F1 | DUTCH GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “ZANDVOORT RETURNS WITH THE SPRINT RACE. THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IS ENTERING ITS DECISIVE PHASE”

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After the summer break the Formula 1 World Championship takes to the track once again for the Dutch Grand Prix. It is a particularly significant restart because this is the final edition of the Dutch race: from next year Zandvoort will be dropped from the calendar.,

So, it will be a special weekend, especially for Max Verstappen who will race his home Grand Prix for the last time in front of his home crowd. This is where the Dutchman built a major part of his recent history, taking three wins, and it will be interesting to see if he will be able to say goodbye to Zandvoort with another result as a front runner.A

The circuit is very distinctive and gives nothing away. Its 4,259m are characterized with 14 bends, some of them very fast, and especially the two banked bends, 3 and 14, which have inclines of 19 and 18 degrees respectively. These characteristics impose very high vertical and lateral loads on the tyres, and it will be essential to find the right balance of aerodynamics and management of the tyres.

For this round Pirelli has chosen C2, C3 and C4 as the Hard, Medium and Soft respectively, the same combination used last year. The choice of the softest range contributed to the two-stop race in 2025 race, also thanks to the interventions by the Safety Car. This year it will be interesting to see how the teams will interpret this combination once again, and whether the Sprint Race might further alter their approach to the management of the tyres.

Another element that is not to be underestimated will be the level of the grip. Zandvoort is very close to the sea and the sand carried by the wind could alter the conditions of the track, even during the same weekend. And the wind will also be another important variable, especially with this generation of racing cars and with their current aerodynamic characteristics.

The Sprint format will make everything even more complicated. Drivers and mechanics will have only one session of free practice, one hour in which to find the proper setup for the car before facing the qualifying for the Sprint, the Sprint Race, qualifying and the Grand Prix. So, it will be crucial to come well prepared and able to quickly assess the behaviour of the car.

After having seen the first half of the season, Mercedes is still the benchmark. Andrea Kimi Antonelli comes to the restart as the leader of the championship with 219 points, with Lewis Hamilton on 169 and George Russell on 160. The lead built up by the young Italian is significant, but it certainly does not allow him to let his guard down. With many points still in up for grabs and the Sprint format increasing the chances to shake up the ladder, the balance of power could change every weekend.

In the first part of the season Antonelli demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to manage the race and the tyres. As well as a maturity that continues to surprise given his young age. He will now need to maintain his consistency in the second half of the championship, knowing that the pressure will inevitably increase.

On the other hand, Ferrari comes to Zandvoort after a period in which it showed mixed results. Charles Leclerc’s win at Silverstone was a significant moment, but in Hungary the Team failed to continue that progress. Therefore, Zandvoort will be another test to gauge how Ferrari really measures up against Mercedes and McLaren.

And McLaren really is one of the great unknowns of the second half of the season. After having demonstrated significant progress in recent races, the team finally realized its true potential with Lando Norris’ first win of the season. This was an important sign that McLaren has returned to the fight for the top places and it will be interesting to see whether the win in Budapest marks the start of a new phase in the championship.

Even Red Bull deserves a great deal of attention. Max Verstappen continues to obtain impressive results even when the car does not seem to have the potential to stay constantly at the top.  And at Zandvoort he will also have a special incentive: to bid farewell to his home crowd with a performance that lives up to their expectations.

So, the second half of the season will open with many questions. Mercedes must prove its superiority; Ferrari must give continuity to the progress shown in the fits and starts; McLaren must show that the win in Hungary was not a fluke; and Red Bull must continue to make the best of every occasion.

Furthermore. Zandvoort will be a particularly interesting circuit to evaluate the capacity of the teams to adapt quickly to the conditions and the new format. With only be one hour of free practice, and the Sprint race already scheduled, there will not be much time to correct any mistakes in the setup.

Therefore, we expect a very intense and important weekend for the World Championship. After the summer break they will restart with the championship wide open and many points up for grabs.

Zandvoort will be the start of the decisive phase of the season and, with Monza coming straight after, even Italy’s motorsport is getting ready for some particularly important weekends.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | HUNGARIAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “NORRIS WON, BUT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IS MORE OPEN THAN EVER”

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The Hungarian Grand Prix gave us a wonderful and closely fought race, confirming once again how close this World Championship really is. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were the front runners of the weekend, and I am convinced that from now to the end of the season they will continue to give us a show.

Norris raced a simply perfect weekend. After pole position, he managed the race with great authority, setting an exceptional race pace and demonstrating he always had the situation under control. I believe that, even without unexpected twists and turns that characterized the race, it would have been very hard to challenge him for the win.

Behind him, Max Verstappen confirmed all his worth once again. In my opinion, he is making the difference with a Red Bull that today does not seem to have the potential to fight regularly for second place. His overtaking of Lewis Hamilton was spectacular, a move that demonstrated once again the Dutchman’s talent.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli raced his usual high-level race, confirming a truly impressive continuity of performance, although he must be careful with the track limits during the race.  Without the penalty, he would probably have been able to fight for second place with Verstappen. On the other hand, I believe that, from what we saw throughout the weekend, Norris had something extra compared to everyone else.

With the results from the Hungaroring, the World Championship remains wide open. It only takes a small episode to go from hero to zero, as Ferrari’s race showed.  Charles Leclerc’s imperfect start and Lewis Hamilton’s penalty for speeding in pit lane compromised a result that could have been even better. I do not believe that Ferrari had the potential to win today, but it could certainly have aimed for a place on the podium.

