F1 | Video-interview with Gian Carlo MInardi at Imola
At Imola during the BossGp Championship, we met Gian Carlo Minardi in the Minardi Team pit. Here is what he told us.
Archive for year: 2016
F1 | Japanese GP – Preview
A week later Sepang events and the double win of Red Bull, Formula 1 comes to Japan on a historic and technical track like that in Suzuka, with few escapes, where every mistake is costly for the drivers. We comes to the home of Honda that strengthened by Alonso’s and Button’s performances in Malaysia, along with a growing McLaren, will try to conquer some extra precious points for a more satisfying 2017.
A special plaudit has to be done to the Japanese audience who always rushes in the the bleachers, proving a great love for the Circus and also for the Minardi Team. After Ayrton Senna’s passing, the audience had decreased, but the old splendour is back little by little.
This weekend we are at less than five grand prix away from the end of the World Championship with Nico rosberg ahead of a very nervous Lewis Hamilton. Post-Sepand declarations made by the English driver are shameful. Such attack towards his employer is unacceptable. The problem could be caused by some tests for the upcoming season, mainly regarding the lubricants.
At Ferrari Sebastian Vettel will pay a three places penalty on the grid for the contact at the start. It is the least he could get by the commissioners. Ferrari in this final season is showing all its limits, not just against Mercedes. In Malaysia, Kimi Raikkonen collected the maximum with the fourth place, and this was also sensed through the team-radios between the driver and the pit.
In terms of tires, Pirelli will bring the Hard compounds, Medium and Soft. Ferrari focuses strongly on soft tires with nine sets for Vettel and Raikkonen, against the eight sets for Hamilton and Rosberg and six at Red Bull. A different solution at Mercedes with three sets of hard and two of medium for Hamilton against two hard and three medium for Rosberg. Only one white medium tire compound for Vettel and three red hard. Two sets of hard and medium for the Finn. Another component could be the weather, still very variable with temperatures around 20 ° C and a chance of rain for Saturday.
There are all the features to enjoy an interesting race on a historical and technical circuit with several overtaking opportunities. We will have the fight at Mercedes with a nervous Hamilton,determined to take a revenge, and Ferrari compelled to react after Kimi Raikkonen’s fourth place and Vettel’s mistake at the start.
Karol Basz conquers the WSK Final Cup and arranges the World Final in Bahrain
An absolute success for Karol Basz in the European WSK Final Cup that follows the second place in the German championship and in the European CIK FIA. At the Adria circuit, the Polish driver from Kosmic Racing Team dominated the whole weekend proving his great supremacy in view of the world championship that will take place next November in Baharain.
Since Qualifying Heat, Karol has made clear his goal, and signed two wins and a third place that gives him the pole position in Pre-Final. Without any hesitations and with a perfect race, he crosses the finish line, leaving his opponents just the satisfaction of the most fast lap, putting the final seal in his showcase after few hours with the win in the Final where he almost touches the best lap of the race.
Such a strong and decisive success stresses the qualities of this driver who will arrive in Bahrain with the World Champion’s scepter.
“It was a weekend without any problems, and we brought home the maximum. Now we are going to prepare for the most important event in the year: the World Championship”, Karol Basz enthusiastically says.
“Karol continues to prove his resolution, determination, and engagement. All these qualities make him the most complete driver in international karting. Along with Kosmic, we will focus on the World Championship in Bahrain where Karol is determined to double his 2015 success” manager Alberto Tonti says.
F1 | Malaysian GP – Scorecards
Lewis Hamilton – 9 extraordinary in qualifying with the new Sepang circuit record. He was perfect in race, betrayed just by car reliability.
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen -9 an amazing and fair race from the couple of Red Bull. They handled very well their advantage against Rosberg.
Nico Rosberg – 9 he was the last in the first bend due to contact caused by Vettel and he managed to recover up to the third position, confirming the positioning in spite of a shameful penalty. He made the maximum.
Kimi Raikkonen – 8,5 surely he made his best. His Ferrari cannot do more than this. P4 and 28” are normality for this Ferrari.
