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

F1 | MONTE CARLO GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “ANTONELLI MADE HISTORY BUT THE RACE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED”

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I experienced one of the most exciting days of my 55 years of motorsport.

I had a “younger brother” called Ayrton Senna who showed me see some incredible things, especially in Monte Carlo. Today, I saw an Italian driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, do something just as extraordinary.  First of all, the credit goes first and foremost to him, but also to all those who believed in him in the toughest times, when it was easy to criticize without really knowing his journey, and without understanding what he was building lap after lap.

Looking back at his weekend, from pole position to the fastest laps he set, even when they were not strictly necessary, the profile of a champion emerges once again. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s constant pursuit for the fastest lap was probably intended, above all, to keep his concentration high and to prove his worth to himself. These are the details which make the difference between an excellent driver and a champion.

This is a wonderful moment for Italian motorsport. Adding to Brandon Badoer’s win in Formula 3, another young man that I always had great faith in, even though luck has not always on his side. We are witnessing something incredible, five consecutive Formula 1 wins by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a record for an Italian racing driver who is not yet twenty. We should be proud of him.

Mercedes has made a big leap forward compared to last season. It can count on two top class drivers and an extremely close-knit team. George Russell is going through a difficult time at the moment, but I still consider him an excellent driver. During the race he was held up by Hajdar and the penalty further compromised his final result.

We are now entering into a crucial phase of the championship. The lead built up by Antonelli is starting to make a real difference, but there are still a lot of Grands Prix to go. This is precisely why it will be vital to continue working with the same determination and maintain the focus at the highest levels.

Toto Wolff is quite right to urge the Italian Press not to get carried away with Kimi’s  current form, since he built up a lead of 42 seconds from his direct rivals before the red flag, and I agree with him. We must let him get on with his work and continue to enjoy himself. Similarly, we must not go overboard with our criticism of Ferrari but let the team work in peace. They certainly have the quality and the resources to bounce back. Today, Ferrari is once again the second force of the championship.

I noticed that Charles Leclerc was particularly nervous. He probably did not expect to find such a motivated and competitive team alongside him. I believe that the mistake that cost him a third place – which was very important for him and for Ferrari – was the result of several factors, also including some tension. There is still a lot of work to do, Leclerc must not become discouraged, but he must stay clear headed and calm to make up for those tenths of a second that he was missing.

It was a Grand Prix full of twists and turns that gave us an unusual and very interesting ladder. Isack Hajdar’s third place did not surprise me. He is one of the rookies who got closest to the championship leaders throughout the season. It has been some time since Red Bull could count on two drivers performing so closely. Max Verstappen was unlucky today but Hajdar had already shown his potential right through free practice and on Saturday he put on an extraordinary qualifying session. Only Antonelli managed to deny him pole position.

Racing Bulls’ fifth and sixth places were also excellent. It was also a historic day for the Cadillac which took its first world championship point with Sergio Perez. They made the most of the opportunity that presented itself, helped by a bit of luck and by good reliability. I hope that they continue to improve

Before saying goodbye until Barcelona next week, I would like to make a final point regarding the decision to display the red flag and to restart the race with a standing start. With ten laps to go, given the obvious issues that they were trying to manage, I believe that in all likelihood the race should very likely have been suspended.

Safety must always be the highest priority. I have dedicated my entire career to this cause and continue to do so through ACI Sport. For me, the movies are a different matter altogether

See you in a weeks’ time.

Gian Carlo Minardi​

F1 | MONACO GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “IN MONTECARLO, QUALIFYING IS WORTH HALF THE RACE. PETROL COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”

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Monte Carlo remains a unique round of the Formula 1 calendar. It is a sort of roulette where much of the result is decided on Saturday. On such a narrow and twisty track, qualifying takes on fundamental importance and, barring accidents, the safety car or unusual episodes, the race is very often already decided at the first corner.

This year we come to the Principality with some new changes to the regulations introduced primarily with safety in mind, including a ban on active aerodynamics. It will be interesting to see how these changes will affect the behaviour of the cars on a circuit that demands maximum downforce and an extremely precise setup.