However, the weekend’s real surprise was McLaren. The team had already shown major signs of improvement in the previous races, and at Budapest it had realized all its potential by taking pole position and the win. It was a shame for Oscar Piastri’s retirement, which denied the team a possible double and confirmed the that the issues of reliability continue to be a major concern even for the cars with Mercedes engines.

Speaking about Mercedes, even Geroge Russell staged a remarkable comeback. A problem at the start dropped him to the back of the pack, but he was able to climb back up to seventh place, limiting the damage and confirming once again the excellent race pace of the German car.

It was a very strong performance also by the Racing Bulls which, with fifth place, reached what I consider to be the season’s objective. It was a very satisfying result for the team from Faenza which continues to improve race by race and the confirms the quality of the work carried out both on the track and in the development of the car.

Another very positive weekend for Italy’s motorsport has come to a close. In addition to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s podium finish in Formula 1, Leonardo Fornaroli did well in the first session of free practice with the McLaren and he will soon have another chance to climb into a Formula 1 car with Team Haas. In Formula 3, Brando Badoer took two third places, in the Sprint Race and the Feature Race, consolidating his fourth place in the overall standings. In Formula 2, Gabriele Mini took a spectacular win in the Sprint Race and thanks in part to his ninth place in the Feature Race, he consolidated his second place in the championship.

The World Championship is now taking its summer break. We are heading into this break with an even more open ladder and with at least three teams able to battle it out for the win. All the ingredients are in place for an extremely spectacular second half of the season.

Gian Carlo Minardi

THE HISTORIC MINARDI DAY IS HEADING FOR A FULL HOUSE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION AT THE CHECCO COSTA MUSEUM, F1 RACING CARS AND GREAT PROTAGONISTS OF MOTORSPORT. TICKETS ON SALE ON TICKETONE.

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A few short weeks after the opening of sales, the tenth edition of the Historic Minardi Day is already headed to a full house. The event, scheduled for Saturday 19 and Sunday 29 September 2026 at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit is drawing extraordinary interest from the teams, collectors and owners of historic cars.

Already sold out for both days are the slots reserved for Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3000, GP2, Prototypes and GT cars. On the other hand, there are still a limited number of spots for Formula 3, GP3, minor formulas and historic GT cars, confirming the great expectations that accompany the tenth anniversary edition and that already lets us imagine a new record attendance. There is also great enthusiasm from the fans for the track days, a unique experience that is open to everyone. The organization is working to accept the many requests received which exceeded the initial planned availability.

In 2026 there will also be a full programme on the track which will feature Formula 1 racing cars, including Minardi, Racing Bulls, Ferrari, Williams, Tyrrell, Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Aston Martin, Arrows, Wolf, Osella, Shadow, and March, that wrote memorable pages of the history of the World Championship, alongside cars from Formula 2, Formula 3, GP3, Formula 3000, Formula Junior, as well as Prototypes, Historic GT cars, and other racing cars. These cars are a unique heritage of history, technology, and passion which will come back to life along the 4,909m of the Imola track.

Now a well-established fixture and an integral part of the Historic Minardi Day programme, the ACI Storico Festival returns for its tenth edition. The highlight of Sunday 20 September will be the Rally of the Lands of the Romagna organized by the Automobile Club Ravenna. One hundred members of ACI Storico will be able to particulate free of charge in the Rally of the Romagna and, in the afternoon, experience first-hand the event’s programme. As per tradition, the rally’s full programme will see the start from the Imola Circuit, stopping at Faenza for a visit to the Local Council Art Gallery and return to the circuit for a parade lap of the track and the conclusion of the event.

Among the new attractions of the 2026 edition, the Checco Costa Museum will be transformed into a dedicated space celebrating the history and culture of motorsport. The public will be able to admire an exclusive photographic exhibition marking the tenth anniversary of the Historic Minardi Day, set among the wonderful historic Formula 1 racing cars, while also attending the talks with authors and protagonists from the world of motorsport during the many book launches and award ceremonies scheduled throughout the weekend.

Attending will be some of the most authoritative signatures of motorsport. Included in the appointments (in order of scheduling) and already confirmed are Diego Alverà, author of “Giro di pista. Circuiti e piloti che hanno fatto la storia della velocità” (A lap of the track, Circuits and drivers who shaped the history of speed,; Umberto Zapelloni, with “Formula Italia: Le auto e i piloti che hanno fatto la storia della F1” (Formula Italia: The cars and the drivers who shaped the history of F1) ; Mario Donnini, together with Bruno Giacomelli, and Andrea Cordovani, for a double presentation dedicated to “Bruno Giacomelli – Continuavano a chiamarmi Jack O’Malley” (Bruno Giacomelli, they kept calling me Jack O’Malley) and “Crime & Motorsport”; Veronica Vesco, with  “Michael Schumacher. Una storia indimenticabile” (Michael Schumacher: An unforgettable story); Sergio Remondino, together with Stefano Casadio, for the presentation of “Una Lancia nel cuore – Riccardo Errani, la Delta, i rally” (A Lancia in the heart – Riccardo Errani, the Delta, the rallies); and Riccardo Patrese, with “Da Niki a Kimi. Coraggio, tecnica e passione nella F1 di ieri e di oggi” (From Niki to Kimi, technique and passion in Formula 1 yesterday and today). On Sunday 20 September from 12:00 noon to 12:45, Gian Carlo Minardi will meet the Presse and the fans for an open discussion. This will be an opportunity to share thoughts on the current state of motorsport and outline future prospects and plans.