Valtteri Bottas – 8 he was able to bring some important points to his Williams, especially in the fight with Force India for the fourth place.
Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button – 8 they both have brought some very important points to McLaren, especially in view of Japanese race.
Jolyon Palmer – 7,5 he defended the first point with tooth and nail
Carlos Sainz Jr – 6,5 he also deserves a positive mark because the limits of his car are clear and especially those of an engine that has already made some seasons. HE suffers the comparison with last generation engine.
Sebastian Vettel – 4 after Spa, again a mistake at the start. It is definitely too much for a World Champion. His penalty of 3 positions to be expiated at Suzuka’s starting greed is correct.
F1 | Malaysian GP – THE POINT “Shame on the penalty to Rosberg. Vettel to be penalized*"
It appeared an anomalous race, but Formula 1 has proved to be an unpredictable sport due to very high temperatures that affected the strategies and due to Hamilton’s debacle that has given us an amazing fight at Red Bull between Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen which ended with the win of the Australian driver ahead of the very young team-mate who had asked space.
At Sepang, Red Bull consacred itself in the second position of the world championship to the detriment of a Ferrari that fought with a single car, that one of Kimi Raikkonen. The first coupe de theatre happened few meters away from the start with the ruinous entrance of Sebastian Vettel. The Ferrari driver, in addition to ruin his race, has heavily conditioned the Sunday of Nico Rosberg who has had to recover from the bottom.
Now I am curious to see what decision the commissioners* will take against the Ferrari driver because, after the Spa-Francorchamps episode, he has damaged a collegue’s race again at the start.
It is shameful the penalty of 10” inflicted to Rosberg for his overtaking at the detriment of Kimi Raikkonen. It was a simple race-contact. If we start to penalize this kind of actions, we really want the death of Formula 1. Right now, there is a strong need of these duels. They are essential for survival. It is not the first time that commissioners have had an heavy hand against the german driver at mercedes, conditioning the world championship.
Too many times they use double standards. Fortunately, he managed to cumulate a gap against Raikkonen that was superior to 10” nullifying this way the penalty, and the reliability complication that affected Lewis made some justice.
A third place that transforms into important points for the world championship.
Good race for Kimi Raikkonen that finished in fourth. The Finnish driver made his best and this is the real Ferrari position.
It is to be framed Fenando alonso’s race who from the last row closed in the seventh place, proving that McLaren-Honda is growing strongly. A good business card for his home race scheduled in Suzuka next weekend.
Before the greetings, I want to congratulate Antonio Giovinazzi, new leader in GP2 Series with only another scheduled event. He won race-1 and achieved the fourth place in race-2 that was won by Luca Ghiotto ahead of Raffaele Marciello.
Unlucky weekend in GP3 Series for Antonio Fuoco, affected by a tire puncture.
So, it was a another positive weekend for ACI Team Italia.
*Commissioners, after the race, have penalized Sebastian Vettel who lose three positions on the starting grid of the Japanese Grand Prix.
F1 | Malaysian GP – Preview
Formula 1 gets to Malaysia that has hosted a World Championship event since 1999. Two straights that are the evident signs of Sepang in which Mercedes will have the chance to unleash the whole of its cavalry (1000 HP recorded, 980 HP declared by Toto Wolff), before others as much important detachments. Then, they reach the mixed part in which it is important to find the right balance between aerodynamics and fluidity in bends.
This will be a tactical and demanding Grand Prix due to the high temperatures, even if strong rains aren’t so sporadic in this period of the year. Once again, three top team have different tire strategies. Mercedes and Ferrari bring seven sets of Soft tires for each driver, even if Hamilton can also count on three Hard ones, like Raikkonen, against two “red” tire sets at disposal of Rosberg and Vettel. At Red Bull, Ricciardo and Verstappen have chosen a solution with 3 Hard tire sets, 4 Medium and 6 Soft.
This race could give us some extra clues about the fight for the title between Hamilton and Rosberg who are divided by just eight points after fifteen events. Strengthened by his success of fifteen days ago, the German driver overtook his teammate, while Ferrari, after its 2015 win with Sebastian Vettel (with which the seals of the “Princing Horse” in Malaysia become seven) will have to recover some points against Red Bull. The fight for the fourth place between Williams and Force India is also going to continue.
