F1 – Abu Dhabi GP: THE POINT

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Another season has just been archived with a grand prix that stressed the currunet powers at play, Mercedes-Ferrari-Williams. A year along which Ferrari has managed to recover and get back the second place in the standings at the expense of Williams itself, even if the technical gap with Germans remains wide.

The chronometer is a good gauge. Sebastian Vettel signed his best lap in 1.44.550 with the Super Soft tires while Hamilton grasped the fastest lap of the race (1.44.517) with the Soft ones.

This end of season was also favorable to Nico Rosberg who brought home the pole position (the sixth consecutive one) and the victory. These results will relaunch him next season. What a pity he woken up too late, otherwise we would have had fun. Mercedes has been very good at managing tensions between the two standard barer, continuing on their way, using the same strategies and leaving them free to fight on track. 

Force India deserves a plaudit, and particularly Sergio Perez who placed two car in points, proving himself in fifth at the back of Red Bull and ahead of Lotus which has an uncertain future. The sixth place is an important breath of fresh air for Entone’s “cash counter”.

Although they fell outside the points, I appreciate the performance of Toro Rosso with a determined but unlucky Vestappen who once again received a penalization from too severe commissioners.I can sincerely decipher the challenge with Button as a positive sign for this sport. Luckily today we experienced different fighting and overtaking. We are fortunate to have “racetracks with eternal and asphalted escape routes that should let us to see a lot of overtakings and give drivers the possibility to fight freely.Let us hope winter can bring some advice to improve our sporting rules and also to built F1 on “sideswipes”.

After Vettel’s hash in qualifying, also Ferrari made a good job with excellent pit stops and a good recover by the German driver.

From Tuesday, December 1 it will be already 2016 with the test of Pirelli behind closed doors. The Ultra soft tires will go into action. They are an extra variable for next season.

Gian Carlo Minardi professor for a day at DZ

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Thanks to the project “The history of Ferrari, an Italian excellence”, The Dino Zoli Foundation has become a classroom for the pupils of the middle school Fiorini in Villanova.

Setting aside his role as a team principal and a talent scout, Gian Carlo Minardi has filled the shoes of a teacher, along with the hosts Dino and Monica Zoli, to recount the history of Ferrari, World Champion with Michael Schumacher.

This event is going to be the first of a series of activities involving a lot of school disciplines with an educational trip in Maranello and a final event, a Ferrari meeting, in the school garden.The aim of the project is to teach in depth the history of the ‘900 and the companies from Romagna that have tied indissolubly their entrepreneurial work out of no were to the most famous company in the world.

Another important purpose is to make it clear to future generations that it is just passion that makes people able to achieve goals that are unbelievable at the beginning of their career.

Shilly-shallying

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After solving the affair with Red Bull, that will use the trans alpine power-units also for next season, Renault is facing another headache. In effect, the French Group has been engaged in the purchase of Lotus, a team in strong economic difficulties, since months. We expected official communications during this weekend that drops the curtain on F1 World Championship, but according to the latest rumors everything will be postponed.

With  great effort, Gérard Lopez’s team has been defending his season ad the sixth place in the Constructors’ standings, ahead Toro Rosso by nine lengths. After being forced to give up to the hospitality in Japan, in Abu Dhabi the box has been completed just in time for free practice.

The crux of the matter should be its accreditation as an historic team, this status recognition would provide the constructor a substantial economical support.Therefore an arm wrestling between Renault Sport F1 managing director, Cyril Abiteboul, and F1 patron, Bernie Ecclestone, has started.Anyway, Renault is not losing time, we know it is engaged in the market to purchase a winning technical staff with the purpose of developing its power-unit for 2016. 

But, are we sure that this kind of silence and attitude helps a milieu already damaged by economic crisis and fans’ stampede?

As we have said, Red Bull will have again a Renault engine, but, also in this case, we haven’t any official communication yet. Christian Horner has just admitted the existence of a signed agreement. For Toro Rosso, instead, the doors of Maranello will open, after two years of separation.

F1 – Road to…Abu Dhabi

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We are approaching the last race of this Mercedes season along which only Ferrari has managed to spoil their party on three occasions, although unfortunately the technical gap remains wide. Mercedes customer teams themselves, despite the guaranteed superiority of the Power-Unit , have been unable to support a technical comparison.