At Monaco the power of the engine takes a step back compared to the efficiency of the chassis, the setup and the skill of the drivers to avoid the guardrails for lap after lap. As I had already stated, also keep an eye out for the importance of the fuel. On a track as unique as Monte Carlo, where the cars race with the maximum downforce, and where today any detail can make a difference, the quality of the fuel used by various teams could become an even more decisive factor.  When the times are so close, even apparently minor details could affect the final result. For these reasons, I expect a particularly close fought weekend.

Mercedes and McLaren are certainly the favourites but also keep an eye on Ferrari as they could well joint the battle at the top. On the Principality’s track, the engine plays a lesser role than on other tracks and the quality of the car’s setup could make all the difference.

In addition, Ferrari renewed Charles Leclerc’s contract This is a significant decision that ensures continuity for the team and will allow the driver from Monaco to approach his home grand prix with greater peace of mind, focusing solely on his work on the track.

From a technical point of view, Pirelli has once again chosen the softest compound range available: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. The circuit features a very smooth asphalt, and, in some sections, it was resurfaced recently, particularly between turns 19 and 1, and between turn 7 and the entrance to the tunnel, as well as the entry and exit of pitlane. Traditionally, tyre wear is very low, and this could favour a one stop strategy.

This year a trial rule was introduced that required at least two pitstops, but the regulation was then scrapped and so the traditional strategy was reinstated. However, an eye must be kept on the potential issue of graining. Naturally, one of the variables to consider is the safety car which, in Monaco, could turn the race on its head in a matter of seconds. On the other hand, the weather forecast does not appear to be a decisive factor during the race.

Therefore, there are all ingredients for watching a spectacular Grand Prix, where precision, strategy and a cool head could prove even more important than sheer speed.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | CANADIAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “Antonelli is leading Italian motorsport forward

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The fourth straight win by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who also took the Canadian Grand Prix, confirming that Italian motorsport is at the top of the world championship ladders. This is also an extremely positive sign for all the work being carried out by ACI Sport and the Federal School.

It was an exciting Grand Prix, just like the whole weekend. Looking back at what we saw on Saturday, with a few more laps Kimi could probably have taken the Sprint Race as well. Both he and George Russell gave us thirty fantastic laps, giving life to a very fair and spectacular duel.

Toto Wolff certainly deserves credit. As the perfect head of the family, he knew how to mend the tear that arose after Saturday’s scuffle. We will surely see other clashes between these young men as the season progresses.

Like the great champion that he is, Antonelli gave his best performance on the very last lap, showing that he still has room for improvement and an extraordinary ability to keep his cool when managing the race.

It was also a positive result for Ferrari that took second place with Lewis Hamilton. On this occasion the British driver managed to clearly outpace his teammate, giving the impression that he has rediscovered his enthusiasm and consistency following the difficulties of last season.

Congratulations also go to Franco Colapinto, who finished in an excellent sixth place with the Alpine F1 Team ahead of his teammate Pierre Gasly, eighth across the finish line. Liam Lawson, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Oliver Bearman also performed well, making the most of the opportunities created by the high-profile retirements of Russell and Lando Norris.

It was an excellent race also for Isack Hadjar who was able to match Max Verstappen’s lap times something that Red Bull Racing had not seen for some time.

On the other hand, it was a race to forget for McLaren that paid a heavy price for a major strategic mistake at the start, compounded by various problems during the race. The team was probably aware that it did not have the pace to fight it out at the front and decided to play the card of the intermediate tyres, but without achieving the desired results.

Now the championship comes back to Europe with start times that are decidedly convenient for us fans.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | CANADIAN GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “CAN MONTREAL SHAKE UP THE BALANCES?”

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It has been three weeks since the Miami Grand Prix and Formula One is landing in Montreal, Canada on the 4,351m long track named after Gilles Villeneuve. It is an unusual track characterized by long straights and particularly demanding spots of braking that put the brake systems under severe strain. The track has been resurfaced recently and is currently very smooth and not very abrasive. Furthermore, we are talking about a street-circuit and consequently the track will evolve significantly during the weekend. This year, in addition to the top category, Formula 2 will also be present.

