F1 | GP SAUDI ARABIA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “LECLERC-HAMILTON. THE GAP IS TOO HIGH”

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In Saudi Arabia we saw a weekend under the banner of McLaren, but especially under the name Oscar Piastri who forcefully took the number one spot within the team led by Andrea Stella, as well as the lead in the ladder by taking his third win of the season. He is confirming that he is a complete driver.

Always present is Verstappen, the author of an extraordinary pole position after the difficult weekend in Bahrain. However, I do not agree with the penalty. I believe that 5” are too few considering the advantage obtained by his action and also because they came at the start of the race. He had plenty of time to recover, crossing the finish line in second place, little more than 2” from the Australian. A drive-through would have been more consistent.

Leclerc’s grand prix is also to be applauded. Not only did he give Ferrari its first podium of the season in a GP, but he hid and lessened the car’s real problems which were instead very evident with Hamilton who had a pace that did not line up with a seven times world champion. At the present time it is rather inexplicable.

Antonelli’s defence right against Hamilton was excellent. Mercedes is the second force of the world championship with a pair of drivers with very little difference between them. Russell is in splendid form, as he showed with the third place in qualifying and fifth in the race.

It was a negative weekend for Norris. He is racing inconsistently, and his difficulties are obvious. The comeback in the race was certainly positive, also the result of a good strategy, but the mistake in Q3 was very heavy. Despite having the best car on the track, he could not overtake Leclerc. This makes the result achieved by the driver from Monte Carlo even more important. Norris is suffering heavily the “problem” of Piastri who exploits his McLaren to the utmost.

A positive weekend also for Carlos Sainz, who is on the upswing with his Williams, and who once again left his teammate Albon behind him, and for Hadjar, who gave the Racing Bulls the point of the top 10, with Lawson in twelfth place. Making a comparison with last season, the biggest disappointment is coming from Aston Martia, out of the points zone.

In two weeks’ time, they go to Miami, before landing in Europe at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit on May 16-28-

It was an Easter weekend of Motorsport. If in Jeddah we saw the fifth round of the F1 World Championship, Imola hosted the second round of the WEC World Championship, attracting more than 65,000 fans. I thank them one by one for the warmth with which they welcomed me, especially at the moment of the start of the 6 hours, just as I thank the entire Formula Imola team for their excellent work. Congratulations and thanks also came from the organizer of the WEC. With the arrival of F1 in four weeks time, I hope to be able to see an even warmer and bigger crowd. The fans are our “sponsors”, and the encouragement to continue to improve. We must put those who have to make certain decisions in difficulty.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1| GP BAHRAIN, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “PIASTRI A COMPLETE DRIVER. NORRIS IN MENTAL DIFFICULTY.”

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Once again, we saw an extremely competitive race in which strategies and the safety-car were decisive for the result. A Grand Prix that entertained us with a lot of overtaking, which showed once again that just the slightest slip is enough – see some of the imperfections in the pit-stops – to lose positions.

Congratulations to Oscar Piastri, the protagonist of a perfect weekend. He marked his 50th GP with pole-position and the win. He is confirming that he is a complete driver who is maturing. He is the pretender to the title, considering Norris’ mental difficulties.  His teammate was not as predictable with some mistakes in both qualifying and at the start. A mistake that affected his race finishing behind Russell.

The forces in the field are becoming clearer with McLaren increasingly the master of this championship, ahead of a good Mercedes, and a discrete Ferrari. For the first time since the start of the season Antonelli finished the race outside the points zone. His overtaking move on the four-time world champion Max Verstappen was beautiful, but the entry of the safety car messed up Mercedes’ plans, in this way thwarting the excellent work with an imperfect strategy.

They were precisely the ones who may have been the victims of this too intense calendar. In my opinion, 24 races are too many. Teams and drivers are subject to a tight schedule and the risk of mistakes is just around the corner.  Probably, because of the turnover, some procedures did not work properly among Horner’s men.

I found the decision to not proceed in relation to Russell correct. This was a minor mistake dictated by an external management problem connected to the ECU. I do not think he had much of an advantage.

Having said this, in six days’ time they go back onto the track in Jedda, in Saudi Arabia, for the fifth round of the season.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP AUSTRALIA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN MINDBLOWING, PUT OFF. WILLIAMS A PLEASANT CONFIRMATION

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Between confirmations and twists and turns, also dictated by particular weather conditions, Formula 1 gave us an exciting first grand prix in Australia.

We rediscovered some results that had already emerged during the Bahrain tests, especially related to McLaren and Williams, and even Ferrari, albeit negatively.

We are looking at a mind-blowing McLaren that demonstrated incredible solidity, despite some mistakes by the two drivers.

