F1 – 2016 power-units

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“2016 engine-mosaic” is finally completed. Red Bull Racing and Renault will keep their partnership for next season, although Daniel Ricciardo’s and Daniil Kvyar’s power-units will be branded Tag Heuer, the new partner stolen from McLaren. A new sponsor comes, and another takes a break. Infiniti will not be again the title sponsor of Christian Horner’s team. +

Toro Rosso stable is getting ready to grab a Ferrari engine, version 2015, after two years away from Faenza and thanks to an exception allowed by FIA World Council.Franz Tost’s men join Sauber and Haas, the new entry, replacing Manor which is passed under Mercedes wing. Williams and Force India have confirmed their partnership with German PU.

After purchasing the facility of Lotus F1 Team in Enstone, Renault will return to be a constructor in 2016. As declared by president Carlos Ghosn himself, French Constructor had only two choices: “leaving the Circus or return to 100% as a constructor”. At McLaren and Honda, the team is ready to forget a 2015 which has been disappointing in every aspects.After visiting the factory in Woking, Fernando Alonso declared to be confident and to aim at the podium

Minardi.it meets Gianni Morbidelli

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He has just closed his TCR International Series season with Honda Civic, but he defended the colors of Minardi Team in Formula 1 World Championship from 1990 to 1992. Minardi.it has met Gianni Morbidelli just back from Argentine to relive those years along with Gian Carlo Minardi and his boys.

After joining Scuderia Italia, you made your debut with Minardi in 1990 during the US Grand Prix that was preparatory to entire 1991 season.
The two last grand prix of 1990 season were the prelude to two beautiful years with Gian Carlo Minardi. It was like a family life with true human relationships. I had the opportunity to learn a lot and to grow professionally. From the point of view of results, we had some difficult races because we lacked reliability. In qualifying we could safeguard ourselves at first thanks to Ferrari and then to Lamborghini engines, but during the race we have always had a lot of problems due to reliability. M191 was the first car signed by a very young Aldo Costa who proved all his value in Mercedes, and with whom I have maintained a wonderful relationship. In 1991 he managed a difficult very long 12-cylinder which also created some twisting complications on the frame.

You spent with Gian Carlo Minardi’s team also ’92 season. Which moment do you remember more pleasantly?
The Mexican Grand Prix was one of the most beautiful one, I closed in seventh and missed the point zone just for a place. Unfortunately, unlike today, points were assigned in dribs and drabs at that time. Qualifying in Imola is another pleasant memory: Pierluigi Martini faced me till death, tenth after tenth, and we both gained the top 10. One can’t forget the excellent cuisine of Minardi. Drivers from other teams used to come and eat under our pavilion. I have maintained a good relationship with many of them and particularly with Luca Zama.

The most difficult moment?
It is linked to a tragicomic event. During qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, I destroyed my Minardi due to an incomprehension with Jean Alesi. Into the pits, Gian Carlo made me get on the spare car to end my session. Then the suspension stopped to work and I crashed again. At that point, from the radio, Gian Carlo Minardi told me:” come back, but don’t hurry up, after all we are short of cars”. Even in the most difficult moments, he has always been able to defuse tensions with a joke or an adage from Romagna.

How did the Circus change your life?
In that period I had a double visibility, I was a first-string for a F1 team, and I was also a Ferrari test driver. The fame and all the events overpowered me. I was in a kind of limbo, also because I was very young. I was in the place where every guy would have liked to be. I didn’t realized what was going on. Everything was lived with enthusiasm. Instead, growing up I enjoyed the experience.

The transition period from 1991 to 1990 spectated the arrival of Ferrari engine in Faenza.
Compared to Ford…it was  totally a different world. At that time cars were constantly improved.We passed from 8 to 12-cylinder. Just because of the couple and the noise, they were two opposite “means”. 12-cylinder “sound” was a symphony. Driving it was a pleasure.

