GIAN CARLO MINARDI CALLS ALL THE FANS TO IMOLA “WE’RE READY. A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AWAITS US”

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If, on the one hand the Azerbaijan GP gave us the usual unstoppable Red Bull which set the third double of the season (in the first four rounds), on the other hand Ferrari set its seal on the double pole position and on the two podiums with Charles Leclerc interrupting the positive streak of Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin (always on the podium since the start of the season).

“I was left positively impressed by the two times set by Leclerc in the final part of the GP with the fuel tank full and hard tyres. The driver from Monte Carlo lapped in the same times as Verstappen and Perez staying in the tussle for the fastest lap, together with Nando (which then went to George Russell after the pit-stop). It was exciting. A positive sign, above all connected to the wear of the tyres, one of the SF-23’s Achille’s heels,” commented the President of Formula Imola, Gian Carlo Minardi.

Leclerc crossed the finish line little more than 21 seconds from the winner Perez, paying a gap of 44 tenths of a second per lap. “A major step forward compared to the 7-8 tenths of a second at the start of the season. Ferrari managed to make the most of the month without races to make its car grow, also because now demanding tour-de-force awaits them with 5 GPs in six weeks”.

After Miami the world championship will come to Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit for the Qatar Airways Gran Prix of the Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna from May 19 to 21. “At Imola I expect even smaller gaps. Ferrari and Aston Martin could start to interfere in Red Bull’s schedule. Amongst other things it will be the setting for a new form of qualifying: the drivers will face Q1 with the hard compound, Q2 with the medium and Q3 the soft. An unknown factor to keep us entertained and a major reason to support Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and all our favourites. I hope to see many fans also on the Friday and Saturday when there will also be support races”.

The President of Formula Imola called all the enthusiasts and fans together to experience the first European round with many new features, and an intense racing programme between Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 e Porsche Supercup “If the teams have taken advantage of this month long gap to develop their racing cars, we have worked to make the Circuit as accessible and comfortable as possible. In order to satisfy the needs of the fans we have set up another six grandstands and other new developments will be announced soon. Furthermore, the weekend’s programme will be full of races, with many Italians already protagonists. Above all in Formula 3” Tickets are on sale on the Circuit’s website.

F1 | GP AUSTRALIA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “I AM DISGUSTED”

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They want to make Formula 1 a show but in Melbourne they really hit rock bottom. From the yellow flag we went from the first (of three) read flag following Albon’s accident passing quickly through the virtual safety car and safety car. The peak was reached two laps from the end after Magnussen’s Hass went off the track when the race director Wittich had the red flag waved again choosing for a new restart from which came the third red flag for the collision between the two Alpines which eliminated each other.

In the lead Carlos Sainz caused Fernando Alonso’s spin taking third place. For this move the Spaniard will be penalized 5” despite the direction opting to start the race again, cancelling the previous restart. Alonso returned to the grid taking his position (third place with Sainz fourth) as did the others, except for Gasly and Ocon. The race restarted at the end of the two hours of the race with the last lap under the safety car.

It was really too much. There continue to be rules that are not clear and completely different interpretations from grand prix to grand prix. It is time to say enough and impose clarity. The race director was not free of mistakes, in my opinion distorting the order of arrival of the grand prix that has significance on world championship. The most damaged in this situation are certainly the two Alpine drivers who could appeal.
Ferrari could also appeal Sainz’s penalty., instead I saw Vasseur resigned. The Spaniard made a mistake in the in the collision with Alonso but the penalty was senseless because the subsequent restart did not take into account the new order.

Every decision is justified under the word “safety” but today, with these decisions, the drivers were once again put in even more danger. They could have easily used the SC and the VSC as always, without making all these pantomimes. The same experts have groped around in the dark giving personal interpretations.

The race direction was the real protagonist of this grand prix, stealing the stage from the drivers. Clear decisions with non-subjective decisions are needed.

Coming to the race, we witnessed good overtaking. Verstappen and Red Bull’s supremacy is impressive, even of we did not discover this today.

A step forward by Mercedes, even if the problem on Russell’s car is certainly an alarm bell on reliability, also because they are substituting a lot of components on the client cars. They are bringing forward intense work to go to Baku and Imola with many new developments. They have certainly not given up.