On Saturday September 19, on the occasion of the traditional photo on the track with all the participants scheduled for 1.00pm. the “Fernando Minardi Memorial Award” will be presented.

There will be no lack of traditional entertainment inside the paddock, with professional simulators, models, the Motor Memorabilia, LEGO® exhibitions and many activities dedicated to fans and families.

Already available on TicketOne are the tickets to see the tenth edition of the Historic Minardi Day, with the chance to choose between daily tickets and weekend passes valid for the whole event. Also confirmed for 2026, in limited numbers, is the VIP formula, reserved for people 16 years and over, which will allow guests to experience the event from a privileged position thanks to access to Pit-Lane and a private area with a terrace overlooking the track. Among the major new attractions of the tenth anniversary edition will be the debut of the new Experience package also available exclusively on TicketOne and designed for participants 16 years and over. This is an even more exclusive experience reserved for fans who wish to experience the Historic Minardi Day as protagonists, with privileged access to the fourth-floor Terrace (Tower) Lounge, access to the Podium for the group photo, premium content, and dedicated services. For those dreaming of taking to the track in their own car, a limited number of Parade Tickets is available which include entry for the Sunday, parking inside the Circuit and the chance to take part, at about 6.00pm, in the final celebratory lap behind the Safety Car, alongside the other registered cars.

With the main categories already full, and the last places available for the other classes, the Historic Minardi Day is getting ready to celebrate it tenth anniversary with record numbers and content. It will be a weekend in which the past, present and future of motorsport will come back to meet at the place which, more than any other, represents passion for racing.

All the information about registration, the programme and the entertainments are available on our official pages.

F1 | HUNGARIAN GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “BUDAPEST WILL PUT THE PROGRESS OF FERRARI TO THE TEST”

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Nicolas Kiesa (DEN) Minardi Cosworth PS03.
Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring, Hungary, 23 August 2003.
DIGITAL IMAGE

The F1 World Championship moves to the Hungaroring for the final round before the summer break. If Spa-Francorchamps was one of the fastest and complete circuits on the calendar, Budapest offers completely different characteristics and will present the teams and drivers with a totally different technical challenge.

The Hungaroring is a twisty circuit full of medium and low speed corners, so much so that it is often compared to a go-kart track. There are few straights, and they are relatively short, while overtaking is traditionally very difficult. For this reason, qualifying will be even more important and starting at the front could prove to be a decisive advantage.

While at Spa managing the recharging on the long straights was crucial, in Hungary it will be above all the aerodynamic downforce, the traction out of the corners, the car’s balance, and the management of the tyres that will make the difference. Furthermore, the high temperatures that traditionally accompany the Hungarian weekend will put the cars, the drivers and the tyres under pressure, making management of the race even more important.

From what we saw in recent races, I still consider Mercedes the benchmark of the World Championship. Andrea Kimi Antonelli comes to Hungary on the back of his win in Belgium (his sixth of the season) and with a significant lead in the world championship standings. The team has demonstrated that it has an extremely competitive racing car, but it will be interesting to see how it performs on a track with completely different characteristics.

On the other hand, Ferrari arrives in Hungary with full of confidence following the excellent signs shown in Spa-Francorchamps. Charle Leclerc’s race pace confirmed the progress made by the SF-26, to which must be added Hamilton’s fourth place despite the 5” second penalty he served during his pit stop. But the Hungaroring is an even more significant testing ground. It the Team can confirm its competitiveness even on a track with characteristics that are completely different compared to those in Belgium, then we will be able to say that the car’s development is now fully established and not linked solely to the specific features of a single circuit.

Keep a keen eye on Red Bull as well. Max Verstappen remains one of the main contenders for the win and on a track where the driver’s skill can still make the difference, he will certainly be one of the front runners.  McLaren is also worth keeping an eye on, it has shown significant signs of improvement in recent races, and at the Hungaroring it may find a circuit that suits the characteristics of their car.

From a technical point of view, Pirelli has chosen C3, C4 and C5 as Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. This choice leaves a number of strategic options open, although a lot will depend on the temperatures of the asphalt and how the track develops over the weekend.

In addition, the Hungaroring is a circuit that puts the cars’ cooling systems under severe strain. The low average speeds and the high temperatures in fact reduce the airflow to the engine, brakes and mechanical parts.

I expect an extremely closely fought Grand Prix.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | BELGIAN, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ANTONELLI WON LIKE A CHAMPION. FERRARI IS IMPROVING. THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IS ENTERING ITS DECISIVE PHASE”

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli won in Spa-Francorchamps, his sixth win of the season at the end of a race he handled with great maturity and intelligence. Once again, he demonstrated he has a quality that is making the difference in this world championship: the ability to read a race and manage every situation in the best way possible.

What happened at the start of the race was particularly telling. Having been overtaken by Max Verstappen, Antonelli did to look for an immediate response that would have compromised the management of his power unit. He let the Dutchman go without dropping the engine’s revs, he stayed in his wake and overtook him a few seconds later. It was a manoeuvre that was as simple as it was clever, which demonstrated the maturity achieved by a driver of just nineteen years of age.

From that moment on he set an exceptional race pace, also managing the Safety Car perfectly, and forcefully holding off the pressure from Charles Leclerc who also had an excellent race. This win was fully deserved and also serves as a fitting comeback after the misfortune that plagued him in Silverstone.

Mercedes continues to prove that it is the benchmark car of the championship, but Ferrari leaves Belgium with extremely encouraging signs. While the gap seemed significant before Friday, between qualifying and the race the Team took a strong leap forward, confirming in the long runs a potential that had only been glimpsed during free practice. On circuits with different characteristics, it could prove that it is even more competitive and continue to challenge for the win.

