F1, Belgian Gp – Scorecards

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That at the Circuit of Spa was a special day. We saw a crowded circuit as we hadn’t seen since good times. This Gp was dominated by Mercedes with a breath-taking final due to the burst of the right rear tire of Vettel’s Ferrari. This refrain will lead the discussion for the next fifteen days looking forward to Monza.As usual, we draw up our scorecards:

Lewis Hamilton – 9 honestly he would also deserved 10, but the credit of his supremacy belongs to Mercedes other than his unquestionable virtue. Even so, Lewis has outclassed his team-mate Rosberg giving him 0”458 in practice. After a perfect start, he managed the race to his linking continuing to distance himself from his main rival.

Romain Grosjena – 8 Lotus driver ended on the podium one of his best ever Gp since he has been in F1. Capable in he Practice, perfect in the race. He skilfully managed the car and and the tires. Once he had understood Vettel’s strategy, consisting in just one pit stop, he attacked Ferrari driver in the final part of the race. He gave a real shot in the arm to his Team that had lived a difficult w.e. among lawyers and bailiffs due to its economical difficulties.

Sebastian Vettel – 8 thanks to what he showed in the race. In practice he hadn’t been decisive with his ninth time that could have had compromised the Gp. Once again, the makings of a Champion has emerged during the race with a super start, a robot race pace and a peculiar management of tires aimed to reach the podium. Surely he adopted an hazardous strategy, but he was great in the last laps facing the Eau Rouge with his tires stressed by 26/27 laps. Then, unfortunately, the burst at the 28th lap frustrated all his work and strategy.

Daniil Kvyat (4°) and Max Verstappen (8°) – 8 these two guys showed us old-time overtakings. The first is gaining his Team’s trust thanks to his resolution and speedy. The second showed us how to face the Blanchimount (one of the most difficult and fastest bend) keeping his foot down and making an almost impossible overtaking. “Insanity an genius” has emerged making us understand his great potential. Surely we’ll enjoy his challenge in the future.

Sergio Pérez – 7 he gained a good qualifying, he didn’t make any mistakes during the race assuring to Force India an unexpected fifth place and some important scores for the championship.

Fernando Alonso – 7 he has demonstrated to be that Champion he is and he would deserve a more competitive car. He has showed his value during the race with a quick start that allow him to recover 8 positions and fight for a long time with Ericsson (10th) and Nasr’s Sauber during the race. He imposed 49” to his mate-driver Button.

Nico Rosberg – 6 I don’t understand what is happening to him! He was outclassed in practice by Lewis, making a disastrous start and a little aggressive race. Only the excessive power of Mercedes, that hasn’t rivals at the moment, permitted him to reach the second place and the fastest time. Not enough for someone who would aim to challenge his mate-driver for the final victory.

Kimi Raikkonen – 6 the renewal of the contract wasn’t enough to glance him over. He did the minimum required to gain some scores, but I expect more from him even if he has reached Vettel’s times in many occasions during the race. Unfortunately this times are distant from Mercedes’ ones.

Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa have no vote because Williams once again nullyfied everything with their miscalculated strategies, and their mistakes at the box. Anyway, they were good in qualifying with Bottas in the second row. Probably it’s time to review some managing mechanisms.

Goodbye Justin

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I remeber Justin Wilson with great regret. “The Gentle Giant” was a fast driver. He began his adventure in F1 with Minardi and then as a Formula Indy driver he has excelled many times.

A driver-manager who first anticipated Motorsport Crowd-funding. His personality was able to attract liking and support to his career. Unfortunately a tragic fate has deprived us of one of our guys.

Goodbye Justin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

F1, Belgian Gp – The Point

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We watched a fascinating Belgian Gp in its 60th edition, 48 of which raced at Spa. At the same time we celebrated the 900th Ferrari’s Gp, a really important goal for the family from Maranello who has deeply contaminated the racing world and particularly F1’s world with its Dna.