There were small step forwards by Ferrari. It was a good race by Carlos Sainz, even if lap times were distant, not only from red Bull but also Aston Martin paying a gap of 3 tenths of a second between the fastest lap and Fernando Alonso’s time. This weekend there were also mistakes in qualifying and starting in certain positions on this type of track is extremely risky as Leclerc’s retirement showed.

The third consecutive podium for Fernando Alonso which consolidates his third place on the ladder but above all for Aston Martin as the second force behind Red Bull.

Gian Carlo Minardi

GP SPAIN | IL POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MERCEDES-HAMILTON UNSTOPPABLE”

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Even if there was no need for confirmation Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton gave a new demonstration of their supremacy by winning the Spanish grand prix ahead of a just as excellent Max Verstappen who with the Red Bull tried everything to try and overturn a difficult situation.

Just like in Portugal we again witnessed an excellent duel, this time in three between Verstappen, Bottas and Perez, for the point for the fastest lap. This time the Dutchman did not miss the appointment leaving his team mate more than a second behind.

It was a GP that again saw Bottas lose the challenge with his team mate, paying a major gap, even if the number two driver brought home his “homework” of taking points away from his direct rival Sergio Perez. At the moment he cannot do more than this.

It was a masterpiece race by Leclerc who was the protagonist of a stupendous start in which he got the best of the Finn crossing the finish line in fourth place with a Ferrari that is growing but still pays about eight tenths per lap compared to the Mercedes. The driver from Monaco puts much of his own into it as the gap with his team mate showed.

The careless mistake made by Alfa Romeo during Giovinazzi’s pit-stop was incredible. It was a mistake that is rarely committed in lower categories. In this circumstance the mistake was made in both the preparation and the check of the set. In addition, not even the second set was ready. It was a festival of mistakes and always at Antonio’s expense. It was sad because his rhythm was superior to Kimi’s and he could have put himself into the fight for tenth place.

We file away a good weekend that, in addition to the excellent challenge between Hamilton and Verstappen, gave us very hard fought qualifying sessions, especially in Q2 with 14 drivers enclosed within barely 1”.

I look forward to Monte Carlo where I expect many drivers enclosed with the space of a few tenths of seconds. We all know how important qualifying is amongst the streets of the Principality.

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

F1 | A race calendar of 25 Grands Prix. MINARDI “A significant increase in costs”

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As we know, next March 15th the new Formula 1 season will start in Melbourne, the longest in history with 22 rounds (China GP allowing) on the calendar with the curtain falling on November 29th.

Liberty Media’s desire would be to further expand the race calendar up to 25 Grands Prix and. in a recent interview. FIA President Jean Todt said he was favoured this type of operation, highlighting that those who work in Formula 1 are privileged.

“This is a problem of the blanket that is too short,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi interviewed by www.minardi.it,

“In the light of the reduction of the costs with the inclusion of the budget cap it is insane to want to increase the numbers of GPs, but, on the other hand, the Circus no longer knows where it can find new money. Today the teams move from 70 to 80 people for each trip and, compared to next season with 21 rounds, there will be no reorganization which instead will be necessary for any passage to seasons with 25 GPs. In this case the teams will certainly be called to increase the personnel in order to ensure proper turnover,” commented the manager from Faenza who concluded,

“The personnel has the right to holidays and to rest days and this is not subject to be underestimated, as it would surely entail a increase in costs”

F1 | MINARDI “Hamilton? The best today”

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At Suzuka Mercedes put its hands on its sixth consecutive constructors’’ title, equalling Ferrari’s record, but in Mexico City Lewis Hamilton could once again wear the champion’s crown and so take another step towards Michael Schumacher’s record.

“The numbers talk for Lewis Hamilton. In Mexico he will be able to celebrate his sixth world title. This year too he left nothing to chance, even if he did make some mistakes, as did the team,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi on Pit Talk’s microphones.

“He certainly has the best car. In Suzuka he also proved his technical worth, as he showed with his times.”

“In the 46th lap he broke all the records with 1.30.9, while in the 49th lap, despite the new tyres, Leclerc did not go under 1.31.611. We’re talking of a difference of 6-7 tenths of a second.

