F1 | Gp Belgium, MINARDI “Positivo lo scambio The Gasly-Albon swap was positive”

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We have started the week of the Belgian Grand Prix. The scenographic Spa-Francorchamps track will host the thirteenth round and Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso gave us the most important news with the swap of Gasly/Albon. I am talking about turnover and not downgrading since it seems a plausible act to me between two teams with the same ownership, especially with an eye to the future.

Red Bull already knows the level of Kvyat who was the author of a podium finish in Germany, while it still does not know the full potential of the very young Alexander in his first season in the world championship. I think it is correct giving this opportunity in the light of 2020, especially when it has the possibility to take advantage of the resources “in the family”.

Red Bull Honda is growing strongly even if it must deal with the penalties on the motor front and with this action they want give themselves an advantage for next season in order to be more competitive and winning.

Last year in Spa-Francorchamps Ferrari scored an important win with Sebastian Vettel and we hope that this could be a good omen for this year as well. Some sections of the track are certainly an advantage for the “red car” even if Red Bull will be a tough and important adversary. We are faced with a championship that has little more to tell us on the final result with Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton launched towards his sixth World Championship but a win by the team from Maranello could be a good visiting card for the Italian Grand Prix scheduled for the weekend of September 8th.

There is an exciting duel behind the top three teams with McLaren in the lead as the fourth force in the world championship with 82 points, in front of Toro Rosso (43 points) that must try to not nullify the work carried out up to now by defending fifth place from Renault (39 points).

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp Hungary, MINARDI “The real contest is behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull”

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We are on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, a week after the incredible race at the Hockenheimring.

The weather forecasts are for scattered clouds and afternoon storms on the Saturday while the race will be dry. The heat could present problems, especially for Mercedes which, despite the unlucky weekend we just ended, is still the car to beat and Hamilton and Bottas will be on the prowl for a quick redemption.

The characteristics of the track, slow, tortuous and short, could benefit Red Bull that will try to get even closer to Ferrari’s second pace. The SF90 showed major signs of growth and could use a weekend that is not conditioned by problems or mistakes. In Germany the machine showed that it is competitive both in the high temperatures and in wet conditions on the track, even if it was betrayed by reliability.

The challenge is on above all behind the top three teams with McLaren in great form and taking an important lead on its direct rivals and Toro Rosso that took fifth place, on the strength of the place on the podium by Kvyat and Albon’s sixth place in front of Renault with reliability problems. For TR the fifth place could be its consecration, especially after the major work carried out last season with the Honda engine in favour of Red Bull that today is harvesting the results.

Traditionally the arrival of the summer break lights up the drivers’ market, even if this year I see it as especially “dormant” since the great movements could occur in 2021 on the occasion of the new regulations. Keeping the interest high is Bottas’ future in Mercedes, whose place could be taken by Esteban Ocon, in the prospect of making him grow up beside a champion of the calibre of Hamilton who, approaching the end of his contract could be thinking of a challenge far from Brackley. In the back markers, the knots to be untangled could be in Haas and Racing Point.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp Hungary, MINARDI “The real contest is behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull”

/in /by

We are on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, a week after the incredible race at the Hockenheimring.

The weather forecasts are for scattered clouds and afternoon storms on the Saturday while the race will be dry. The heat could present problems, especially for Mercedes which, despite the unlucky weekend we just ended, is still the car to beat and Hamilton and Bottas will be on the prowl for a quick redemption.

The characteristics of the track, slow, tortuous and short, could benefit Red Bull that will try to get even closer to Ferrari’s second pace. The SF90 showed major signs of growth and could use a weekend that is not conditioned by problems or mistakes. In Germany the machine showed that it is competitive both in the high temperatures and in wet conditions on the track, even if it was betrayed by reliability.

The challenge is on above all behind the top three teams with McLaren in great form and taking an important lead on its direct rivals and Toro Rosso that took fifth place, on the strength of the place on the podium by Kvyat and Albon’s sixth place in front of Renault with reliability problems. For TR the fifth place could be its consecration, especially after the major work carried out last season with the Honda engine in favour of Red Bull that today is harvesting the results.

Traditionally the arrival of the summer break lights up the drivers’ market, even if this year I see it as especially “dormant” since the great movements could occur in 2021 on the occasion of the new regulations. Keeping the interest high is Bottas’ future in Mercedes, whose place could be taken by Esteban Ocon, in the prospect of making him grow up beside a champion of the calibre of Hamilton who, approaching the end of his contract could be thinking of a challenge far from Brackley. In the back markers, the knots to be untangled could be in Haas and Racing Point.

Gian Carlo Minardi