After an amazing Qualifying, Hamilton gained the pole position and outstripped his mate-driver by 0”458 with a perfect lap. The Mercedes World Champion did not miss anything starting ahead and managing the race to his liking without being troubled by Rosberg who instead failed the start and was committed to regain the second place which has been occupied by an excellent Perez.
After a good start from the eight place, Vettel achieved a difficult third place thanks to a brave strategy based on just a pit-stop at the 15th lap. Unluckily this strategy has been frustrated by the bursting of the right rear tire that put him KO two laps from the end.
So an excellent Grosjean reached the third place of the podium with his Lotus making his box smile in a difficult W.E. distressed by the financial complications his Team is facing.

Surely Ferrari’s strategy has been a bit risky. I think, anyway, that Pirelli should better investigate what happened also as a result of a comparable problem spotted by Rosberg (however Pirelli underlines that Mercedes case was caused by debrises). Yet, in both events it happens to a tire not resting and surely the excellent Pirelli Technicians could tell us if it was about a technical construction problem or it was a problem of structure tiredness considering that in Vettel’s case any drop of performance ascribable to a tire compound wear wasn’t displayed. Indeed Ferrari Champion’s lap times has been stable till the moment of the burst.

Once again we have some problems at Williams’ with mistakes at the box that frustrated Bottas’s great performance in qualifying with the third time. We have to observe, anyway, that during the race both Bottas and Massa had a car which had erroneously stressed the tires. An optimistic note about this Gp comes from the two young Kvyat (4th) and Verstappen (8th) who juiced up the race with their grit and overtakings demonstrating in this way that bet on young sometimes is good.
There is not much to say about the unlucky Kimi in practice, capable for a 7th final place in spite of a start from the 15th place, but the ’55 seconds gap from the first and the lack of competitiviness of his car compared with Pérez and Massa who preceded him, didn’t permit the Finnish to celebrate in the best possible way the contract renewal for 2016.

As usual, the next fifteen days are going to be caracterized by a strong work in view of the next Gp at Monza, that is one of the historical F1’s showcase.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Mercedes wins 2015 Bandini trophy

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Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team wins this year’s XXII edition of the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini trophy.
The prize dedicated to the unforgettable Italian driver will be collected by Toto Wolff, Executive director of the Star team, in the medieval village of Brisighella on 30 August. Moreover, Paddy Lowe, Technical manager of the group, will be honored with the Senate President medal.

As usual, many sportsmen and insiders emerging for their high quality and passion will be rewarded on this occasion.

That’s who will be awarded: Herman Rilke, the most eminent F1 circuit designer; National Cycling Ct Davide Cassani; illustrious Italian cameramen Franchino Scandinaro; former F1 Minardi’s designer, Gabriele Tredozi who is going to claim his prize driving a PS04 Minardi; Rai sport Journalist Sandro jacobini; journalist and director at Omnicose Franco Nunges; GP3 Aci Sport Team Italian driver Luca Ghiotto; RTL newscaster Florian Koing; driver and Sky sport columnist, Davide Valsecchi.

In such a charming setting, before such illustrious guests, Mercedes F1W05 Hybrid, 2014 World Champion sinle-seater, will be exhibited.

We remind to fans the Museum of F1 Champions’s Tracksuits and the attractive shows of classic cars: classic Mercedes and Fiat 500 ‘s parade.

F1 – Road To … Spa-Francorchamps

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After a three weeks break, the F1 Worls Championship is ready to start again with enthusiasm thanks to the appeal of the Spa-Francorchamps and to the results at the Hungaroring. It also restarts with some uncertainties due to the variable weather conditions, a constant feature in Belgium, to the first sharp turn –stage of some spectacular moments- and to the fact that for the first time the start won’t be completely assisted. As usual, the guarantee is the German “battleship” signed by Mercedes.

The struggle between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg remains open with the two bearer of Mercedes detached by 18 length. Behind them a great challenge branded Ferrari and Williams.The Red from Maranello shows up in the Ardennes strengthened by its second seasonal success signed by Sebastian Vettel in Hungary that has refueled enthusiasm and dreams for an almost unattainable venture.Yet, watch out for Williams. The Circus is getting ready to approach two/three fast racetrack that on paper could favor the team from Grove. A little help for Vettel and Raikkonen could come from Pirelli that like in 2014 is going to present Soft and Medium tires although of different construction. “Yellow” tyre compounds could really favor the SF15-T. Watch out of weather conditions.