This is precisely why Charkes Leclerc’s second place is so important. Ferrari confirmed the improvement it had shown in recent races and is building on the results, boosting confidence ahead of the upcoming rounds.

The incident involving Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the first lap left me rather perplexed. Personally, I would have considered it a normal racing incident, one of those collisions that happen at the start when the group is still bunched up. The five second penalty for Lewis Hamilton seemed rather harsh to me, even if it must be acknowledged that the race marshals used the same standard in similar situations. This probably prevented him from challenging for the podium.

McLaren also continued to improve behind the leaders. The fastest lap set by Lando Norris confirms the car’s improvement, although the team needs to improve, especially in qualifying, to turn its strong race pace into even better results.

The fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ World Championship is also proving interesting. Racing Bulls continues to achieve strong results, while Alpine stays in contention thanks to Franco Colapinto’s tenth place. This is a battle that could go down to the wire.

Antonelli’s win assumes even more importance in the World Championship ladder. With 204 points the young Mercedes driver extends his lead from his main rivals, Lewis Hamilton, who remains on 159, and George Russell on 154. This is a significant lead because it will allow him to face the next crucial phase of the season with greater confidence.

In fact, with the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last round before the summer break, we are entering the decisive stage of the championship. It will be an important weekend also in terms of strategies, because many teams will start to evaluate how they manage the components of their power units and the potential penalties on the grid could prove to be decisive ahead in the run up to final part of the season.

It was yet another positive weekend for Italian motorsport. Brando Badoer’s second place in Formula 3 and Gabriele Mini’s fifth place in Formula 2 confirmed the excellent period for our young racing drivers who are increasingly making their mark on the international stage.

For Italian fans, it is a source of great satisfaction to see a young man of just nineteen leading the Formula 1 World Championship and, at the same time, Ferrari back in the running for victory. If these signs are confirmed in the coming races, there are all the ingredients for experiencing an exciting end of the season, with Monza already shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year.

Next week the World Championship will head to Hungary for the last round before the summer break. We expect another very important race before entering the final stages of a championship which, race after race, is proving to be increasingly open and hard-fought.

Gian Carlo Minardi

THE HISTORIC MINARDI DAY CELEBRATES ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY AND REVS UP THE ENGINES: ON SEPTEMBER 19 AND 20 IMOLA RETURNS AS THE CAPITAL OF HISTORIC MOTORSPORT. REGISTRATION FOR THE CARS IS NOW OPEN. ADVANCE TICKET SALES ARE ON THE TICKETONE WEBSITE

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The Historic Minardi Day has reached a prestigious milestone and is getting ready to celebrate its tenth edition. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit will host one of the most eagerly awaited events for fans of motoring, confirming that it is European hub for all those wishing to experience up close the cars that wrote the history of international Motorsport.

Conceived by the Minardi family in 2016, the Historic Minardi Day has grown year by year becoming a one-of-a-kind event that brings together legendary cars, racing drivers, collectors, teams and thousands of fans from all of Italy and abroad.

The tenth edition comes after a record breaking 2025 that drew more than 20,000 people, more than 700 participating cars and more than two million interactions on the social media channels, figures that bear witness to the event’s continual growth and the strong interest of the public in a now well-established format.

Even 2026 will retain the format that proclaimed the Historic Minardi Day’s success by offering spectators an immersive experience that is hard for other events to replicate. Tickets (dally-subscription-VIP, the latter reserved for those aged 16 and over, with access to Pit-Lane +1 pass for entry into the VIP area with a view of the track and exclusive merchandising) will in fact allow entry not only to the grandstands, but also to the most exclusive areas of the Imola Circuit, allowing fans to experience the two days as protagonists and in close touch with the cars and drivers.

Once again, the absolute stars will be the Formula 1 racing cars that wrote important pages of the history of the World Championship, alongside prestigious cars from the ACI Storico Festival – Rally of the Romagna, and from Formula 2, Formula 3, GP2, Formula 3000, historic GT cars, prototypes, supercars and the not to be missed track day sessions which offer the owners the chance to experience the excitement of driving around the Imola track.

Furthermore, the most eagerly awaited moments will include the traditional group photo with the drivers and the key figures  of the event and the Pit Walk, a unique opportunity which will allow the public to walk along pit lane and to see up close the cars and the teams taking part in the weekend.

Over the coming months we will reveal the guests, the programmes and the many initiatives which will make the tenth anniversary even more special, while maintaining the spirit that has always characterized the event: taking history back to the track and to share it with the public.

The weekend will be further enhanced by a packed programme of entertainment in the paddock and the conference room with presentations of books, driving simulators, models, motoring memorabilia, LEGO® exhibitions and many other initiatives for fans and families.

 “Ten years ago, we started with the idea of bringing extraordinary cars back to the track and to allow the fans to experience them up close. Year after year, the Historic Minardi Day has grown beyond all expectations, while keeping its original spirit intact. Last year’s success made us proud, and it inspired us to make the tenth edition even more special. It will be a huge celebration dedicated to the history of Motorsport, and all those who, during these ten years, believed in our plan,” commented the Minardi family.

In this way, the Historic Minardi Day continues to distinguish itself for its simple yet successful philosophy: to not merely limit itself to displaying cars of extraordinary historic value, but to bring  them back to the track, in their natural habitat, allowing the fans to admire them, to hear the roar of their engines, and to experience first-hand the authentic atmosphere of the competitions.