For the second time, we can see the new property of formula 1, after its debut in Singapore. As they have already declared, they bet on a Formula 1 linked to big events and oriented towards the great world capitals. In my opinion, we should review the regulations radically, so to make races more spectacular.
Karol Basz conquers the second place in the German DKM Championship
At the Kerpen circuit, the last event of the German DKM Championship, Karol Basz achieves a peremptory second place in a Final that is worth the honorable positioning in the championship.
Surely, some regret for what happened in Pre-Final remains with the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing Team as a victim of a contact caused by Tonteri that then was penalized. A contact that forces him to end the race in eleventh and to spring from the sixth row in Final.With a great determination, the driver guided by the Mianrdi Management ascends the standings up to the second place, less than two seconds away from the winner.
“The pace and the speed were really good and we had a great chance to play for the final win. Unfortunately, the contact in race-1 conditioned the weekend, even if I am happy for the second place in race-2 and in the championship. Now I am going to defend the World Champion title in Bahrein”, Karol Basz says.
“Once again, I must congratulate Karol Basz for what he did in the whole weekend. Unfortunately, the only chance to play for the title was taken away in race-1. Surely, this kind of event should not happen in the major Ok category. Surely, in the final result, Oschersleben’s withdrawal has a role. Along with the Kosmic Racing Team, we will work to defend the World Champion title”, manager Alberto Tonti says.
Tomorrow's F1. Carey bets on "Big events". Minardi "We need shorter races"
Step by step, Chase Carey, Formula 1 new face after the acquisition by Liberty Media, unveils the project for the Circus new era. Back from the weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, in an interview released to the official website of the world championship, Carey talks about “great events” that will affect the whole week before a grand prix.“Singapore is incredible. It is a week-long show. A F1 Grand Prix will have to be part of a greater event, in which cars and drivers will be the core. Cars are amazing, as their technology, but this is not enough”.
Speaking of the market, Liberty Media will bet a lot on Land of Stars and Stripes. “We believe that F1 must reach the great cities of the world like Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.
“Singapore is the first circuit that has transformed its Grand Prix into an event with shows and attractions throughout the week. Really a good idea that attracts a lot of people, but Formula 1 cannot detach from true and historic circuits like Monza, Silverstone, and Spa-Franchorchamps”,GianCarloMinardi tells us.“Some years ago, circuit fields were assaulted by fans and transformed into campsites with tents and barbecue. Today, unfortunately, this is impossible”.
“Accessory events are absolutely ok, but we should have shorter and more spectacular races, a complete review of the regulations is indispensable. We need clear, fixed rules, accessible also for fans”, the manager from Faenza continues, calling attention on a highly current issue.
How many of us, watching a race, have risked to fall asleep? Singapore, except for the amazing fight between Kvyat-Verstappen, Raikkonen’s overtaking against Hamilton and the last laps with Ricciardo’s (failed) recovery against winner Rosberg, was endless, soporific.
“In the US, sports federations, from Basket to Nascar and Indy, are making a study about the indifference of young people for sports, who require faster events. In the next years, this crisis will also involve soccer. Ninety minutes are too many for a match”, Minardi concludes adding “The World is changing. In the last 10 years, the US, the percentage of new licensed people has passed from 73% to 45%. It is an important signal about what is attractive for today’s young people and about how their habits change”.
F1 | young grid in 2017. Sainz towards Renault?
Next season could bring many changes on the starting grid of a Formula 1 grand prix. At Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull the crews have been validated, but in the remaining part of the grid there could be some changes.
As we know, during the Italian grand prix weekend, Felipe Massa (born in 1981) announced his retirement from races. At Williams, alongside Finnish driver Bottas it could arrive Canadian driver Lance Stroll, former FDA winner of the Italian Formula 4 championship, and current leader in the FIA F3 European.
At McLaren, Stoffel Vandoorne (born in 1992) has already been announced beside Fernado Alonso with Jenson Button (born in 1980) as a third and test driver for the English team.