Therefore, we arrive in Abu Dhabi with little more to say. Just the fourth place with a fight among Bottas, Raikkonenn, and Massa and the sixth place in the Constructors’ standings remain at stake. For a good 2016 start, I hope Kimi be able to beat his compatriot at Williams, to prove his true value given the wide gap with Vettel. Instead, nine points divide Faenza from Enstone. Not an easy gap to fill in during a single race, despite Lotus financial difficulties.

According to tradition we will race by night, the asphalt, affected by heat and by the desert sand, will improve session after session. The brake system will be particularly stressed because it will have to work for the 22% of the lap, with two great straight lines.After two consecutive victories, Rosberg will try to end with a bang his bitter season, although Hamilton is determinate not to make him concessions. Rosberg’s championship ending is really incomprehensible.Freed from the tensions of the championship, Nico found the serenity to counter his strong team-mate.

Instead, from Tuesday December 1th we will already be in 2016 World Championship with the test of Pirelli, when the ultra-soft tire compounds, the violet Super SuperSofts, will be tested. All the teams will check their duration and consumption with the maximum fuel load, in Q3 version. They will become another strategic variable.

F1- Peace achieved

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After a lot of words, announcements, complaints, and requests Red Bull Racing and Renault have signed a “peace treaty” and closed a soap opera that had lasted too long.

Consigned to Daniel Ricciardo’s and Daniil Kvyat’s feet and achievements, Adrian Newey’s new creation will be pushed by the trans-alpine power-unit also in 2016, although the cylinder head will not probably be signed by Renault Sport F1.The green light would have been given by Renault President Carl Ghosn himself who had sanctioned the end of any cooperation last September, during the Frankfurt Motor show.

One can bet that this time Renault wanted better defend himself with an “armored agreement” (as well as economically advantageous) against future statements and criticism coming from Horner’s staff who didn’t spare criticism in this season, after successful years. It has been an obliged solution, especially after Maranello and Barackley refusals. The announcement should be done this weekend in Abu Dhabi during the GP that closes this Mercedes season.

TORO ROSSO STABLE

The arm wrestling between Red Bull Racing and Renault had as a spectator the Staff of Toro Rosso whose results on track have also been affected by Renault PU. Just a grand prix since the end, the challenge with Lotus-Mercedes for the sixth place in the Constructors’ standings is opened. Anyway, a detachment of 9 points makes the task hard for Toro Rosso, despite its two “young bulls” Vestappen and Sainz jr.

And these two boys themselves, sons of former drivers, could have had a part in the deal that has brought Ferrari engines (2015 version) back in Faenza. A return to the past for STR which has hosted the beating heart of Maranello for seven seasons, from 2007 to 2013. Even if the first single-seater with a Ferrari client-engine is signed by Minardi. It was the M191 trusted to Pierluigi Martini, Gianni Morbidelli, and Roberto Moreno. At Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen’s contract has been renewed for another season, along with Sebastian Vettel. Verstappen, or Sainz Jr., could be predestined to pick up the Finnish’s baton starting from season 2017.

RENAULT STABLE

In Abu Dhabi, we also expect the official announcement of Renault about the purchase of Lotus. To the trans-alpine constructor it would be a comeback to Enstone, after having sold all its facilities to the stable of Gérard Lopez at the end of 2011.Renault is arranging its return to F1 world championship as Constructor as well as Engine supplier. We’ll see if this team will race under the name of Renault already from the next season pr it will have a transition year under Lotus-Renault name.

Minardi.it meets Gaston Mazzacane

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He defended the colors of Minardi Team in 2000 season driving at the wheel of the M02-Fondmental paired with Mark Genè. His bond with the Minardi’s continues today. In European Gp he closed in eight, even if his fans especially remember his challenge with Mika Hakinen’s McLaren in Indianapolis while he was third.

Let’s go back to 2000 when you debuted in F1 with Minardi Team. When you first had a contact with Gina Carlo Minardi?
My first contact with Minardi was in 1988 at the end of my season in F3000. Along with Eduardo Ramirez and Jacques Kremer, I was called by Gian Carlo Minardi to become the third driver of his team in 1999. In addition, I competed in the European Prototypes Championship with a Ferrari of Lavaggi Team.