Registration is now open for the cars wishing to take part in the event. All the information and the forms are available on the official website www.minardiday.it.

Tickets are also available for advance purchase on the TicketOne platform (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/historic-minardi-day/).

The event will therefore take place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Historic Minardi Day, two days dedicated to the history, passion and the excitement that only motorsport can give.

F1 | BELGIAN, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “RECHARGING AND RELIABILITY ARE THE KEYS TO THE WEEKEND”

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The Formula 1 World Championship stops at Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most iconic and spectacular tracks of the whole calendar. With its 7,004m, this is the longest track of the championship and represents one of the most comprehensive tests for the drivers and the cars.

Spa contains all the elements that a racing car must possess to be competitive: long straights, very high-speed bends such as Eau Rouge-Raidillon, Pouhon and Blanchimont, steep changes in height, hard braking and constant alternation between speed and traction. This is a track that simultaneously puts the engine, aerodynamics, chassis, management of the tyres, recharging and reliability to the test.

From what we saw in recent races, I still consider Mercedes the benchmark for the world championship. The car has shown that it has an extremely competitive race pace and, race after race, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is proving his extraordinary progress in both the management of the tyres and his ability to read the race. In any case, reliability continues to be the team’s main concern We saw this clearly at Silverstone with Antonelli and, more generally, on several occasions over the last few weeks. I am convinced that the World Championship will also be decided by this factor.

Ferrari comes to Belgium knowing that it has made great progress during the season. The wins by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc confirmed the growth of the SF-26, but Spa will present a very different testing, and it will show us if the team can remain at the top, even on such a comprehensive and demanding track.

Keep a keen eye on Red Bull as well. Max Verstappen is still one of the most competitive drivers of the championship and on a track like Spa, where a driver’s talent can still make the difference, he will surely be one of the front runners, especially in qualifying. Furthermore, Spa is a circuit that the Dutchman knows perfectly well and on which he has often shown his qualities. Many teams will bring further updates, especially in aerodynamics, which could alter the balance once again.

But do not underestimate McLaren either. The world champion team is called upon to build on the progress shown in recent races, and Spa is an ideal testing ground for evaluating the effectiveness of the modifications introduced to the car. In such a tightly fought championship even a few tenths of a second can make a great difference.

From a technical point of view, the management of the tyres will be one of the essential aspects of the weekend. For this race, Pirelli has chosen the C2, C3 and C4 compounds as the Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. Unlike last year’s race, this year there will be no change of compounds, a choice that should offer more flexibility in the strategies, and leave various scenarios open, especially in the case of variable weather conditions.

Another aspect that deserves particular attention will be the energy management of the power unit. In fact, Spa-Francorchamps’ long straights will put the recharge and the use of the energy to the test, a factor which could affect the performance in both qualifying and race pace. Finding the right balance between performance, efficiency and recharging will be one of the most challenging tasks for the engineers and the drivers.

However, as often happens in Spa, the real unknown factor will be the weather. This is one of the few circuits in the world where it can rain in one section while another remains completely dry, forcing drivers and teams to make split second decisions. Also keep an eye out for the possible entry of the Safety Car which, on such a long track, can completely change the course of the race and shake up the strategies in a few seconds.

The weekend’s programme will follow the traditional format, with three sessions of free practice ahead of qualifying and the race. On such a demanding track, every kilometre covered will be invaluable for fine tuning the set up and for collecting data ahead of the decisive moments of the weekend.

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the key rounds of the season. It is a track that rarely deceives and provides back a very accurate picture of the real forces in the field. For this reason, I expect an extremely hard-fought race from which we will be able to draw important conclusions ahead of the second half of the season.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | BRITISH GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “LECLERC-ANTONELLI ARE THE GREAT PROTAGONISTS.THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE DECIDED BY RELIABILITY”

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The Silverstone Grand Prix confirmed once again how extremely close the Championship is and how the details will make the difference from now to the end of the season. Ferrari won once more with Charles Lecelrc, the protagonist of the weekend with Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The young Mercedes driver ran a very high-level race. He was the only one to cover thirty laps with the Medium compound, managing the tyres impeccably and demonstrated his surprising maturity once more. Until the technical problem hit his car, he was quickly reducing the gap from Leclerc and probably would have been able to jostle for the win to the final laps-

Once again, Antonelli was able to interpret the race perfectly, supported by an extremely competitive Mercedes. His management of the tyres was exemplary and confirms his extraordinary skills from this point of view. Despite the technical problem, he chose to stay obstinately on the track, playing all or nothing to take the car to the finish line and to take precious points championship rather than retire.

Unfortunately, the entry of the Safety Car after Max Verstappen’s accident nullified his obstinacy, especially due to the five second penalty for track limits, a decision that, in my opinion, should give us food for thought.,

I have already highlighted this in previous weeks and Silverstone confirmed it: the championship will be decided not just by speed, but above all by reliability. In my opinion, Mercedes continues to set the benchmark, but again some technical problems prevented the team from collecting the best possible result.

Ferrari can be fully satisfied. Charles Leclerc ran a very high-level weekend, taking a deserved win thanks to an intelligent race and excellent strategy and impeccable management of the race. This win rewards the work carried out by the team and will give a great boost to both the driver from Monte Carlo and the whole Ferrari organization ahead of the second half of the season.

Furthermore, Lewis Hamilton, currently under investigation for a presumed infraction of the yellow flag, showed that he is passing through an extremely positive period, demonstrating once again how much his experience adds value to the team from Maranello. Ferrari leaves Silverstone with the knowledge that it can compete at the highest levels.