Differently from what seen on the slow Hungarian track, the Power-Unit will be critical for straight roads, accelerations and changes of directions at the Spa-Francorchamps. Surely it is a long track where a driver can make a difference, still he can’t do wonders.The driver is always essential on this track, but current cars will especially highlight challenges between drivers belonging to the same team, rather than provide for technical gap among cars belonging to different stables. From the point of view of the frame, Red Bull could have its say If it won’t have reliability complications, even if the uunknown of first penalisations looms over.

Among group B teams I  have confidence in Toro Rosso that lost important scores in the last races ending in any case the first part of this season with a good Verstappen’s fourth place in Hungary. I expect from them an aggressive and interesting final season. Spa could be their springboard to approach the fifth place in constructir general standings which was their early season goal. Instead I don’t trust much Lotus, engaged in a negotiation with Renault for the team transfer. I don’t trust much also Force India due to its economical problems.

Manouvres for 2016 are going on behind the scenes, while  the Working Group gathers on 18 August. I hope for decisions other than ones sketched in recent meetings. If anything, I’ll comment them separately.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Angelo Sticchi Damiani: «Monza is important to F1»

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With engines off for the summer break, www.Minardi.it has had the pleasure of meeting President of ACI Angelo Sticchi Damiani to comment along with him this first months of Aci Team Italia, and, of course, the future of the Italian GP at Monza.

This year you launched the Aci Team Italia Rally and Speed. On the front of speed we have Ghiotto and Marciello engaged respectively in GP3 and GP2 with Trident team. Can we make a first assessment?
The gained results clearly suggest that we are on the high road and we can say we achieved two important victory from now on. The first is against skepticism which has affected this project from the start. Always the same people.In particular some on line magazines passed from an initial irony to a general no-comment. Even so, I don’t expect any support from them. The majority of media and “authorized personnel” have soon understood that it was about the first steps of a serious project that will gain great results in the very near future. We achieved the second victory on the field making sure that the two guys at Trident could have a financial and communication support. So they could face as best as they can the season and gain good, sometimes excellent, results.

Talking of young, Marciello and Fuoco took part in the F1 tests driving a Ferrari. Luca Ghiotto instead, leading GP3 general standings, was called by Red Bull to test their F1 simulator. A good result for the Federal School. How do you judge the program?
For the Federal School and Aci (the Italian federation sport automotive, as we must remember) the achieved results are just the starting point which deeply empowers us for the future and engages us to keep on giving our best efforts to lead one or more Italian drivers to F1 as soon as possible.

Italian motor sport is having a good time. Other Italian drivers engaged in most important International Championship are also getting substantial results both on single-seated front and GT. This is the outcome of Aci’s strategy conducted through formative stages and FDA.What does we miss to reach F1 and what will be the next steps to assist this guys in the best way?
I don’t want to sound too optimistic , but from my point of view, we don’t miss anything and we are ready to get the goal that we have set ourselves. What are the next steps? Keep hard working with minor categories to find new talents and to enhance supports, including economical ones, towards the most deserving drivers.

You have been the first to embrace the project of F4 that was deeply wanted by FIA.This year we reached the second chapter of Italian F4 Championship powered by Abarth. What do you think about these Championship and project?
Yes, we first understood the importance of this project, and we first started. So we pointed out to others the way, even for technical choices. The Championship is having a good moment and its fame crosses national borders, as is shown by the participation of several foreign drivers. Again, we need to go on because it is through this formula that we’ll gain our future champions.

In 2016 we’ll celebrate the centenary of Targa Florio, but the contract between F1 and Monza will expire.What can you say about Italian GP?
I can say that our main goal is the confirmation of Italian GP at Monza. We are working in every directions attempting to make every protagonist understand not just the value of the GP itself due to its history and technical past, but also the great future benefits that all this can hand over F1. Unfortunately the recent cancellation of historical races taught us to look ahead to make everybody understand how having a GP in Monza could benefit us also from an economical point of view. F1 is having a bad moment on the front of audience and show.