Behind them we found an incredible Max Verstappen whose talent most probably hid Red Bull’s difficulties by making himself the protagonist of an amazing race keeping Lando Norris and Oscar busy from the first to the last lap. He tried to chase down the winner right to the end.

Third and fourth place for Mercedes with Russell and Antonelli. I was very pleased that the marshals backtracked on the 5” penalty given to “Kimi”, giving him back fourth place. I had found the decision very questionable. He was the protagonist of an excellent comeback, finishing his first grand prix ahead of Albon’s Williams. He certainly started from a position that did not reflect his true potential, favouring him in overtaking, however, he made only one slip where many made important mistakes, which were paid for heavily with retirement. The rain and the slippery asphalt brought out his natural talent.

The real surprise of the start of the season is probably Williams that confirmed the excellent signs seen in Sakhir. Decidedly underwhelming for the whole weekend was Carlos Sainz, who was also the protagonist of an important mistake in the race that an expert driver such as he should not allow himself.

Even Fernando Alonso was the protagonist of a mistake, ending up against the “wall”, but this time it was Lance Stroll who stepped forward to save Aston Martin’s Sunday by taking it to sixth place ahead of an excellent Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber.

So, we come to Ferrari. When the weekend entered the thick of things, see free practice 3 and Q3, they got lost. They got everything wrong, including the strategy. The perplexities that emerged during the tests were confirmed in Australia. In fact, compared to last year, they are the team that improved the least in the tests and we saw it today. The season is certainly long because there are still 23 grands prix, but in China and Japan important positive responses must come. We hope that it will be a salvageable job. Let us not forget that this year, with the 2026 regulations just around the corner, the commitment id double.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP ABU DHABI, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN’S TITLE IS THE ANTECHAMBER TO THE FIGHT IN BOTH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2025. CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDREA STELLA”

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One of the most beautiful championships goes into the archives, especially the second half where several teams took home a win.  McLaren came back to win the world championship, a success in the constructors’ championship that had been missing since ’98.

A result the reflected the forces in the field. Certainly, they will have to revise some internal aspects to try to avoid repeating some mistakes, but they can start from a base that is already solid. Unlike Ferrari, Mercedes and, probably Red Bull, the reigning champion will be able to rely on the stability of the design and on the best pair of drivers, in my opinion, launched into the future. Andrea Stella has done an exceptional job in these years, bringing back to the top a team that had fallen to the rear. He is a fantastic young man that I had the luck to meet, and he deserves this victory that, historically, is the antechamber to fighting for both titles next season. This is precisely why I expect McLaren with an advantage for 2025.

It was also a positive second part of the season for Ferrari that closed this very long championship with second and third place, and they can celebrate second place in the constructors’ title, finishing only 14 points behind. Unfortunately, in one part of the season, they had lost sight of the main objective, making some mistakes that turned out to be decisive. Next year they are in for a major challenge with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc.

Behind Ferrari were the two Mercedes with Hamilton and Russell, ahead of the world champion Max Verstappen, once again the protagonist of a solid race. On the contact with Piastri, in my opinion the 10” second penalty was excessive. He was on the curb, and that was a far as he could go.  This could have been dismissed as a race accident with 50/50 responsibility or by penalizing McLaren’s Australian driver as well.

A positive race also by Gasly, an excellent seventh place with Alpine finishing in sixth place, behind the Aston Martin, and ahead of Haas, which is also growing and it too files away the season with Hulkenberg’s eighth place ahead of the “warrior” Fernando Alonso who continues to fight tooth and nail.

The aspect I appreciated most of this season was precisely the alternation at the top and the ability of the teams and drivers to turn things around from race to race. It really was hard to make predictions. We saw this both at the top with Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, and in mid table. Alpine was able to right the season, achieving a result that was almost unhoped for until a few races from the end, as did Haas.

We are approaching the end of a technical cycle and next year it will be even more interesting, together with the new developments in Mercedes with the arrival of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and the already mentioned Hamilton in Maranello. All that is left is to choose is who will be Verstappen’s teammate in Red Bull…

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

F1 | GP QATAR, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “VERSTAPPEN THE ONLY CERTAINTY IN THIS CHAOS“

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In this chaos of penalties, the only certainty is called Max Verstappen who took his latest win, demonstrating once again that he is a champion with a great vision of the race: from the mirrors he noticed the irregularity committed by Lando Norris.

Honestly, although probably necessary, I do not share these changes within the Federation a few races left in the world championship. The FIA must take another step forward in the professional management of its structure. In recent weeks we seen several changes, the fruit of palpable internal nervousness. Despite some penalties being dictated by the guidelines (we are still waiting for the decision on Piastri), other decisions have left me perplexed: Verstappen’s penalty in post-qualifying, both due to the motivation and the type of  penalty, or not “calling” the Virtual Safety-Car for the removal of the mirror lost by Albon, subsequently hit by Bottas that led to the punctures of Sainz and Hamilton.