On the other hand, Lady Luck smiled on George Russell who, after the extra break due to the puncture,, finished in second place reducing the gap from the leader of the World Championship, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, to just 25 points, reigniting the fight for the title even more.

Once again Racing Bulls confirmed that it is one of the most positive realties of the championship. The team knew how to exploit the opportunities offered in the race in the best way possible, by taking both cars to sixth and seventh places. This was an important result that rewards the work carried out in Faenza and confirms the continual growth of the team. Behind them Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi and the two Alpines completed the top ten.

One final regret concerns the end of the race. It was a shame to see the Grand Prix finish under the Safety Car because it prevented us from seeing the final laps under race conditions and from seeing further duels between the frontrunners. Considering how closely matched the field was for all the weekend, it would have been wonderful to see the battle go down to the chequered flag.

Anyway, it was another extremely positive weekend for Italy’s motorsport. Ferrari’s win brought one of the symbols of our motorsport back onto the highest step of the podium, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli confirmed once more that he is now an absolute frontrunner of Formula 1.

On the other hand, the sense of regret over what happened in Formula 3 remains. Matteo De Paolo had a splendid win on the track, only to be disqualified after the race due to a technical irregularity connected to the car’s ground clearance, which was found to be just 3mm lower than the regulation on the right-hand side and one millimetre on the left-hand. It was a disappointing outcome because the young Italian had driven an impeccable race, but the technical regulations must be respected.

Overall, the results of the weekend remain extremely positive and confirm how much Italy’s motorsport is enjoying one of its brightest periods in recent years, with competitive drivers making their mark in all the main international categories.

Gian Carlo Minardi

BRITISH GRAND PRIX GIAN CARLO MINARDI “SILVERSTONE THE TESTING GROUND FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP”

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After having filed away the Austrian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 World Championship arrives at Silverstone, one of the iconic venues of world motorsport. It was here, on May 13, 1950, the first Formula 1 World Championship began with the British Grand Prix. Together with Monza, it is one of the few rounds to have spanned every era of the series, becoming one of the most iconic and prestigious circuits of the entire calendar.

From the technical point of view, Silverstone represents one of the severest testing grounds of the season. Legendary corners such as the Copse, Maggotts, Becketts, Chapel and Stowe demand racing cars that are extremely efficient aerodynamically, perfectly balanced and capable of maintaining very high speeds. It is one of those circuits that rarely conceal the limitations of the car and, on the contrary, highlight all its qualities.

Further raising the stakes will be the Spring format. Teams and drivers will have only one session of free practice before diving into the heart of the weekend with qualifying on Friday. Therefore, the time to find the best compromise in the asset will be extremely limited, particularly for those teams bringing technical updates. On such a comprehensive circuit, it will be even more important to start on the right foot.

Patrick Friesacher (AUT) Minardi Cosworth PS05 leads Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) McLaren Mercedes MP4/20.
Formula One World Championship, Rd11, British Grand Prix, Race Day, Silverstone, England, 10 July 2005.
DIGITAL IMAGE

In terms of the tyres, Pirelli chose the hardest of the ranges: C1 as the Hard, C2 as the Medium and C3 as the Soft. This choice was dictated by the characteristics of the English track, where the tyres are subjected to the highest lateral loads of the entire championship. Barring any surprises, the strategy will likely be based on a single stop, although the English weather has always represented one of the major unknown factors of the weekend and it could completely alter the scenario of the race.

George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are demonstrating all the value of the Mercedes that, despite some concerns about the reliability which prevented it from achieving the results completely in proportion to its performances shown on the track, it remains the benchmark for the entire grid.

On the other hand, Ferrari faces a crucial test After the win in Barcelona and the step back in Austria, it will be vital to find its continuity once again. Silverstone provides the ideal testing ground to assess the effectiveness of the updates introduced in recent weeks and to understand whether the gap from Mercedes can be further reduced.

I would also keep a very close eye on McLaren. The Constructors’ world championship winning team is certainly passing through a more difficult period compared to expectations. In recent races it seemed the top team in most difficulty, both in terms of the performance and the continuity of results. Silverstone, which is its home race, will be a key round for understanding whether they will be able to reverse this trend.

Of course, we cannot exclude Max Verstappen from the fight. In Austria the Dutchman proved once again that he can make the difference, especially in qualifying. If the updates introduced by Red Bull confirm the progress shown in the last Grand Prix, he will be one of the leading contenders once again.

Furthermore, Italian motorsport is continuing its extremely positive spell. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is now a key contender at the very top of Formula 1, Gabriele MIni leads the Formula 2 championship, Brando Badoer continues to grow in Formula 3 and Leonardo Fornaroli, Mclaren’s third driver, represents another important Italian presence in the Formula 1 paddock. These results confirm the quality of the work carried out in recent years by Italian motorsport community and the Federal School.

Silverstone is one of the circuits that reveals the true character of both the men and the cars. For this reason, I expect an extremely interesting weekend, one that will give us very important insights into how the World Championship is shaping up.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | AUSTRIAN GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “RUSSELL DESERVED THE WIN. I WAS SURPRISED BY THE CONTROVERSY”

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Once again Formula 1 gave us a spectacular Grand Prix, full of tussles and fought to the very last lap. The first three crossed the finished line within less than two seconds, a result I did not expect after an extremely close qualifying with the first eight drivers separated by just 519 thousandths of a second and the first ten by less than a second.

