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

/in , /by

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”

/in , , , /by

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

/in , , /by

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”

/in , /by

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”

/in , , /by

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”

/in , , /by

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