On the race front, both Norris and Piastri were the protagonists of some ingenuities which are part of professional growth, but that they should try to avoid, above all for the sake of the team. In any case, I do not think McLaren will have problems taking the world constructors’ championship back to Woking, having, as of today, a twenty-one-point lead over Ferrari.

Ferrari said goodbye to Quatar with second place, as positive as it was unhoped-for. For once the wheel turned in their favour, especially for Leclerc who took himself within eight points from Norris.

Also, among the surprises were Gasly’s fifth place with Alpine and the first points for Sauber, thanks to Zhou’s eight place.  Gasly made himself the protagonist of a positive weekend, once again demonstrating his qualities in a team that found its stimulus again and the way to emerge by consolidating itself as the sixth force in the world championship.

We are heading towards the last round in Abu Dhabi, already the scene for unforeseen upsets in the past, with the open battle between Ferrari-McLaren,  Norris-Leclerc for second place and Alpine-Haas for sixth place.

F1 |HEADING TO QATAR WITH GIAN CARLO MINARDI “I AM CERTAIN EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED IN FERRARI. THEY MUST WORK FOR ONLY ONE GOAL. THE CONSTRUTORS’ TITLE”

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The world championship is drawing to a close, with the drivers’ title awarded to Max Verstappen (his fourth) and an open fight in the constructors’ title for both first place and sixth. Compared to the previous edition, this year’s round has been postponed more than a month to limit the heat that last year, together with the high humidity, tested the drivers’ resistance.

It will be run at night again this year, but constant temperatures around 25° are expected, definitely different compared to a week ago in Nevada. Major changes have been made to the curbs that created quite a few problems for the tyres in the 2023 edition, with the Federation imposing pit-stops every 18 laps.

Pirelli has worked hard on this aspect as well, bringing the hardest compounds, from C1 to C3. Qatar will host the sixth and last Sprint-Race. Therefore, the teams and drivers will have only one session of free practice to think about the cars. The challenge for the constructors’ title has fired up, with Ferrari and Red Bull chasing after McLaren, along with the challenge for sixth place between Haas-Alpine-Red Bull.

We said goodbye to Las Vegas with the Mercedes one-two, the title won by Verstappen and the third and fourth place for Ferrari with not a few sparks between Leclerc and Sainz. I am certain that everything will already have been resolved, also because it was the result of the tension of the race. The common is shared, which is to bring the constructors’ title back to Maranello. By the way, for the team this situation is nothing but an appetiser for 2025 when it will have to manage two drivers of the calibre of Leclerc and Hamilton, in my opinion, much more incandescent than the current pair, especially if they will be able to take a competitive car onto the track.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP LAS VEGAS, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “COLD WEATHER IS ANOTHER UNKNOWN FACTOR FOR THE TYRES”

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We have come to the twenty second Grand Prix of the season, less than three rounds from the conclusion. The challenge for the constructors’ title is back on with three teams, McLaren-Ferrari-Red Bull, in contention. Currently Ferrari is 36 points behind the team from Woking, while Red Bull is 49 points behind. Considering the points still up for grabs, I would say anything is still possible. So far Red Bull has lacked the support of Peres, who is increasingly in difficulty. Ferrari will bring some important innovations just for this end of the season.

The situation of the drivers’ title is different. Despite a McLaren in great form, in any case, two weeks ago in Brazil it could do nothing against Max Verstappen. For me, a comeback by Norris is improbable.

They come to Las Vegas; a track characterized by three straights. 17 bends and abrupt braking with fairly cold asphalt that creates a reduction in grip and an acceleration in wear. In fact, we are in a area with a considerable difference in temperature between day and night. They will race at night, starting at 5.00pm in Italy. Pirelli has brought the softest compounds for the GP, C3-C4-C5, and the strategy should be geared towards two stops, even if lately we have been proved wrong. Watch out also for the possible entry of the safety-car and/or the VSC.

After Spa-Francorchamps, this is one of the longest circuits of the world championship with its 6.12km to be run 50 times, and, in addition to the challenge at the top, also keep an eye on the three fighting for sixth place between Alpine, Haas, and Racing Bull. After the exploit in Interlagos, Alpine leads the group by three points from the American team.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP MEXICO, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “FERRARI IS TO BE APPLAUDED. THE DIRECT CHALLENGE WITH MCLAREN STARTS AGAIN. VERSTAPPEN: HEAVY PENALTIES BUT CORRECT “

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Once again, these young men knew how to entertain us, giving us a good grand prix, and on the whole it was a very interesting weekend. Carlos Sainz made the most of his performances in the best way possible, just like Ferrari took home a second straight win. Together with important points with Leclerc’s third place, to which is added the additional point for the fastest lap.