This is a very encouraging sign for this Formula 1 which, while still having room for improvement, continues to offer spectacular races. We expect a very hard-fought season up to the last Grand Prix, in which reliability, technical developments and skill in interpreting the races will be the decisive elements. At the moment Mercedes remains the benchmark.

George Russell was excellent in turning pole position into a win. I was sincerely surprised by all he controversy after qualifying. In my opinion, there was nothing to discuss: the regulations were respected by Russell who simply exploited a permissible situation with great experience. This is part of motorsport and who can best interpret the regulations deserves only congratulations.

On the other hand, and it was absolutely understandable, a touch of experience was missing from Andrea Kimi Antonelli over the weekend. During the early laps he made a few slips, but from the middle of the race he was simply extraordinary. From the 32nd lap he set an exceptional race pace, culminating with the fastest lap in the 59th lap. In any case, third place represents a very important result, even in light of the championship.

Instead, Ferrari must stop and think. After the win in Barcelona and the developments introduced to the power units we expected another step forward, but the final result was inferior to the expectations.  Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, paying a gap of more than 26 seconds from the winner, while Charles Leclerc finished eighth with an even wider gap. Now tidying up and continuing to work calmly are needed, without letting themselves be dragged down by enthusiasm after a win or by useless arguments when the results do not come.

Even McLaren experienced a weekend harder than expected, that confirms how close the championship is and how a few details are enough to change the powers on the field.

It was a positive performance for Racing Bulls too, taking both cars into the points, confirming the excellent word done by the men in both Milton Keyes and Faenza. After having tried all or nothing in qualifying, Max Verstappen fought a very high-level race coming back to second place, confirming the progress in Red Bull.

Furthermore, another very positive weekend has concluded for Italy’s motorsport. With second place in Formula 2, Gabriele Mini consolidated his leadership of the championship, while Leonardo Fornaroli also continues to grow and who is always under the eye of Formula 1 teams, and is already in the orbit of McLaren. These results confirm the excellent work done in recent years and put our young drivers at the centre of international attention.

In a week’s time the World Championship will land in Silverstone, a circuit with completely different characteristics, where we will see if the values that came out of Austria represent an episode or a confirmation.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | AUSTRIAN GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “MERCEDES IS STILL THE BENCHMARK, BUT KEEP AN EYE ON RELIABILITY”

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Jos Verstappen (NED) Minardi Cosworth PS03.
Formula One World Championship, Rd6, Austrian Grand Prix, A1-Ring, Austria, 16 May 2003.
DIGITAL IMAGE

After having filed away Ferrari’s first win of the season with Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona, the Formula 1 World Championship moves to the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, one of the most unique circuits of the calendar. It is a short and very fast crack characterized by constant ups and downs, hard braking and sudden acceleration, where every thousandth of a second can make the difference, and the slightest mistake risks costing places on the grid.

Another element to bear in mind is the altitude. The 660m above sea level, together with the high temperatures forecast for the weekend, will put the power units, cooling systems and reliability under pressure. In a season in which several Grands Prix were affected by technical problems, this aspect could prove decisive once again.

In terms of the tyres, Pirelli chose the softest range: C3 as Hard, C 4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. This is a selection designed to widen the strategic options and favour a bigger number of pit stops, even though the new generation tyres have shown good consistency in performance. So, it will be interesting to see which approach the teams will adopt, and which solution will prove to be the most effective.

Furthermore, Spielberg is a track they all know very well and on which many teams will bring further developments, some of which will also involve the power units. Following the updates introduced in Barcelona, we may see the performance gap narrow even further, making the weekend more evenly matched.

Ferrari comes to Austria with enthusiasm and confidence after Lewis Hamilton’s win, a result that confirms the team’s progress and the importance of the experience of the seven times world champion in the development of the car. The men from Maranello are now tasked with building on the form shown in Spain.

Despite this, I still consider Mercedes the benchmark car in the championship. The real question remains reliability which in recent races has prevented the team achieving results that fully reflect the potential shown on the track.

There is also a lot of attention on Max Verstappen.  Red Bull is expected to introduce further upgrades, but the talent of the Dutchman is always an asset.  In Barcelona, he showed once again he knows how to get the most from the car, especially in qualifying, but on such a short track a perfect lap could be enough to find himself immediately in the running for pole position and the win.

The weather could also be another variable. The Red Bull Ring, nestled within the mountains of Styria, is often subject to sudden changes in weather conditions that can quickly alter the strategies and the course of the race.

So, I expect a very closely fought Grand Prix, with minimal gaps, decisive qualifying and a wide-open battle between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. In such a tight championship, the details will make all the difference once again.

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

F1 | SPANISH GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ITALY’S NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS PLAYED ONCE AGAIN. THE RIVALRY BETWEEN MERCEDES AND FERRARI IS HEATING UP”

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Italy’s national anthem was heard once again in Formula 1. This time it was played for Ferrari thanks to Lewis Hamilton who took his first win in the colours of the team from Maranello in Barcelona. For the British driver and for the Team it was a day of great satisfaction at the end of an almost perfect weekend.

Hamilton fought a race worthy of a seven times world champion, confirming his extraordinary value over all the weekend. I have the feeling that Ferrari has begun to take greater account of the indications and the experience of its driver and this approach is starting to produce solid results. The win in Barcelona could be an important passage in the development of the plan. It will be interesting to follow the next fifteen rounds closely.

It was a particularly interesting weekend and, in some ways, even surprising. In qualifying we saw seven cars within barely 411 thousandths of a second on a circuit that they all know perfectly and on which the teams brought major updates. This demonstrates how close the performance levels are and how every detail can make a difference.