Why did you choose the Team of Faenza for your debut?
Thanks to Gian Carlo Minardi’s excellent business relation with Argentina, I had the opportunity to race for his team. F1 is the dream of every guy who embarks on motorsport.

What impressed you most of this this world?
Every driver considers F1 the ultimate expression of motorsport. You feel like a star. It is wonderful.

What was your best moment with Minardi?
Definitely during Indianapolis Grand Prix when I was third ahead of Hakkinen’s McLaren with the opportunity to sign an incredible result for the team

…And the most difficult one?                                                                                                                                                                                          Moving to Prost GP. It affected negatively my stay in F1. I wouldn’t had never left Minardi at the end of 2000.

Your friendship with Gian Carlo and Giovanni Minardi is still strong today. Do you have an anecdote to tell us?
That year I lived in the same apartment block of Gian Carlo and Giovanni, Gian Carlo was my second father and Giovanni a brother. Every morning with his dog, Gian Carlo came and woke me up to check if I had slept in my apartment. We are bond by a strong friendship that still goes on.

What do you do now?
After F1, I raced in Champ Car, Formula Truck and in FIA GT Championship with a Ferrari 550 GT1 of ACA Argentina. Now I am engaged in Turism Carretera Championship, the most important one in Argentina.

What is your childhood dream, and your next goals?
My dream is to keep racing with the same desire and motivation that I had when i was 5 years old and to gain excellent results in Argentina driving my Chevrolet. I am also vice-president of ACTT and CEO of the Mouras de La Plata Circuit where I work to develop the Argentine motor sports.

What do you think about today’s F1?
Today there is a lot of tedchnology in F1, but Mercedes supremacy and the lack of allure of the power units leads to fans’ estrangement. Surely, the calendar is very beautiful because we keep racing in historic circuit flanked by new and beautiful  places. I like the qualifying format and the diversity of tires that makes the GP strategic. I keep watching f1 because I am passionate about.

Joao Vieira in Brazil between Kart and F1

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Some days before Brazilian GP, Joao Vieira was invited by Petrobras to take part in its traditional kart race along with professional drivers and Brazilian Olympic athletes.

It was an opportunity of recreation for the green-gold driver from Gurupi, who is now focused on the groundwork for the next championship. It was, anyway, a demanding challenge, and the young driver closed in seventh. Coming from Italian F4 Championship powered by Abarth, now Vieira assesses a jump in class.

Just last October, in Spain at the circuit of Jerez, Joao got behind the wheel of an Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 with the purpose of make some test for 2016; other testing day with different single-seater will follow.

“I was glad for the invitation. Driving a kart, is always a good experience, also in a competitive situation where you have to measure with GP2, F3000 and Stock Car drivers. We had fun, and I must thanks all the organizers and Petrobras” Joao, who experienced Brazilian GP from the pits, comments.

“F1 is amazing. It puts onto you an indescribable adrenaline. Experiencing the race from the pits and see up close Ferrari and Toro Rosso was wonderful. When I am in Italy, I live in Forlì, a few steps away from Faenza. Now I am already oriented toward 2016 and in the upcoming weeks I ‘ll be back on car for some test days” the driver of Minardi management concludes.

F1- Brazilian GP: SCORECARDS

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Let’s grade the Brazilian Grand Prix along with Gian Carlo Minardi, although evaluating a monotonous race like this is a hard task.

Nico Rosberg – 8,5 pole position and victory. His awakening is an enigma. He unbelievably emerged from hibernation exactly when his team-mate won the world championship. He achieved his second flawless race. This leads me to think that at Mercedes, in spite of what they declare, there must be some kind of hierarchy. Otherwise he should made an examination of conscience. He has coped with a determined Hamilton who signed the fastest lap of the race.

Max Verstappen – 8 he showed us three ancient over-takings. He pushed madly despite his problematic car which favors a lot his competitors. It is the sixth time he has gained some points. For a rookie it is an amazing result.

Sebastian Vettel – 8 he brought out the best from his Ferrari with an amazing race giving Raikkonen a 30” gap. It is clear he has been giving his all. He has lived a favorable moment; his mood and his performances on track have been good.

Lewis Hamilton – 7 I didn’t like his behavior at the end of the race. I don’t approve certain “spoiled child”’s attitudes. Anyway, he has tried to catch up his team-mate and to win the race signing the fastest lap.