The Sprint format will also make its debut in Montreal. For the teams and the drivers having only one session of free practice before the main event will be an additional challenge.

This year the circus is taking place in Canada a few weeks earlier than usual in the world championship calendar, and this could have a further impact also in terms of the weather. Weather conditions always represent a strong source of uncertainty because they can change very quickly due to the absence of mountains and the proximity of the ocean.

This is traditionally a race based on two-stops, but this year the choice could be for just one pit stop. As always, keep an eye out for the for the possible entry of the safety car.

Pirelli has chosen to bring the softest range of compounds available onto the track; C3 as the Hard, C4 the Medium and C5 the Soft. Potential graining must also be monitored.

As I have already mentioned, we are coming back from a three-week break and many teams – if not all of them -, will introduce technical updates to try to challenge the supremacy of the Mercedes-AMG Formula One Team. In the front row there will surely be McLaren which was revitalized in Miami, but keep an eye on Red Bull Racing and Ferrari too.

Speaking about Red Bull, Max Verstappen kept himself in shape by taking part in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. His race ended three hours before the finish, but it is always great to see champions of his calibre taking time for fun and put on a show for the fans.

Amongst the unknown factors, we must not forget the infamous “Wall of Champions “which is always insidious at the exit of the final chicane following the long straight.

Let’s hope for a good time and to hear Italy’s national anthem once again.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | MIAMI GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “ITALIAN MOTORSPORT AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD”

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli had the Italian national anthem played once again in Florida a few after Gabriele Mini’s win in F2. This was a day of special significance for those who love this sport.

Italian motorsport is currently going through one of its finest periods in recent years. The results achieved by Antonelli and Mini, and Leonardo Fornaroli last year, confirm that the work done is producing talents capable of making their mark at the very highest international levels.

This represents a source of great pride and satisfaction for me too in my roles as the Managing Director of ACI, Chairman of the Speed Commission and Supervisor of the Federal School which, under the leadership of Raffaele Giammaria, is reaching important milestones

Once again Antonelli proved his worth with an exceptional weekend, starting with the commanding pole position. In the race he fought it out on the edge of thousandths of a second against the world champions McLaren and Lando Norris.

We are talking about a young man who is only 19 years, who still has wide room for improvement, and is making rapid progress, even though this does not come as a surprise for those who have followed him since the karts. Year after year he has deserved the place he is now occupying. I have every confidence in him because he has a maturity beyond his age. As is my habit, I followed the GP keeping an eye on the times lap by lap, and it was impressive.

As was to be expected, the enforced month-long break has shifted the balance on the track, starting with McLaren’s improvement following a difficult start to the season. All the teams have had time to analyse the data gathered in the first few races, although there is still a lot of work to be done, particularly in terms of reliability, as we saw at the end.

Ferrari has made progress, but at the moment it is still not quite enough to worry Mercedes and McLaren at race pace. Charles Leclerc in particular struck a problem in the end that cost him third place, while Lewis Hamilton seemed to me to be struggling slightly more.

It was a difficult weekend for George Russell too. Apart from not being at home with the track, I had the sense that he is feeling pressure from the growth of his teammate.

The circus now moves on to Canada, where everyone will bring further new developments. The season is still long but seeing Antonelli reach 100 points after only a few races is something that should make all Italian motorsport proud.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | JAPANESE GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ANTONELLI IS AN EXCEPTIONAL ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG DRIVERS”

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After his win in China, Kimi Antonelli confirmed that his excellent form by taking a clean sweep at Suzuka: pole position, the win, fastest lap, and the lead in the world championship.

Regardless of the result, what was most striking was the quality of his performance. To borrow a saying that was so dear to former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi – “eye, luck and skill” – this case had all the ingredients the eye of Mercedes in the choice and the development of the driver, the flawless administration of the variations of the race, and, above all, the skill of the driver.