“Today, Hamilton for me is the best of the lot. In the moments that count he always made the difference, just as Mercedes is the car to beat. They have been flying towards 2020 for some time and they know this well in Maranello. This year they equalled Ferrari’s record and the people in Brackley want to break it”

Gian Carlo Minardi highlighted how tight the duel between Mercedes and Ferrari is in this final part of the season. “They have to be absolutely perfect in order to beat them as happened in Spa, Monza and Singapore. In Japan we had a Ferrari with two faces. In qualifying it was perfect, putting together an unexpected 1-2 with perfect laps by Vettel and Leclerc. In the race on the other hand, it was all wiped out with a wrong start by Vettel and a mistake at the first bend of a 53 lap GP by Charles.

“In the race the German held off an unrestrained Hamilton. Could he have done more with a better start? We can’t know, even if it would have been difficult. Ferrari has made significant progress but there are still dark holes,” concluded the manager from Faenza.

13.10.2019- Podium, 2nd place Sebastian Vettel (GER) Scuderia Ferrari SF90

Antonelli Dominates Le Mans (OKJ) in the fourth round of the European FIA Karting Championship. Next Objective: World Championship in Finland.

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A new win this weekend for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young kart driver from Bologna in the team Rosberg Racing Academy, with Kart Republic material supplied directly by Mercedes and with the supervision of Giovanni Minardi of Minardi Management.

On the Le Mans circuit named after four times world champion Alain Prost that was conditioned by the rain and bad weather, Antonelli dominated the fourth round of the European FIA Karting Championship by winning the OKJ Final after starting from second place on the grid and crossing the finish line with a lead of 317 thousandths of a second over Spina.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli confirmed that he is a protagonist on the international karting scene with his first win in the European OKJ and setting the best lap in Qualifying-Practice with a time of 52.930 (fourth best time in absolute 47 thousandths of a second from pole position).

Placed in Group D Antonelli finished on the podium in all the HEATS with a win, three second places and a third place that gave him second place overall behind Stenshome from Norway in a field made up of 79 drivers.(34 qualified for the Final).

With his win in the Final Andrea Kimi Antonelli ended his first European championship in OKJ in second place and with the title of vice champion with a total of 63 points and the best placed of the Italian drivers.

“I’m very happy with this win. I waited for it and it finally came. It was an excellent weekend in which I enjoyed myself. The Final was not easy. In the first laps Stenshome defended very well and after I managed to overtake him I dictated the rhythm despite a very slippery track. Second place in the championship is a very important result even if there is still the regret for the points lost in the beginning. We are now thinking about the world championship in Finland,” commented a satisfied Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

“I am very happy that the first win in the CIK FIA European Championship finally came. This was a deserved win, even if it does not wipe out the regret of a difficult start. This title was also easily within his reach. We will now start working for the next objective, the world championship in Finland,” commented manager Giovanni Minardi.

After the summer break Andrea Kimi Antonelli will fly to Finland and the Alahärmä track for the FIA Karting World Championship scheduled for September 6-8.

Foto: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East | Positive debut for Karol Basz in Abu Dhabi

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Karol Basz won his personal challenge on the Abu Dhabi circuit. After having been called by the FFF Racing Team a few days before the second round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East together with Andrea Amici, the Polish driver put himself on show at the wheel of the Lambo Huracan ST Evo by marking his debut on the demanding Yas Marina circuit without making any mistakes and inaugurating the season with a podium finish.

In the three races Karol Basz took a third and two second places after having finished qualifying with the second fastest time.

“It was a great experience on a circuit I did not know and with a new team mate. Our speed was good, even though we had some problems but it was a positive weekend in the light of the new season,” commented Karol Basz.

“As always Karol behaved very well for all the weekend, considering that it was his first appearance in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately we had some technical problem with the car and we could not do more than this. Now we will continue working on defining the 2019 programme,” said Giovanni Minardi, Karol’s Manager, as well as Sporting Director and Team Manager of the FFF Racing Team.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East | Karol Basz in Abu Dhabi with the FFF Racing Team

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Karol Basz’s new season begins this weekend in Abu Dhabi. The Polish driver arrived at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit where he will find a Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo of the FFF Racing Team and team mate Andrea Amici for his debut in the Trofeo Middle East that for the third season opens the single make championship of the cars from Sant’Agata Bolognese that has reached its eleventh edition.