In June, Red Bull renewed its agreement with the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. that could be lent to Renault. From next year, Toro Rosso abandons Ferrari engines to embrace again the French power-unit. Thus, the Spaniard could be part of this operation, since the constructor is working to rebuilt its 2017 team. So far, Magnussen and Palmer have not persuaded the top brass (due also to a car little performing).
Among the drivers currently under agreement with Renault there is also Esteban Ocon born in 1996, who from the Spa-Francorchamps appointment wears Manor colors alongside Pascal Wehrlein (driver born in 1994 and now under agreement with Mercedes). The French driver, winner of two titles in as many seasons (2014-FIA F3 European and 2015-GP3 Series) could be placed side by side with Sainz Jr (third F1 season in 2017).
It could be promoted into Toro Rosso, the French driver Pierre Gasly born in 1996 and current GP2 Series leader, ahead our standard bearers Antonio Giovinazzi and Raffaele Marciello who surely deserve a chance. Daniil Kvyat, after being substituted by Max Verstappen in Red Bull, is looking for confirmations. In Singapore, in the duel with the Dutch driver, he proved to be an excellent driver.
At Force India, team principal Vijay Mallya has confirmed both the drivers, but Sergio Perez leaves an open door. Claire Williams praised the Mexican driver who declared to be gratified in an interview released to the official website of the world championship, yet he is looking at Renault.
After the success in the Monza GP, Antonio Giovinazzi was called by Ferrari for a test day at the simulator. Sauber could open its door for him next to Swedish driver Eriksson.
F1 | Singapore GP – SCORECARDS
Nico Rosberg – 10 very good in qualifying where he conquered the pole position. In particular, he managed to achieve a really important win in spite of a car with too many brake problems. He kept calmness during Ricciardo’s recovery.
Daniel Ricciardo – 9 excellent his first row in qualifying. In race he was always present, fighting till the end supported by a good strategy. With two extra laps, he would have bothered the leader.
Sebastian Vettel – 8,5 like Raikkonen, he optimized his Ferrari, becoming protagonist of an important recovery. Considering the same tire compounds used, the gap remains great.
Kimi Raikkonen – 8,5 I saw again an aggressive Finnish driver who made his best. His overtake on Hamilton was amazing. The fourth place was the maximum.
Fernando Alonso – 8 the Spanish driver raced very fast giving McLaren some important points in the fight against Toro Rosso.
Daniil Kvyat – 7,5 during his duel with Verstappen, he proved not to be “the burned one”. Two important points for Toro Rosso.
Kevin Magnussen – 7 for encouragement. Like his team mate he must gain the renewal for next season. An important point for Renault.
Max Verstappen – 6,5 he lost the challenge with his team mate in qualifying and during the race he appeared not in great shape to me, even if he accomplished some overtakings of his. Once again, unfortunately, he complained. It happens too often, really. He cannot expect the other drivers to step aside when he arrives.
F1 | Singapore GP – THE POINT
In the weekend of his 200th Grand prix, Nico Rosberg wins the grand Prix in Singapore, in the sprint ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton. With this success, now the German driver at Mercedes is on top of the overall standings.
A Mercedes that has also proven to win and dominate a weekend bothered by some brake complications. To Rosberg it has been a more suffered win than usually.
In comparison with last season, Red Bull has made great strides, improving of 1″8 in qualifying. Ricciardo attempted the feat till the end. With two extra laps we would have attended to another interesting fight. Conversely, Ferrari from its success in 2015 has passed in the fourth and fifth place. Both the drivers collected the maximum. After some reliability complications in qualifying, Vettel became protagonist of a great recovery, with Raikkonen maker of one of his best races with the Prancing Horse. The Finnish driver could not do anything against Hamilton, even if has been very good in half race when he managed to overtake him, before his pause. A Ferrari that had to use the softer tire compounds (SuperSoft and UltraSoft) to try to halve its gap with the competitors.