What is your recipe to raise again the show and re-attract the audience?
Unfortunately we are accustomed to sectorial analysis that cause us to loose the overall view and also the right way to face the problems. It is the whole race world, save some sporadic exceptions, that is facing this crossing point to new way of making and enjoying this show. There aren’t any easy recipes. Sure, we need not to make errors like cancel Monza GP where love and passion towards F1 are assured to approach new region economically more favorable.

Downfall started with the introduction of these Power-Unit, also because “the little noise”. F1 is the right stage for this technology or it would be better to use the FIA WEC? Turbo and Hybrid will be the future for standards cars?
I don’t believe that the downfall started with the introduction of Power-Unit and surely F1 is the right theater for every new technology. Hybrid, in my point of view, is an essential step even in the present of standards cars. In the last months, security return on spotlight, a living argument even on our roads.

As ACI, what kind of campaign are you conducting? And what can we do to teach young to enjoy in moderation?
The battle for road security is a strong point for Automobile Club Italia’s action. Initiatives like Sara Safe Factor, for example, lead ten thousands girls and boys just licensed, to talk about road safety with drivers and auto sport men. But we can also think to Kart in Piazza where we start to talk about road safety to children letting them play with little karts on safe routes. Our activity is determined also in politics. There are our ideas and projects behind new initiatives. Unluckily we have still to realize that with 3000 deaths per year and hundred thousands injured we are facing a real war. Everybody should probably become aware of that.

A special thanks to President Angelo Damiani Sticchi and his Press Office for its kind cooperation.

Red Bull studies 2017 F1. Minardi "I'm asthonished"

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F1’s Working Group will meet again on the 18th of August to discuss Circus change starting from 2017. They are going to drawn on the research commissioned to Red Bull by the International Federation… Yes, really, the same Red Bull taking part to F1 World Championship with even two separated teams: RBR and TR.

So, once again, FIA directly grounds on teams and their engineers to work out new proposals to be included in the Regulation.
The same rules that will order the features of next single-seaters. As already happened in the past, with the involvement of that old fox of Ross Brawn who dominated season 2009 with his Brawn GP ( after having purchased structures and materials from the outgoing Honda). He dominated thanks to his famous diffuser and the tune of eight victories which earned him the World Constructors’ Championship and the World Driver’ Championship with Jenson Button.

“I am really asthonished. We go back in time, when the same Brawn who studied the new car manufactured an unbeatable one with innovative solutions like the diffuser. I have been long arguing that the task of make proposals to be presented to teams is up to the the FIA, not to the stables themselves” Gian Carlo Minardi analyzes on www.Minardi.it. “In this way we would avoid certain favoritisms. At FIA there should be men capable to decide and legislate rules for each area of expertise. Men not engaged in teams. You’d think that they don’t have an appropriate staff to make professional proposals”.

F1- Mid-season scorecard: Drivers

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After the teams, let’s analyze the Drivers.

Lewis Hamilton – 9 Especially for his five victories. At the moment he is the fittest driver. Fortunately for us, he too made some little mistakes. He will remember Hungary for a long time.

Sebastian Vettel – 8,5 He is fighting and making the most of his Ferrari taking it to the second place of the World Constructors’ Championship. He made two exemplary victories. In the time of need he was ready to make the most of “Mercedes’s favors”.

Nico Rosberg – 8 Decisively under level, especially in qualifying. Last year he won his personal challenge with Hamilton. But now, in my opinion, he looks discharged. He isn’t the Nico I expected to see.

Felipe Massa – 7,5 surely he done better than his team-mate wanted by rumors instead of  Raikonnen at Ferrari. He is still beyond Bottas in general standings but the Brasilian are making the most of his Williams.

Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr, Daniil Kvyat – 7 the Finnish at Williams’ is fighting, while Red Bull drivers represent the “advancing newness”.
The young guys are building their future in F1. Despite the jump into main team and the disapprovals received early in the season, the Russian is coping with Ricciardo.
Meanwhile TR is pursuing his “green” challenge. At the Hungaroring, Vestappen scored his best result and  almost touched the podium with a fourth place.