From the technical point of view, Antonelli secured the win in the second half of the race, following the restart after the safety car. He maintained an extremely consistent race pace, consistently lapping under 1.33 – with only two exceptions -, and setting seven fastest laps, extending his lead over his closest rival Oscar Piastri, to 14”. A detail that highlights not only pure performance, but also the excellent management of the tyres and tyre wear on a demanding track such as Suzuka.

It was a wonderful start to the day that let us witness a hard-fought race, made even better by the win by an Italian driver who, despite his young age, is demonstrating that he learnt a great deal from his debut season. For Italian sport, Kimi is an exceptional role model and a great inspiration to many young people. He is a source of pride for the Federation, ACI Sport, and the Federal School with which I have had the pleasure of working over the years.

Mercedes still has room for improvement at the start but overall, it has shown that fit remains the technical hallmark, thanks to an extremely well-balanced package.

The battle between Leclerc and Russell also provided interesting comparison between Ferrari and Mercedes. The driver from Monte Carlo made the most of the situation, defending his place very well despite an inferior performance, particularly in terms of race pace. Ferrari took home an important podium finish, but there is still a gap to bridged especially in the consistency of performance.

There are signs of a comeback from McLaren after two difficult races: the return to the top indicates potential that must still be fully expressed. As they have the same Mercedes power unit, the focus is mainly on the chassis and the aerodynamic balancing.

Alpine too is benefitting from the excellent performance of the Mercedes engine that continues to be the hallmark. Gasly managed to hold off the attacks from a champion of the calibre of Max Verstappen. for all the grand prix

It has been an exciting start of the season. It is a shame about this forced month long break, though  all the teams will have the chance to work in their factories to analyse the data collected at first the three circuits which are all very different from one to another They will be able to do this without the stress of two demanding trips like Bahrein and Saudi Arabia. When the season resumes in Miami will be able to see a few changes.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | JAPANESE GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI “A SPECTACLE ON THE TRACK, AND THEN SILENCE: SUZUKA BEFORE THE FORCED STOP”

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We are coming from days of all Italian celebration thanks to Kimi Antonelli’s win in China. It was an important win for both him and Italian motorsport. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Imola Circuit for the dinner to celebrate Ayrton Senna’s birthday. I saw a calm, relaxed young man who was approachable to everyone. This too is one of his strong points, together with his natural talent and his ability to never make the same mistake twice.

Now we move to Japan, on a track that really brings out the best in all the drivers, and I hope that he will be able to show us all how talented he is once again.  Suzuka is a real track, one of the most popular in Formula 1, because its eighteen bends really allow the driving skills to shine through.

Unlike previous years, the Circus has come to the track at the start of the season. This is a significant change from a logistical point of view too, and one that could affect the weather conditions that the drivers and the teams will face: heavy rain that could in fact give way to temperatures that are even higher than the seasonal average.

On the tyre front, Pirelli has chosen the hardest compounds – C1 for the Hard, C2 the Medium and C3 for the Soft – partly because the track surface tends to favour graining, especially in the softest tyres

We are only at the third race of the season, so it is too early to draw up a clear pecking order. The exception is Mercedes that currently appears to have an overall advantage across all the areas of the car, and not just in the power unit, as some would have us believe. For now, Ferrari sits behind them as the second strongest team in the world championship.

But keep an eye on the calendar. After Japan there will be a “blackout” of a month, due to the (temporary?) cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP. This will be a period in which all the teams will work intensively in the factory and on the simulator. When the season resumes in Miami (1-3 May) the balance of power could also change. Today Formula 1 is capable of reacting much more quickly than in the past.

In the meantime, for this weekend some teams – including Haas, Racing Bulls, Red Bull and Mercedes- have unveiled special liveries to mark the occasion, helping to make these cars even more striking.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | CHINESE GP THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “KIMI HAS ALREADY MADE HISTORY: POLE, FASTEST LAP AND VICTORY. AN EXCELLENT BATTLE IN FERRARI”

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This is a historic moment for Italian motor racing. Twenty years after Giancarlo Fisichella, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has brought the Italian flag back to the highest step of the Formula 1 World Championship. It was an extraordinary achievement crowned by pole position, the fastest lap and victory, a result that eluded an Italian driver for more than fifty years.