If you had to tell a particular and funny story about Gian Carlo Minardi and his Romagna?
The phrases that he was usual to say, something like “Let’s pack the violin and let’s go” or “Confident is dead”. I remember Gian Carlo’s humanity fondly. We were accustomed to eat piadina romagnola and tortellini, but once invited in Kyoto by a Japanese sponsor we had to stay in a typical Japanese hotel with all their customs and habits, from the cuisine to massages, very long ones. We laughed a lot.

You shared the pit with Martini-Fittipladi and Zanardi. Who was the nut harder to crack?
Definitely Piero Martini. A real bulldog and an integral part of Minardi team. He was fast and determined. I was an ambitious young, and he was a successful driver. He has been a great stimulus to push stronger and stronger.

You have just closed TCR International Series.
Among high and low moments. We have also led the championship, but in the second part of the season we experienced some problem with the turbo and the brakes that excluded us from the challenge for the title. Compared to others, our car was “unripe” due to a lack of kilometers. I am in an excellent relationship with the team and I have the will to continue with TCR. I hope to define my 2016 schedule by Christmas.

Gian Carlo Minardi: "ACI Team Italia is promoted"

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The curtain dropped on the World Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit which was also the scene of the last event of GP2, GP3. ACI team Italia Velocità at its first season participated with its two standard bearers Raffaello Marciello and Luca Ghiotto at the wheel of Trident cars.

Raffaele Marciello had a seesaw season and closed the championship preparatory to F1 with a solid second place in Race 1 and a total haul of 110 points, which earned him seventh place in overall standings. Luca Ghiotto saw Gp3 title slip from his hands in the last race after leading overall standings for most of the season with his 5 victories.At his first entire season, the nineteen from Arzignano has been able to put himself in the spotlight fighting with Ocon and attracting the interest of the Principal Teams of the Circus.

“As ACI Team Italia we had a really positive year with drivers coming from the branch of the Federal School in partnership with FDA. Both Marciello and Ghiotto have been able to put themselves in the spotlight in their respective championships. If Raffaele closed a difficult season with his second place in race-1, Luca was frustrated by the final loss of the title. Two/three mistakes at the start were fatal and compromised a season that was really favorable to him” Gian Carlo Minardi comments.“In terms of victories (five) he has been greater than Ocon who, however, has more constancy” the mangager from Faenza continues. “I want remember Antono Giovinazzi’s secod place in the European FIA F3 and the season of Antonio Fuoco who is already in Ferrari scope with FDA. Now we will start to work for 2016 with the purpose of valuing young drivers coming from kart, we will support those who wants to raise the bar toward professionalism”.

F1 – Abu Dhabi GP: SCORECARDS

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The curtain has fell on the World Championship, so let’s grade the protagonist of Abu Dhabi GP along with Gian Carlo Minardi.

Nico Rosberg – 9 his weekend was perfect. He waited the right moment to place his sixth consecutive pole position closing the season with an impeccable race. I remain dazed about his ending-season metamorphosis. Having a fight in family all the season would be very interesting from a motoring point of view.

Sergio Perez – 8 we must reward him because he has matured along all the season, leaving behind Nico Hulkenberg, who was considered the emerging driver. Perez got the largest part of points appraising himself and his team.

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 finally he was able to appraise what he had at his disposal without overdoing, avoiding the mistakes of last races and closing in a positive third place. Unfortunately he can’t take advantage of his Ferrari at 100% as Vettel does.

Daniel Ricciardo – 7 despite his problematic car, he was able to close in sixth.

Grosjean – 7 he fought with a knife between his teeth closing his adventure with Lotus. Like Perez, he proved an important progress in view of 2016.

Jenson Button – 7 he hindered Alonso and defended his position despite his McLaren.

Sebastian Vettel – 5,5 he started in last position and closed in fourth “mimicking” Valentino Rossi, but he has some responsibility for Saturday’s hash.

 Lewis Hamilton – 5 I can not understand why he is so nervous. Probably e relaxed or he suffers his team-mate’s capacity.

Fernando Alosnso – 5 despite  his capacity- as his time demonstrates – and the problematic McLaren, he has to avoid certain declarations and polemics.

 Max Vrstappen and carlos Sainz – 5 I have always endorsed them appraising their performances, but last Sunday the ymade some mistakes.

 

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.