For this very reason, it is hard to explain the superiority shown by Mercedes in qualifying compared to the difficulties encountered in the race. Barcelona was considered a key circuit for evaluating the true performance of the racing cars and, from this point of view, the weekend provided some very interesting indications.

The season is proving to be full of twists and turns and that reliability is assuming an increasingly decisive role. Currently Mercedes, as well as the client teams that use the same power unit, are not passing through a particularly easy period from this point of view.

It was a particular shame for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. He was driving a very intelligent race, managing the medium tyres better than his teammate and showing once again an extremely competitive race pace. His overtaking manoeuvre on Russell four laps from the end was one of the highlights of the race, but the technical problem that forced him to retire robbed him of a result he fully deserved.

George Russelle continues to confirm that he is very effective on a single lap, but in the race Antonelli showed once again that he can be extremely competitive over the full distance. It will be interesting to see how the evolution of the internal rivalry at Mercedes develops over the course of the season.

We are at a stage of the championship in which it really takes very little to change the result of a race or even to affect the championship ladder. For this reason, I believe that the rivalry between Ferrari and Mercedes is set to heat up even further in the coming weeks.

However, it was a more complicated weekend for McLaren. Even though it showed signs of improvement in qualifying, the team could not show the same level of competitiveness on other occasions, and it is still looking for the consistency needed to regularly establish itself in the battle at the top.

Barcelona remains one of the most technically demanding circuits of the calendar and the data collected over the weekend will be especially valuable for all the teams. The World Championship will now move to Austria, where we will have further answers on the true balance of power at play in what is proving to be an increasingly exciting season..

Another very positive weekend for Italian motorsport has come to an end.  Following the success of Formula 1, there were also very important results in the junior categories. Brando Badoer took an excellent fourth place in Formula 3, while Gabriele Mini took home a second and third place in Formula 2 and he leads the ladder, confirming his worth once again. These are very important signs that confirm the great work carried out in recent years and that should make us proud of the current state of Italian motorsport.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | SPANISH GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “MERCEDES IS THE BENCHMARK BUT KEEP AN EYE ON RELIABILITY”

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GP Spagna F1 1997 – Archivio Minardi Team

After the unique and particular round in Monte Carlo, Formula 1 moves to Barcelona for a Grand Prix that has always represented one of the most significant tests of the whole season.

The track in Catalonia is probably the one that the teams and drivers know best. For many years it has been the setting for the winter tests and offers a very comprehensive range of technical challenges: very fast bends, tighter sections, long straights and demanding braking points. For this very reason, it is a track that allows us to evaluate very precisely the true potential of a car.

Furthermore, barely six months ago Barcelona hosted the first private tests of the new generation of racing car. It was the first true opportunity to get to know these cars, and it represented an important moment for collecting data and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the new designs. Today, going back to the same circuit will allow the teams to gauge the progress made during the season.

While Monte Carlo highlights the qualities of the driver and the precision of the car’s set up, Barcelona rewards the overall balance of the car. Aerodynamics, efficiency, management of the tyres and race pace will be decisive during the weekend.

We are coming to Spain at a moment when a Mercedes Team that is passing through a particularly positive time. Five consecutive wins by Andrea Kimi Antonelli was certainly not a fluke, but the result of a plan that has continued to improve race after race. Mercedes’ advantage lies not just in the power unit, but above all on the overall quality of the plan, as demonstrated by Antonelli’s 37 laps with the Medium tyres whilst maintaining extremely competitive times. This is an important sign in terms of both the chassis and the management of the tyres. However, keep an eye on reliability that continues to be a key variable throughout the season.

In addition to Antonelli’s results, we are experiencing a particularly positive moment for the whole of Italian motorsport. Andrea Kimi leads the Formula 1 World Championship, while Gabriele Mini goes to Barcelona at the head of the Formula 2 ladder. Added to this is the recent victory by Brando Badoer in Formula 2 in Monte Carlo, further confirming the quality of Italy’s young drivers. In addition, we must not forget Leonardo Fornaroli who in Spain will have the opportunity to take to the track during the first session of free practice at the wheel of the McLaren in place of Lando Norris. These are important signs that confirm the excellent work carried out in recent years by ACI Sport and the Federal School and they should be the source of pride for the whole movement.

I expect an important response from Ferrari. In Monaco the team showed encouraging signs, confirming that it is the second force of the championship despite Leclerc’s retirement. Now they need another step forward to close the gap from the two Mercedes and to reestablish themselves in the fight for victory.

Also keep an eye on McLaren and Red Bull. In this phase of the season all the teams are introducing updates and developments that could shift the balance of power we have seen so far. In fact, we are now entering  a crucial stage of the championship in which every detail can make the difference.

From the technical point of view, the management of the tyres will once again be one of the essential aspects of the weekend. The high temperatures of the asphalt and the many high-speed bends will put particular strain on the rear axis, making the work carried out during free practice even more important.

For this race Pirelli has chosen the C2, C3 and C4 compounds, as Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. This is a slightly more aggressive choice than in the past with the aim of widening the strategic options and encouraging a higher number of pitstops during the race. It will be interesting to see how the teams and drivers will respond to this choice during the weekend.

After the excitement of Monte Carlo, we now return to a track that represents one of the technical benchmarks of the World Championship. This is why I consider the Spanish Grand Prix essential for gauging the true values on the field and for determining whether the balance of power that came out in recent races will also hold true in the middle part of the season.

Gian Carlo Minardi