Daniel Ricciardo – 6,5 Half a point below his team-mate because he can rely on a greater experience. He isn’t the Ricciardo we saw last season. Undoubtedly he suffer more than the others for Red Bull lack of competitiveness.

Kimi Raikkonen- 6 It’s a vote of confidence. He dosn’t do what he should for Ferrari. In Hungary he was unlucky for a breakdown but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. In general standings he payed 3 tenth to his team-mate and a sec to Hamilton.

F1- Mid-season scorecard: Teams

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The engines are off and the factories closed for the summer break so we take the opportunity to draw up the first semester scorecard. Certainly,  this pahse was affected by Mercedes which has been able to dominate far and wide, high and low, especially through Lewis Hamilton. It was also a period characterized by the pleasant Ferrari’s revival as second world power, ahead of Massa and Botta’s Williams and Red Bull which was heavily affected by trans-alpine Power-unit.

Mercedes – 8 Technically speaking, if we judged just the six consecutive race run with the same PU it would certainly be a 10 with honors. The mark decreases of two points due to the strategic mistakes in Malaysia, Monaco and Hungary.

Ferrari – 8 Two victories and seven placements took them to the second place in Manufacturer World Championship. But the gap with the “Silver Arrows” is great. They did well to take advantage of the two “Mercedes favors”.

Williams – 7,5 Half a point less than Maranello. They have a high-performing car on fast circuits but they loose ground on slower ones ( like in Hungary). As happened last year, they will be able to turn the situation around in the second part of the season.

Red Bull and Toro Rosso – 7 Technically the two cars by bibitari are well manufactured even if they pay an enormous penalty for Renault Power-Unit complications. In particular TR is short in heavy points due to the lack of reliability in the last rounds. In Hungary, a circuit not suitable for motors, they took three cars in the first fourth places.

Sauber – 6,5 Eighth place and 22 points just ahead to McLaren and Marussia. It’s better than 2014 but they don’t live up to their tradition. They started positively this season, loosing later their way.

Lotus and Force India – 6 Despite Mercedes engine they are getting less than last year due also to their financial difficulties, especially at Lotus.

McLaren – 5 This mark is especially directed to Honda which is in a big trouble. They realized that the Japanese technology is already obsolete and are trying to remedy “by shopping” in Europe. Their path is really uphill and it won’t be easy to recover. So far Alonso and Button gained just 17 points. In Hungary Fernando’s fifth place is a great shot on the arm , but that was also an odd GP.

Kart – Negro and Vigorito at Le Mans with Ok1

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Drivers Riccardo Negro and Gianni Vigorito spent two testing days at the Lonato Internation circuit with the aim of getting ready for Le Mans.

Riccardo and Gianni are going to defend IP Kating group’s colors in France, respectively in the International KZ2 Super Cup and in the World KZ Champs, with OK1 material managed by Lorenzo Foschiani. Therefore, after a forced break, Riccardo will reappear in an official group also thanks to the participation of Iame which is going to provide authorized motors. Whereas the “beating heart”of the vehicle used by the driver from Sturno will be TM motor managed by FR Racing from Udine. These two testing days allowed the two drivers to acquaint themselves with the kart and the new material in time for the momentous race of Le Mans.

“Looking ahead to Le Mans World Championship, test sessions in Lonato were excellent. I experienced many advantageous innovations and I am very satisfied. Bridgeston tires require a more meticulous drive compared with LeCont tyre compound” Gianni Vigorito comments.

“I was very satisfied with the material and the exclusive presence of Iame. After a long break I could put together few consecutive laps, but I gained interesting chronometric lap times. In these weeks before Le Mans I am going to work hard on the track to get ready” Riccardo Nigro comments.

“These were two really hard-working and profitable days because we had immediately important results. It was the first time Riccardo drove our material and he was particularly impressed by the brake system. Instead Bridgestone tires were the major unknown faced by Vigorito. Few laps were enough for him to cancel the lack of experience adapting quickly to the set-up. We ‘ll have the first official results during collective tests at Le Mans, but I am sure that bot Gianni and Riccardo will be able to drive very fast” OK1 Team Manager, Lorenzo Foschiani, comments.