Congratulations also go to all those who believed in him right from the start: starting with my son Giovanni Minardi, who brought him to Mercedes, to ACI Sport, to Mercedes, and to Toto Wolff for the work they have done in these years. But the main credit belongs to him: “Kimi” has grown race after race and he proved it again today, by setting the fastest lap in the 53rd lap with tyres that already done 42 laps.

He managed the race like a champion, demonstrating that he had learned from the past. This is one of his best qualities: he never makes the same mistake twice. This is a very important sign for his career.

The consistency of his race pace is also impressive. We also saw this during the Sprint and in previous races: a pace that is always very high. As his fuel tank emptied, he continued to improve, lapping with minimal differences between each lap, often in the order of thousands of a second.

Ferrari continues to have a better start, but at the moment, it is still three-four tenths of a second slower than Mercedes at race pace. The fair and spectacular battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is really exciting, with the British driver finally taking his first podium finish in Ferrari’s colours.

As I have already pointed out, reliability makes all the difference in this phase of the season. Points are precious and those who managed to keep out of trouble were rewarded, Oliver Bearman, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Carlos Sainz Jnr and Franco Colapinto were very good and capitalized on the many retirements, taking home important points for their respective teams. On the other hand, McLaren’s debacle, with neither car starting, was sensational.

Now, let us enjoy Antonelli’s splendid win. In two weeks, Suzuka awaits us, a real circuit that will tell us more about the values on the field.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | CHINESE GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MERCEDES IS STILL IN THE LEAD, BUT FORMULA 1 IS STILL IN THE LEARNING STAGE”

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From Australia to China. Formula 1’s new season lands in Shanghai in an atmosphere of uncertainty among the drivers and the insiders. The weekend of the Chinese Grand Prix will in fact be a particularly important test, also because it will host the first Sprint Race of the season.

The first signs from the opening round have already sparked some thoughts within FIA. The pre-season test days showed that they were probably not enough for all the teams to thoroughly evaluate the technical variables of the new racing cars. It cannot be ruled out that there may be changes in the winter preparation in the future, although any changes will inevitably take time.

Dopo una sola gara, tuttavia, qualsiasi analisi sul reale equilibrio di forze tra le scuderie deve essere condotta con cautela. Le squadre si trovano ancora in una fase di comprensione delle vetture, tra raccolta dati, correlazione tra simulatore e pista e progressiva ottimizzazione dei set-up e di tutti i nuovi sistemi.

After only one race however, any analysis of the real balance of power between the teams must be conducted carefully. The teams are still in the process of understanding the cars, collecting data, correlating simulator and track performance and the track and progressively optimizing  set-ups and all the new systems.

One thing seems clear however: the strength of the Mercedes. The new Mercedes W17 has shown its competitiveness, not just in terms of the power unit, but also in terms of aerodynamic efficiency, the strategic management of the race and the overall balance of the chassis.

In Melbourne, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli demonstrated an extremely consistent race pace, managing to complete 47 laps on the same set of tyres. This highlights not just the effectiveness of their management of the tyres, but also the stability of the chassis throughout the different stages of stints, which contributed decisively to the first one-two finish of the season by the team from Brackley.

The weekend in China will add further complexity from the technical and operational points of view. In fact, the Sprint format drastically reduces the time available for preparing the car: teams and drivers will have only one session of free practice before entering the regime of parc fermé. This means that most of the choices of the asset will have to be made based on the data from the simulations and the analyses carried out ahead the weekend.

The Sprint race, to cover 19 laps, will also offer a different technical scenario compared to the traditional race. The reduced fuel load will affect the behaviour of the racing car, impact on the balance, the thermal management of the tyres and the strategies for using the tyres.

On the tyre front, Pirelli will bring to Shanghai the C2, C3 and C4 compounds. This is a different choice compared to the one made for the opening race, but in line with the specifications used in the last few rounds held on the Chinese circuit since it returned to the world championship calendar.