The weekend will be structured on a programme of three races and it will be Karol’s first experience on the track designed by the architect Hermann Tilke that since 2009 has been part of the Formula 1 calendar.

After his positive results last season in the Super Trofeo Europa and the Italian GT Championship aboard the Lamborghini GT3 Karol is getting ready to confront a new year with the house from Sant’Agata Bolognese.

“I am very happy to have Karol here with me. It is an important opportunity to get to know a new international circuit like Yas Marina in an important setting such as the Middle East as we wait to define the 2019 that will certainly see him at the wheel of a Lambo. After the excellent debut in two rounds of GT3 at Monza and Mugello last season I am working with Karol in this direction,” commented manager and Sporting Director and Manager of FFF Racing Giovanni Minardi.

Karol Basz at Vallelunga between Super Trofeo Europa and World Final

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The Vallelunga circuit named after Piero Taruffi will be the setting for both the sixth and final round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa and the sixth edition of the World Final dedicated to the cars of the maker from Sant’Agata Bolognese involving all the protagonists of the three series Europe, Asia and North America.

After the positive experience in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship aboard the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 the Polish driver followed by Minardi Management will return to the wheel of the blue Imperiale Racing “Lambo” number 44 together with Vito Postiglione to defend the leadership and to play for the title strengthened by the ten point lead over their direct rivals.

The spotlights will turn onto the final round on Thursday with free practice and qualifying, while on Friday there will be two races at 11.40am and 3.40pm.

On Saturday the curtain will rise on the World Final’s intensive programme with the warm-up, official trials and race-1. Race-2 is scheduled for Sunday at 2.25pm. There will be direct streaming on the Lamborghini Squadra Corse Facebook page.

“It’s time for the culmination of year-round struggles. We are leading in the standings, so the situation is very good for us, but we must remember that our rivals will definitely not go easy on us. Two-day tests before the finals mean that not only we know the track very well, but the other teams also. For this reason, I expect a hard fight from the first outing on the track. Together with Vito, we will definitely give our best and I hope that it will be enough to stay on top. Keep fingers crossed” commented Karol

“As always we will go to the track with our minds on the aim of winning the Super Trofeo Europa and to then have a say in the World Final, an appointment that embraces the best teams from the three series and to finish as well as possible a season that has been positive up till now,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

GT Italia | Karol Basz on the podium at Mugello as well with Imperiale Racing

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It was another podium for Karol Basz who, together with Vito Postiglione, on the track at Mugello put his mark on his second race at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 in the final round of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship.

On the demanding Tuscan track the Polish driver followed by Minardi Management took third place in race-2 under the driving rain that conditioned the entire race that began behind the safety car since during all the weekend the drivers never had the chance to race in these difficult conditions.

It was an important result for the Imperiale Racing standard bearer who, starting as leader, on next November 17-18 at the Vallelunga track will take part in the key round of the Super Trofeo Lamborghini season with the sixth and final round of the European season.

In qualifying Karol took the front row authoritatively thanks to the second best time and he finished the day with fifth place in race-1. At the start Vito Postiglione quickly climbed up two positions confirming second place up to the pit stop but the time penalty took the Lambo number 16 back to seventh place. Karol was very skilled and fast to take back the positions lost, climbing up to fifth place and finishing amongst the Imperiale Team’s best drivers.

“We are very happy with the work carried out by Karol all weekend. It was only his second experience in GT3 and he gave the answers we expected, he just missed out on pole position and once again reached the podium. Compared to Monza the weekend was even more important which gives us good hopes for 2019- Now we will get to work ahead of Vallelunga,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

“The race was very hard since visibility very poor at the start but with every lap the feeling improved. At one point of the race we were even the fastest on the track. I am very happy with the podium and our rhythm. It was another great result in the light of next season,” commented a satisfied Karol Basz.

GT Italia | Karol Basz at Mugello with the Imperiale Racing GT3

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This weekend Karol Basz, leader of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa together with Vito Postiglione, will return to the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for the final round of the Italian Gran Turisimo Championship.

