F1 | Canadian GP – Gian Carlo Minardi's Preview

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We are talking about an extremely important Gran Prix because it will close the first third of the season. Mistakes excepted, Mercedes will start as the favourite once again, with a good internal struggle between Rosberg and Hamilton. Nico will have to try to restore his supremacy on Lewis who dominated the stage among the little roads of the princedom. Ferrari, back from two difficult grand prix has used some tokens to develop his Power-Unit and will have to regain its role as a second power in the world championship, a role currently assaulted by a Red Bull in strong growing. Since Montreal is a circuit where aerodynamics and brakes have a key role, Adrian Newey’s creature could reach the spotlight.

Given its geographical position and the lack of mountains, the weather can quickly change. Up to now, the weather forecasts talk about temperatures around 20°C, thus also the tires could make the difference.

At Williams they should pay attention to Force India and Toro Rosso. They will bring some updates that will be analyzed in the post GP, but in this moment the gap between Ferrari and Red Bull is too wide.

A GP rich in unknowns awaits us. Behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are ready to battle. We have just to watch the race starting at 20:00.

 

Kart | Gian Carlo Minardi at 2016 Summer Kart

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Everything is ready for the 5th edition of the “Kart Summer Camp”, the summer camp aimed at little aspiring drivers. It is confirmed for July the traditional initiative promoted by ACI Sport (Italian Federation), organized by the Federal ACI Sport School, and dedicated to children aged 5 to 10 years.

From July 18 to 21, the very young drivers will turn on the engines on again in the International Circuit of Naples (Sarno – Sa) to have fun aboard the go-karts made available by the Parolin Racing, a brand that has become an historical partner of the Federal ACI Sport School in the Karting sector.

The children will attend a theoretical and practical program, under the watchful eye of the Federal Instructors, they will deal with the particular aspects of driving technique such as trajectories, braking, wet driving, and will engage in fair sessions of competition between skittles and simulated starts, qualifying, and races. All this without losing the recreational dimension that has to be, even for 2016, the key feature of this special summer camp.

There will certainly be the expert  eye of Gian Carlo Minardi, supervisor of the Federal School, who will monitor the children together with the usual working group composed of the psycho-pedagogue Glenda Cappello and the regulations expert Lucio Tonello.

The newness for 2016, instead, will concern the technical partnership with OMP, one of the leading companies in clothing for racing. It will provide free helmets, overalls, gloves and shoes for all the enrolled members and a media coverage of the entire campus thanks to some collaboration agreements with the photographer Marcello Angiolella, and with Pierre Productions for TV aspects. They will resume the highlights of the event as well as provide all participants a file with the complete clip of the show. There will be some occasions of relaxation and leisure time for the children in the evening, thanks to the presence of an animator that will entertain the kids with games and fun activities after dinner.

 For detailed information, it is at your disposal the new website of the Federal School ACI Sport: www.scuolafederale.acisport.it where you will find photos and videos of the day, or you can see to the Facebook page of the School. For information about cost, you can write to kart@scuolafederale.acisport.it.

CIK FIA | Karol Basz proves to be a leader at Adria

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With the second place conquered in Pre-Final and the fourth one in Final, Karol Basz greets the second event in the European OK Championship at the Adria’s circuit, strengthening his position at the top of the overall standings. Definitely, a not easy weekend for the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing Team who proved his determination once again by becoming protagonist of important recovers. In Pre-Final, with a spring from the eleventh position, he manages to cross the finish line in second putting his name down for the win in Final.

In the middle of a downpour at first and then with a dry track, Karol is in second position when Sargeant hits his car. Thus, Karol ends his race out of the podium, in fourth position.

“Surely, it hasn’t been an easy weekend. The problems arose in qualifying have affected the race result. As usual, the team has made an excellent work. In Pre-Final, I did a good recover, but the regret remains for what happened in final. What a pity if you are hit two bends away from the end when you are struggling for the win and you have the second place in your hands. It is part of Motorsport. I want to see the glass half full because I greet Adria still leading the championship”, Karol Basz says.