Singapore gave us a race with some duels. The driver at Toro Rosso, kvyat has tryed to take revenge on Verstappen, keeping behind himself the Dutch driver at Red Bull. He has surrendered only in the end, but on equal tires he proved not to be a “burned” driver. With the eight place of Perez, Force India returns in the fourth place of the world championship, ahead of Williams. It is still a very open championship and in fifteen days we will go to Sepag, another hot circuit.
Amazing and perfect, once again, the choreography and the lighting of the track that is all made in Italy thanks to the DZ company; a grand prix that is in every fan’s heart.
F1 | Drivers'market. Minardi "Stroll towards Williams, but there are also our drivers"
“If one of our standard-bearer, Giovinazzi, Fuoco, or Ghiotto does not make his debut into Formula 1, then it will be useless to work”. These hard words belong to Gian Carlo Minardi interviewed by www.minardi.it about the drivers’ market for 2017.
The manager from Faenza does not use any turn of phrase to stress the quality of our drivers who are protagonists in their respective championships: GP3 and GP2 Series. “In Gp2, Antonio Giovinazzi and Raffaele Marciello are in the second and third position, fighting for the title. Further away, there is Luca Ghiotto, maker of a positive debut season. With two remaining GP3 events, Antonio Fuoco is in the second place.
During the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Felipe Massa announced his retirement from racing, whereas McLaren welcomed Softel Vandoome that will race beside Fernando Alonso, with Jenson Button relegated as a third/test driver. “It could be Lance Stroll the substitute of Felipe Massa, beside Bottas. Now, the Canadian driver is committed to win the European FIA F3 Championship to gain the Super Licence, and for the first time in his short career he does not make any announcements”, the ex Team Principal continues.
The Canadian driver,born in 1998, signed his debut with the single seaters in the first edition of the Italian Formula 4 championship powered by Abarth and inaugurated its golden book, then the following year he passed to the FIA F3 European Championship. With still two scheduled races (Imola and Hockenaim) Stroll leads the standings of the European Formula 3. “We have to see what Sauber, Manor and Renault are going to do. The French team is working in the backstage to build its 2017 team. Important movements are also expected at Sauber after the change in ownership. Hypothetically speaking, there are still six/seven recommendable drivers, and Antonio Giovinazzi could be the market man. He has proved his talent in all these years, not only in GP”.
The Minardi family, thanks to the intuition of Gian Carlo and Giovanni, has proved his great feeling with young drivers, following the first phases in their career. “In 2010, along with my son Giovanni, I gave Giovinazzi the possibility to prove his value in a test day at Varano with a Formula Abarth, opening his path this way. Then, he found the important Indonesian endorsement. In GP2, he is showing his talent decisively, as he did in Formula 3”.
The games are open, and we wish to quickly see the tricolor flag in the top series.
F1 | Gian Carlo Minardi "Singapore, last call for Ferrari"
This weekend, Formula 1 goes to Singapore, one of the last Grand Prix for dreaming about a Ferrari win that will have to guard itself tenaciously from an aggressive Red Bull. Last year, Vettel managed to achieve the win after studying the problems at Mercedes that next Sunday will try to debunk the myth of a circuit where it has never made a double win in the last 8 editions. Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will try to achieve also this record, playing an important card from the point of view of the world championship.
With its 61 laps it is a demanding circuit that puts cars and tires under stress. Once again, Ferrari will bet decisively on soft tire compounds since it has brought 9 sets of extra-softs, Mercedes and Red Bull just seven. In Monza, the Silver Arrows have already proved to be at ease in any situation and unstoppable with any tire compound.
Ferrari will have to pay attention to Red Bull that is at ease in this kind of track thanks to an excellent aerodynamics and frame. They can also count on a Power-Unit decisively enhanced in comparison with that they had in 2015.
With Singapore, six events are missing to the checkered flag of the world championship, with different features that are critical for the achievement of the title by Mercedes.
Once again, there will be a lot of “Made in Italy” thanks to the DZ technology rewarded at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Dz, in fact, is ready to light up the night at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. From the point of view of the show, the lighting has a central role, but the action field of DZ also concern the audio-video system in the circuit, it is a support for the “Race Control Room” through its video-control system.