Hulkenberg, Bottas, Grosjean – 7 they all achieved an excellent race. They have optimized their performances. Hulkenberh succeeded in coping with Bottas who proved himself to be fourth, even thought he has just a point more than his compatriot at Ferrari. Grosjean has fought his challenge with Toro Rosso for the sixth place bringing home some substantial points despite his Lotus which hasn’t had a lot of developments.

Daniil Kvyat – 6,5 once again he fought and hindered his team-mate. Along with Verstappen and Sainz, he is one of the most promising young.

Kimi Raikkonen – 6 just because he got some points. Giving him more is a hard work.

F1 – Brazilian GP: THE POINT

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Nico Rosberg has surprisingly woken up. In the last two grand prix he hasn’t made any mistakes succeeding in coping with Lewis Hamilton who is determined to keep winning, despite his world title. Once again it has been a family fight between Nico and Lewis. Vettel tried to keep the Mercedes pace, but he closed the race with a gap of 17”.

Mercedes superiority is really disarming. It is a technical matter and you can see it looking at the characteristics of the circuit which is short and positioned on a high ground with few brakings to recharge the kers. Nevertheless, they vanquished their competitors. The standings shows only four cars with a slow laps. Mercedes drivers can manage their PU to the best making the most of every single component also against their clients.

The comparison on fast laps is another alarm bell. Lewis Hamilton with the Medium tires signs the best lap of the race in 1.14.832, Vettel with the Soft ones stops at 1.15.056. For their competitors it will not be easy to put a patch on these results for the upcoming season.

Surely, Sebastian Vettel did well trying to keep their pace, highlighting his Ferrari, and giving 30” to Raikkonen. The German is closing his best season ever thanks to his 13th podium. Now, Rosberg is mathematically the vice-champion, while the challenge between the two Finns at Williams and at Ferrari for the fourth place is still open; Bottas has a point more than Kimi.With Grosjean’s ninth place, Lotus earns a point more than Toro Rosso that is in tenth with Max Verstappen who once again is maker of an excellent race. He gave us ancient emotions with excellent over-takings. What a pity for Sainz who once again has been stopped by a technical complication.

ACI Team Italia ready to grow

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The Adria International Raceway has been the scene of the 12th edition of Aci Sport Federal Super-course, Speed section, the annual advanced course that rewarded, as usual, some young drivers coming from the Italian Championship powered by Abarth and from Kart.

The drivers selected at the end of 2015 season and invited to face the Super-course are Diego Bertonelli and Riccardo Ponzio coming from F4; Lorenzo Colombo, Aldo Festante, Davide Lombardo, and Leonardo Lorandi from Karting. After a careful consideration at the end of four long days of intense learning both in class and on track, Lorenzo Colombo, 15 years old from Legnano, has resulted the best karting driver while Diego Bertonelli, 17 years old from Forte dei Marmi, has been the best one among F4 drivers. 

Gian Carlo Minardi could not missed the event as Supervisor of this Federal Super-course who comments as follows: “I have to congratulate all the selected boys. It has been really hard to choose a winner at the end of these four days, especially among the four kart drivers. All their scores were close, and this proves that they have assimilated very well their tutor’s and instructor’s suggestions and teachings.Also Beronelli and Ponzio, who already knew the circuit and the car, have been able to improve considerably in comparison to their race performances just over a month ago.Both of them have had an excellent apprenticeship opportunity that could bring them substantial results next year.We have learned with pleasure that other Federations are exporting our project and our know-how with young drivers”.

Within the end of the year, some scholarship could be delivered, so to broaden the project of ACI Team Italia that has Ghiotto and Marciello among its current representatives.“ ACI Sport general manager, Marco Ferrari, has declared he wants to make available some scholarhips to the winners of the Super-course  to make easier their passage from Kart to Formula 4 Italia”, the manager from Faenza concludes.

 

F1 – Road to…Brazil

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Formula 1 is ready to reach Sao Paulo in Brazil, the land where Minardi Team made its debut in the World Championship 30 years ago. On April 5th 1985 we were about to join the Circus, even if it happened in the setting of Rio. A dream that came true after a lot of difficulties. I am also glad to remember the three green and gold drivers who raced with me: Roberto Moreno in 1991, Christian Fittipaldi in the two following seasons, and Tarso Marques in 2001.

