticed the irregularity committed by Lando Norris.

Honestly, although probably necessary, I do not share these changes within the Federation a few races left in the world championship. The FIA must take another step forward in the professional management of its structure. In recent weeks we seen several changes, the fruit of palpable internal nervousness. Despite some penalties being dictated by the guidelines (we are still waiting for the decision on Piastri), other decisions have left me perplexed: Verstappen’s penalty in post-qualifying, both due to the motivation and the type of  penalty, or not “calling” the Virtual Safety-Car for the removal of the mirror lost by Albon, subsequently hit by Bottas that led to the punctures of Sainz and Hamilton.

On the race front, both Norris and Piastri were the protagonists of some ingenuities which are part of professional growth, but that they should try to avoid, above all for the sake of the team. In any case, I do not think McLaren will have problems taking the world constructors’ championship back to Woking, having, as of today, a twenty-one-point lead over Ferrari.

Ferrari said goodbye to Quatar with second place, as positive as it was unhoped-for. For once the wheel turned in their favour, especially for Leclerc who took himself within eight points from Norris.

Also, among the surprises were Gasly’s fifth place with Alpine and the first points for Sauber, thanks to Zhou’s eight place.  Gasly made himself the protagonist of a positive weekend, once again demonstrating his qualities in a team that found its stimulus again and the way to emerge by consolidating itself as the sixth force in the world championship.

We are heading towards the last round in Abu Dhabi, already the scene for unforeseen upsets in the past, with the open battle between Ferrari-McLaren,  Norris-Leclerc for second place and Alpine-Haas for sixth place.

F1 |HEADING TO QATAR WITH GIAN CARLO MINARDI “I AM CERTAIN EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED IN FERRARI. THEY MUST WORK FOR ONLY ONE GOAL. THE CONSTRUTORS’ TITLE”

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The world championship is drawing to a close, with the drivers’ title awarded to Max Verstappen (his fourth) and an open fight in the constructors’ title for both first place and sixth. Compared to the previous edition, this year’s round has been postponed more than a month to limit the heat that last year, together with the high humidity, tested the drivers’ resistance.

It will be run at night again this year, but constant temperatures around 25° are expected, definitely different compared to a week ago in Nevada. Major changes have been made to the curbs that created quite a few problems for the tyres in the 2023 edition, with the Federation imposing pit-stops every 18 laps.

Pirelli has worked hard on this aspect as well, bringing the hardest compounds, from C1 to C3. Qatar will host the sixth and last Sprint-Race. Therefore, the teams and drivers will have only one session of free practice to think about the cars. The challenge for the constructors’ title has fired up, with Ferrari and Red Bull chasing after McLaren, along with the challenge for sixth place between Haas-Alpine-Red Bull.

We said goodbye to Las Vegas with the Mercedes one-two, the title won by Verstappen and the third and fourth place for Ferrari with not a few sparks between Leclerc and Sainz. I am certain that everything will already have been resolved, also because it was the result of the tension of the race. The common is shared, which is to bring the constructors’ title back to Maranello. By the way, for the team this situation is nothing but an appetiser for 2025 when it will have to manage two drivers of the calibre of Leclerc and Hamilton, in my opinion, much more incandescent than the current pair, especially if they will be able to take a competitive car onto the track.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 GP LAS VEGAS, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “LECLERC-SAINZ: DIRTY LAUNDRY IS WASHED AT HOME. AN EXCITING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RIGHTLY IN VERSTAPPEN’S HANDS”

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We are witnessing one of the best, if not the best, season in Formula 1 history. Las Vegas gave us an exciting grand prix made up of a lot of correct overtaking that did not require the intervention of the safety-car or the virtual one.

Once again, the predictions were overturned with a Mercedes that was one of the great protagonists right from free practice. It knew how to make the most of its advantage in these particular conditions, taking the one-two.  Just a few months ago I had pointed out Mercedes as one of the possible arbiters of the constructors’ championship, which is occurring in the McLaren-Ferrari challenge.

This is a championship in which the slightest slip is enough to find oneself in the rear, especially in qualifying in which there are six drivers within a handful of tenths of a second. We saw this with Hamilton. He started from tenth place and climbed up to second place.

With third and fourth place Ferrari reduced the gap from the leadership to 24 points, even if what happened between Leclerc and Sainz must give them food for thought. It could be a foretaste of 2025 with the arrival of Hamilton in the red car. I do not want to blame one or the other. They are both right, even based on the agreements made at the start of the race. Sainz managed the tyres better, but what I did not like were the comments Leclerc made on world vision. He is a champion and dirty laundry is washed at home. The team has to learn how to manage its drivers in that it will have a hard season under this aspect. It will be much harder to manage Leclerc-Hamilton compared to the current pair.

Las Vegas gave us the first verdict. Max Verstappen took out his fourth world title. An absolutely deserved result, the result of great professionalism, preparation and seriousness. Despite the difficulties with his car he did not relent, fighting and taking home fifth place ahead of his direct rival who consoled himself with the fastest lap. Once again, Verstappen made the difference within the team, even if, this time, at least Perez contributed with a point.