In the opening phase of the season characterized by many unknown technical factors and a balance that is still to be defined, it will be essential for all the teams to proceed methodically, collecting data and progressively developing the cars.

There are still many variables, and the championship has only just begun.

— Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | AUSTRALIAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MERCEDES CONFIRMED. FERRARI? THEY DID NOT GET THE STRATEGY WRONG”

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The new Formula season opened with a grand prix full of twists and turns, starting with Max Verstappen’s mistake in Q1, that contributed to making the race particularly interesting.  Among the mistakes to point out was also the one by Oscar Piastri who started the season with zero, and Kimi Antonelli in FP3.

And it was the Mercedes driver who showed a very important sign of growth and maturity. With little more than three minutes left in Q1 he took to the track with only one useful lap and a car not in the best condition, he managed to qualify for Q2 and then even took place on the front row, setting the second-best time behind his teammate.

The first Grand Prix of the season confirmed the current supremacy of Mercedes that took a one-two finish, albeit with a smaller margin than on Saturday. In the second half of the race the two cars managed their lead, even managing to cover 47 laps with the hard tyres, compared to the 32 of Charles Leclerc.

On the other hand, Scuderia Ferrari confirmed its strength is at the start, taking advantage of this in the best way possible. Despite a less than perfect start, George Russell was able to defend his position, while his teammate lost several places before quickly recovering the lost ground.

I do not believe that the people from Maranello on the wall made a mistake in the strategy they adopted. The team wagered on possible deterioration of the Mercedes’ tyres which, in fact, was the only option to try to put them in difficulty. However, this deterioration did not happen. The good work carried out by Pirelli with the new compounds must be pointed out.

Also to be pointed out is Verstappen’s excellent comeback, favoured by 4 VSCs and by a strategy of two pitstops that let him set the fastest lap of the race. The race management also handled the race well.

Isack Hadjar was unlucky and also very convincing, proving that he was very close to his teammate throughout the whole weekend.  It had been a while since Red Bull Racing had shown two such competitive cars.

Among the positive notes of the start of this season there is also Arvid Lindblad who took home the Racing Bull’s first points on his debut thanks to a solid eight place. Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto with Audi and Pierre Gasly also scored points.

However, the Aston Martin F1 Team still has a lot of work to do. The possible cancellation of the GPs in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could offer a little more time to make up the ground lost. In any case, it will still be a week of intense analysis by all the teams ahead of the next race in China.

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

MINARDI: “2026 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, RELIABILITY AND FUEL DECISIVE IN THE FIRST RACES”

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We are approaching the first round of the 2026 World Championship with a lot of curiosity, but also with a lot of unknown factors and some inevitable uncertainties. In my opinion, whoever manages to take advantage of reliability in the first few races will be able to build an important lead for the whole season. In fact, beyond pure performance, it will be reliability and the quality of fuel adopted that will be the two key factors in the first phase of the new cycle. The engine will be the protagonist and there could be significant differences in terms of horsepower between one fuel and another.

Between Barcelona and Bahrein, we saw days of testing that were less complicated than I expected, even if we do not know precisely what was tested and in what way. For this very reason, it is impossible to venture a ladder of the forces in the field. Only Melbourne will be able to give us a real snapshot of the situation.  However, it is obvious that Aston Martin is currently lagging behind and struggling compared to the others.

As was predictable, with such a radical change of regulations the engineers have chosen very different solutions. We will see who has interpreted the regulations best. In contexts such as this, the balances established up until last season ca be completely overturned, anything really can happen.

Among the variables in the race, we must also consider the mistakes by drivers, who are called upon to adapt to a new style of driving. Even we viewers will have to get used to new scenarios which are not easy to interpret and decide. But, as with any new development, patience is needed before making any definitive judgments.

Before our next appointment next week, I would like to welcome Mario Isola as the Managing Director of ACI Sport. I was personally involved in this choice, and I am proud of the arrival of such an important figure who represents a further step forward in the development of Italian motor racing, I am delighted to accompany this phase of transition from 2 January to 30 June  ahead of the official inauguration on July 1.

Gian Carlo Minardi