After his excellent debut at Monza the Polish driver followed by Minardi Management will once again team with Vito Postiglione on the demanding Tuscan track at the wheel of the Imperiale Racing number 16 supercar from the Sant’Agata Bolognese factory to run up more kilometres and gain experience with the powerful GT3 car ahead of next season.

“We are very happy to race once more with the Lamborghini GT3 as this will be our next challenge in 2019 and for this reason we thank all the Imperiale team and Ivano for this new opportunity after the excellent weekend at Monza and to show once again how fast Karol is”, commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti

“I am very happy with the new invitation from Imperiale Racing. This is a confirmation of the good work carried out up till now. At Monza we climbed up on the podium twice and I hope to be able to fight it out for top position at Mugello as well. It will surely not be an easy weekend due to the penalty we will have to pay in the pit stop. I know the track very well and I will concentrate on the car right from the start” commented a satisfied Karol.

The first of the two races that will close the season will start on Saturday afternoon at 2.05pm, whereas on Sunday race-2 will begin at 2.00pm. It will be broadcast direct on Rai Sport and in streaming on acisport.it.

Kart | Andrea Kimi Antonelli in OKJ with Rosberg Racing

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At the South Garda international track Andrea Kimi Antonelli left Mini 60 after having won the Rok Cup International Final that this year celebrated its sixteenth edition.

Placed in the L-Series 2 group, Energy Racing’s very young driver from Bologna followed by Mercedes-AMG in collaboration with Minardi Management was the absolute protagonist with three wins and a fourth place in the three rounds of the Heats that put him in the front row of the Qualifying Heats and he finished the weekend with first place in the Mini Rok Final that earned him the title.

“We thank Mick Panigada and all the staff of Energy Corse for the dedication they put in place all season that helped Andrea to grow. Now another chapter begins,” commented Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

For Andrea Kimi Antonelli it is already time to think about next season that will see him make a leap of category to the OKJ that will already begin on the same track at Lonato for the first three rounds of the WSK Final Cup. After the round at South Garda the karting international will move to circuit 7 Laghi of Castelletto di Branduzzo (Pavia) for the round on November 11th which will then be followed the final weekend at the Adria Karting Raceway planned for November 21st.

In the new challenge of OKJ Andrea Kimi Antonelli will wear the colours of the Rosberg Racing Team, the team created by the fusion between the 2016 World F2 Champion Nico Rosberg and Dino Chiesa that, five months after its formation, already celebrated the FIA Karting World Championship at Kristianstad.

“We are excited about starting this new adventure beside Rosberg Racing in OKJ, the newly crowned OK World Champion. This contract strengthens the collaboration with Mercedes-AMG and we will continue to follow Andrea’s growth, giving him the proper support race by race,” continued managers Minardi and Tonti.

GT Italia | Basz the great protagonist at Monza in GT3

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On Monza’s very fast track Karol Basz was the great protagonist of the penultimate round of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship at the wheel of the Imperiale Racing Huracan GT3, together with team mate Vito Postiglione. The Italian and Polish drivers, who were already the lead players in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa, showed excellent teamwork that was transformed into two podiums on the strength of the second and third places achieved in race-1 and race-2 respectively.

For the driver from Krakow followed by Minardi Management this was his absolute debut at the wheel of a GT3 car and confirmed the excellent speed qualities that made him the current leader of the Super Trofeo that will hold its final round at the Vallelunga circuit on November 15th and 16th.

Right from qualifying Karol found an excellent feeling for the car and constantly took the car into the front positions, taking second place on the grid in his turn at qualifying.

“It was a very positive weekend. Climbing into the podium twice on my debut in GT3 is very positive, even in view of the future and I must thank all the Imperiale Racing team and Vito Postiglione. Closing race-1 in front of a great driver such as Giancarlo Fisichella was very satisfying, despite of the difficult weather conditions”.

“We are very happy with Karol’s work here at Monza. Despite being on his debut in an GT3 car he showed right from the start that he could play for pole position, closing the weekend with second place in qualifying and two podiums in the two races. It was an excellent debut. We thank everyone in the Imperiale Racing team and especially Ivano Pignatti who gave us this important chance,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.