The duel in the rear is also very nice. Haas goes one point ahead of Alpine (forced to retire with Gasly), but the Racing Bulls also reduced the gap with the usual Tsunoda, with an excellent ninth place.

We are approaching the last two rounds with trepidation. Qatar and Abu Dhabi within just two weeks.  In between the two Grands Prix, the sixth, and last, Sprint scheduled for Saturday.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP LAS VEGAS, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “COLD WEATHER IS ANOTHER UNKNOWN FACTOR FOR THE TYRES”

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We have come to the twenty second Grand Prix of the season, less than three rounds from the conclusion. The challenge for the constructors’ title is back on with three teams, McLaren-Ferrari-Red Bull, in contention. Currently Ferrari is 36 points behind the team from Woking, while Red Bull is 49 points behind. Considering the points still up for grabs, I would say anything is still possible. So far Red Bull has lacked the support of Peres, who is increasingly in difficulty. Ferrari will bring some important innovations just for this end of the season.

The situation of the drivers’ title is different. Despite a McLaren in great form, in any case, two weeks ago in Brazil it could do nothing against Max Verstappen. For me, a comeback by Norris is improbable.

They come to Las Vegas; a track characterized by three straights. 17 bends and abrupt braking with fairly cold asphalt that creates a reduction in grip and an acceleration in wear. In fact, we are in a area with a considerable difference in temperature between day and night. They will race at night, starting at 5.00pm in Italy. Pirelli has brought the softest compounds for the GP, C3-C4-C5, and the strategy should be geared towards two stops, even if lately we have been proved wrong. Watch out also for the possible entry of the safety-car and/or the VSC.

After Spa-Francorchamps, this is one of the longest circuits of the world championship with its 6.12km to be run 50 times, and, in addition to the challenge at the top, also keep an eye on the three fighting for sixth place between Alpine, Haas, and Racing Bull. After the exploit in Interlagos, Alpine leads the group by three points from the American team.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP BRAZIL, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “VERSTAPPEN OUT OF THIS WORLD. RACING BULLS DEPRIVED OF AN IMPORTANT RESULT BY A RED FLAG WAS SHOWN TOO QUICKLY”

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As long as the Brazil Grand Prix continues to be scheduled in this part of the year, we will have races strongly affected by the rain and the weather.

We witnessed a Sprint Race won by Norris, ahead of Piastri with Max Verstappen the protagonist of some mistakes that took him to a penalty, something that he did not do during the grand prix managing to outclass the direct rivals. From the 46th lap he made himself the protagonist consistently setting fast laps, outpacing his adversaries by more than five tenths of a second. The second fastest lap of the race is found a more than second slower (Verstappen: 1:20.472  – Norris: 1:21.517).

He gave an important signal, making it clear that his three titles were not won by chance, and that the fourth is coming. Let us not forget he started from sixteenth place on the grid. It will certainly not be easy for Norris to make up the 62-point gap, not only because there are only three rounds, but above all because he is up against a great driver who, once again, cancelled his teammate: absolutely irrelevant for the whole weekend, the protagonist of various mistakes and also ridiculed by Lawson.

After the last two grands prix won, Ferrari partially disappointed with Leclerc only fifth. Who disappointed in particular was Carlos Sainz, who made mistakes in both qualifying and the race.

It was a decidedly favourable weekend for Alpine that, thanks to the double podium, took sixth place on the constructors’ ladder. An unhoped-for result only a week ago, which certainly came thanks to the weather conditions that mitigated the problems of the power-unit, but also to excellent work by the team and its two drivers. In these difficult conditions they were competitive.

Instead, it was decidedly underwhelming grand prix for McLaren that ended the long Sunday with only sixth and seventh places, and a number of mistakes by the poleman Norris.

It was a weekend decidedly conditioned by the bad weather that put a strain on the drivers – who made various mistakes – but also the race management that was first forced to delay qualifying until Sunday morning, and then to abort the start following Stroll’s  mistake in the formation lap, until the red flag was shown due to the difficult track conditions  and Colapinto’s  going off the track.

Precisely Williams was the “victim” of a number of incidents which had a major impact on costs. I believe that Colapinto could come into the financial operation aimed at balancing the finances considering that the team from Grove already has two drivers under contract for 2025 (Albon and Sainz) and that Red Bull is racing with only one driver…

So far, the race marshals have not commented on the investigation begun due to the departure of some drivers, despite the display of the flashing lights for an aborted start. In fact, at different times, all the drivers left the starting grid (with the sole exception of Sainz who started from pit-lane). I am of the opinion that any penalties should be assigned quickly, but, in any case, the track has already given its verdict.

In addition to the bad weather, the race was also strongly conditioned by the red flag, which was shown too quickly because they then restarted with the same conditions and tyres (intermediates). Among other things, it was shown in a time that strongly affected in a negative way the Racing Bulls that had guessed the strategy and the best moment for passing onto the full-wets. I find that the team was deprived of a very important result. It could have found itself in Alpine’s place.

It was certainly not easy for the race marshals and the Federation to manage this type of race, but I believe it would take a uniform work group throughout the season, especially for minimizing possible non-uniformity of views.

We leave this demanding weekend behind and prepare to experience the final three rounds in which rain should not be a problem.

Gian Carlo Minardi