Interlagos has been theater of final challenges for years, while everything is already draw and written this season. Anyway, there are some interesting details who deserve attention. First of all, we have an open fight between Rosberg and Vettel for the second place of world drivers’ championship, even if Nico will surely have the chance to put an end on it.Behind them we have an interesting challenge Bottas-Raikkonen-Massa for the fourth place, while on the Constructors’ side, Lotus and Toro Rosso compete for the sixth place.Keeping in mind that the first two places are signed by Mercedes, it is a substantial result. About youngs, playing at home Felipe Nasr would like to make a good impression despite his problematic Sauber. During this season he has proved many time to be worthy of this sport. Amid all these, we have a Lewis Hamilton determined to win in the land of his idol Ayrton Senna.

Pirelli will bring, like in 2014, Medium and Soft tires and we can expect 2 or 3 pit stops.Last year Nico prevailed with a 3 pit-stops strategy.This circuit is suitable for amazing challenges, but very demanding for tires and brakes due to its asphalt and changes of direction. The weather will be variable on Saturday with the chance of rain.I hope all the protagonists will be able to give us a good championship final, even if it won’t be so exciting as Valencia for MotoGp.

Finally, Renault would be willing to take a step back and supply Red Bull with its engines.

Kart – Another podium for Karol Basz

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Karol Basz, new KF World Champion, closes his season with a third place in the WSK Final Cup. Having constantly fought with best drivers for top positions and always done his maximum, the Polish driver for Kosmic Racing said goodbye to 2015 from a new podium at the Adria Kartin Raceway circuit.After having signed the third place in Qualifying and in Pre-final, he just missed to win.

“It is pleasant to finish the season with a podium. It has been an amazing year along which Kosmic team and I have proved to be able to reach any results. We have succeeded in winning and conquering the podium of the most important competitions gaining the world title. I hope to be able to announce my plans for next season very soon” Karol Basz, Minardi Management driver, comments.

“Despite Friday’s pole that had suggested us a new success, we are satisfied about this podium. Karl has proceeded on his positive path. This victory wasn’t our main goal of the season, so we have also tested different materials, and we are glad of the result. Now we start working for 2016” Alberto Tonti, Karting manager of Minardi Management, comments.

“I am really satisfied about Karol’s season along which he achieved the goal of the season, the world title, with honors. At Adria, once again, he showed all his talent; he never back down conquering the maximum. Now we will work to raise the bar for the next season” Giovanni Minardi comments.

 
Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox
 

F1 – Mexican GP: SCORECARDS

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Let’s grade this grand prix carried out unenthusiastically with the incertitude of a missed rain.

Nico Rosberg – 8,5 his season is difficult to evaluate. He has alternated excellent performances with colorless races. On Sunday, he did exactly what we had expected from him some GPs ago, and he was able to cope with the world champion in a battle of fast laps.

Valtteri Bottas, Daniil Kvyat, and Max Verstappen – 8 they are the future of motor sports. All three of them decisively have a fast and aggressive pace. Bottas took William to the podium again, while the Russian driver has been enhancing himself for the whole weekend putting Ricciardo in troubles despite the myriad problems of Red Bull team. Another laudable race for the Dutch driver at STR.

Lewis Hamilton – 7,5 he went on track ready to fight and not as a mere spectator. He missed the decisive spring to pass Rosberg. Anyway, it is always the same, the first and the second place are a matter for Mercedes.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez – 7 another excellent performance for the both standard-bearers of Force India which strengthens his fifth position in Constructors’ standings. An excellent breath of fresh air.

Felipe Massa – 7 because he has fought Romain Grosjean for the whole GP

Romain Grosjean – 6 due to his tenth place. He has to thank Sainz who has been penalized by a complication; otherwise, Felipe Massa would have been behind him.

Sebastian Vettel – 5,5 when you are always compelled to drive to the limit, and you have a car hard to drive, a mistake can occur. In a sole weekend, he did what he has not done for 105 races. Maths keeps him at play for the second place even if it will be a difficult task.

Kimi Raikkonen -5 he was bombarded by complications but the contact with Bottas could have been avoided. What he did during the race is incomprehensible.