“Without the final contact, we would have greeted Adria with a more substantial score. It has been a difficult weekend, but Karol has proved all his talent, becoming protagonist of a good recover in Pre-final and keeping himself away from risks. We will be ahead in the last two championship events, with an eight lengths gap from the first of the pursuers. This is the most important thing. Surely, I must congratulate and thank all the staff of the Kosmic Racing for their excellent work” manager Giovanni Minardi says.

F1 | Sebastian Vettel "on pins and needles"

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The GP in Spain and Monaco have left important aftermath in the state of mind of Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Lewis Hamilton.

If Mercedes and Red Bull drivers can console themselves with the win and the pole position achieved in the Principality, the Ferrari driver’s mood is definitely the worst. For some time, his attachment to the team has undergone a dramatic shift, as we could see from his last declarations. The positioning and the lack of competitiveness of his SF16-H start to be tight to him. The guy is champing at the bit. A certain anxiety towards the management seeps within the team, and the Spanish podium and the fourth place behind Perez sound like a defeat.

At Red Bull, Max Verstappen’s debut with a win brought new energy to Daniel Ricciardo who beyond signing the pole position in Monaco, with his fabulous lap wanted to launch an important signal. Anyway, the second consecutive mistake made by the pit prevented him again from gaining the win that he would have really deserved. The Italian-Australian was firmly leading the race. The disappointment was great, the smile glided away from his face, and he didn’t spare some criticism (more than deserved) towards the team.

The success conquered last Sunday should have contributed to temper the soul of a Lewis Hamilton in contrast with his team. Someone has talked about a possible layoff. With his win, the English has signed the first seasonal victory and reduced the gap from his teammate, only in seventh place at the start.

All these signals could suggest resounding changes, even if it is too early for making some provisions about the market of drivers. We can only be careful and see what will happen in the next weekends.

F1 | Gian Carlo Minardi "Ferrari tension. Red Bull in the ascendant"

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Early in season, Ferrari presented itself at the start as the main rival of Mercedes, but six GP have been enough to downsize the situation drastically.Starting from the first Australian event, the superiority of the Silver Arrows of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has been clear, just as the hesitation of Maranello.

Anyway, Red Bull has added itself. Backed by an excellent chassis with an extraordinary aerodynamics and by a good power unit, it was able to get back on top at every race up till the win with Max Verstappen in Spain. The coming of the very young Dutchman has contributed to give a boost to Daniel Ricciardo who signs the pole position in Monaco thanks to a perfect lap. Unfortunately, for the second time it was the pit that has ruined his race, delivering the win in Hamilton’s hands.

“Mercedes, independently from some reliability problems and mistakes, proved to be again an unapproachable car. Moreover, when it is vulnerable, Red Bull strategy fails. In Monaco, like in Spain, it is Ricciardo who lost the top of the podium”, Gian Carlo Minardi explains.The Italian-Australian did not spare criticism towards the team. “In some circuits Red Bull exceeds Ferrari thanks to an excellent chassis, in spite of an engine that still leaves some “horses” in Maranello. From the beginning of the season, the SF16-H has not proven to be that perfect weapon to defeat the reigning German World Champions. Many times, we have stressed how the gap is unchanged.The situation for Milton Keynes is the opposite. After a difficult 2015, they are bridging the gap”, the manager from Faenza continues.

The fourth place of Sebastian Vettel in Monaco behind Perez’ Force India, and the third Spanish place are results that begin to become uncomfortable for the German. “A strong irritability shows through the team, especially from Vettel who has also changed his declarations toward the team drastically. The young man paws the ground and starts to feel tight in his positioning. Maurizio Arrivabene, for his part, continues to point Mercedes, but a potential third place in the World Championship would be a defeat”.

Montreal could be an important testbed for both Ferrari and red Bull. “We’ll have the same tire compounds used in Monaco and the weather could affect the choices. Thanks to the long straights, the chassis and the aerodynamics have a central role, as the brake system. Red Bull will try to fill the gap of power with the goodness of Adrian Newey’s design” Minardi ends.