“I am very happy about this new challenge with OK1. At last Riccardo returns to an official and such an important entity like IP Karting, thanks also to the support of Iame which are going to provide him the motor to attack KZ2. Instead Gianni will have a TM motor for the KZ1 race. After a forced break, Riccardo will have to return quickly to his rhythm while Gianni will have to get used to Bridgestone tires which requires a very clean drive” Alberto Tonti precisely analyzes.

“I am satisfied for both our bearers who will be able to be protagonist at the Le Mans World Championship with the support of such an official group. I am sure that they will both be able to attract attention” the manager from Faenza Giovanni Minardi comments.

Kart – Matteo Nannini at Adria looking ahead to the Italian Final and World Championship

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For the twelve years old Matteo Nannini the last was an apprenticeship week-end. At Adria, scene of the last appointment of the Rok Nord Championship, he signed his debut with the RB Racing colors. The demanding weather conditions which affected the area of the Rodigino circuit, let the driver from Forlì take the appropriate measures of the new Exprite material looking ahead to the Italian final, scheduled for early September exactly at the Adria International Raceway, and to the World Championship in Lonato.

Matteo had the opportunity to experience a wet track, a road condition for which he had a poor experience especially after his in-season transition to KFJ category . In that circumstance he had the support of such a specialist like Karol Basz returning from the Swedish appointment of the European Championship. Basz helped Matteo to become familiar with the OTK material.

“It was a useful week-end. I had the opportunity to drive for many kilometres with the new material looking ahead to appointments in September. I feel good both with the team and the kart. It was the first time I have drove a 125 under the rain so i had the opportunity to gain this experience, supported by Karol. My goal is the Italian Final” Matteo Nannini comments.

“The team we met was very helpful to Matteo. Despite a week-end with adverse results Matteo had the opportunity to start working in a real team. I liked seeing him following carefully the advises of a wet expert like Karol Basz” Alberto Tonti analyzes. “Joining KFJ in late season we hadn’t any goal in this Championship. The Adria race has been very hepful to us. We could test the new material both on dry and wet track. A really important test looking ahead to the Italian Final which will be run exactly at Adria” Manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

DZ Engineering safety for the KL City Grand Prix

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In the spectacular and evocative skyline of Kuala Lumpur, capital city of Malaysia with 1,6 millions inhabitants, the V8 Supercars champions, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, Formula Masters China Series e KL City GT Cup, are living up the first KL City Gran Prix this week-end.

The center of Kuala Lumpur will become a temporary narrow and gritty 3,2 km circuit where the drivers will have to get organized along 16 curves – 10 on the left, 6 on the right- and considerable slopes in Jalan Sultan Ismail, with many overtaking opportunities at the bottom of Jalan Ampang, reaching a speed of 200 km/h.
The KL City Gran Prix will be supervised by the extraordinary know-how of DZ Engineering, company of Dino Zoli group from Forlì, also responsible for lighting, for PA system and radio communication of the city circuit of Singapore during Formula 1 and for the installation and test of the HD security camera system and its operations center at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.They were also involved in managing Formula E Grand Prix at Putrajaya.”We are the only ones with a such experience in city circuits and this event in Kuala Lumpur is probably just the first of a series which will be planned in the heart of several Asian cities with the purpose of enhancing their culture around motor racing” Grilli declares. Technologies displayed by Dino Zoli’s staff will be the eyes and the guardian angels for drivers and for all authorized personnel, in this spectacular theater the range of their activity consists of installation and test of TVCC system and its operations center, radio communications and track PA system.

“In the last years technology has made great strikes. HD system implementation has increased safety. An important step toward driver and authorized personnel’s protection“, Scaioli analyzed last March. “We are proud to have first provived Sepang circuit with a so innovative system and to have extended our know-how also to the KL City Gran Prix“. A positive signal for the ”Made in Italy” abroad.