As we had been expecting for some time, the challenge between McLaren and Ferrari has started again. McLaren, that keeps the lead in the constructors’ world championship, finished the weekend with an important second place with Norris, but a Ferrari not only removed Red Bull from second place, but it got closer to its direct rivals from Woking. Now the gap is 29 points.

This is certainly an important sign in view of the near future that was hard to foresee until a few months ago, and it is synonymous with peace of mind, and a rediscovered tranquillity within the team.

In Red Bull they were probably aware of this possible scenario, finding itself having to race with only one driver, especially after having made the decision to trust Perez. It is an incredible involution by the Mexican.

Staying in Red Bull, Verstappen paid, all at once, for all the bonuses accumulated up now. Besides everything, they are severe, but correct, penalties, probably the fruit of the meeting on Saturday between the drivers and the marshals. They are two penalties that Verstappen paid heavily, managing anyway to climb back to sixth place.

The challenge within Mercedes between the seven times world champion and the possible next world champion was exciting. It was a very correct challenge, with Hamilton taking advantage of indecision by Russell. He showed his experience and all his worth.

Between all the teams that are growing in this end of the season we surely find Haas, once again in the points with its drivers, so consolidating sixth place at the expense the Racing Bulls that was deprived right from the start of its driver, who was blameless. These are episodes that are part of the races.

Next week we go back onto the track once again, in Sao Paolo, Brazil for the fourth last race round.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP AZERBAIJAN, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “51 HEARTSTOPPING LAPS. PIASTRI PHENOMENAL. PEREZ-SAINZ? THE MEXICAN WITH THE GREATEST FAULT

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These young men know how to entertain us. They gave us 51 heart stopping laps with as many as 4 drivers within little more than two seconds. Piastri, Leclerc and Perez within less than one and a half seconds.

It was a hard-fought grand prix, won by a very good Oscar Piastri, author of a wonderful overtaking move at Leclerc’s expense, but above all skilful in managing the not easy situation on a track as complicated as Baku. This is certainly not a surprise because Piastri is a young man with all the credentials to make people talk about him. Plus, he has a car that is a notch above all the others, that allows him to brake later than the others and with better DRS. This was particularly evident when he overtook the Ferrari driver. He was able to recover 5 tenths of a second, against the mere 2 tenths of Leclerc, the author of a magnificent pole position. This however should make the men in Maranello pause for thought.

It was a shame only about the finish. We could have had a race with no interruptions despite a very high pace.

Until that moment it was an incredible comeback by Carlos Sainz, after a sluggish first part of the race. It was an equally remarkable race by Sergio Perez, who always gives his best on these tracks. Right now, Red Bull’s difficulties seem to be punishing mostly Max Verstappen. It is not easy to analyse the Sainz-Perez collision. Speaking from the television images, it seems to me that the Mexican had a higher percentage of blame since the Spaniard was ahead of him. Plus, he did not have a favourable view of him. He had plenty of space to move, there was enough to the left, to avoid the fatal contact.

Sainz’s retirement cost Ferrari dearly in terms of points, with the gap from the lead growing to 54 points with another seven races still to go.

It was a double celebration for McLaren. In addition to the win, it also took home the leadership of the constructors’ ladder, climbing above Red Bull after 55 races. Lando Norris’s race was also to be applauded. Starting from fifteenth position, he finished fifth ahead of Verstappen, also taking the additional point for the fastest lap-

The double retirement favoured George Russell, who took an unhoped-for podium, as well as the 2 Williams drivers and Oliver Berman, protagonists of an excellent weekend and rewarded with important points. Positive results especially for the two young men (Colapinto and Berman). The Argentine, an excellent shield bearer in regard to Albon. In his second grand prix, Berman once more entered the points zone with two different teams. Certainly not a result to be taken for granted driving a Haas.

We are approaching the final rounds which we predict will be fiery I am looking forward to seeing what will happen in Singapore street circuit.

As for our flag bearers, important results came in, starting with Gabriele Mini’s podium in Formula 2 (on his debut). Followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s third place despite a car damaged in a collision. In Japan, Davies Rigon drove the Ferrari 296 LMGT3 to the win in the FIA WEC World championship, and Raffaele Marcielllo took second place at the wheel of the BMW Hypercar. These results are all a source of great pride, as well as the fruit of the work carried out over all these years by the Federation and ACI Sport.

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

F1 | GP AZERBAIJIAN | GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN THE FAVOURITE, BUT WATCH OUT FOR MERCEDES”

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We are now at the gateway of the Azerbaijan GP. The seventeenth round of the World Championship. With Baku the third stage of the season begins.  It is a very demanding track, 6,003m long to be run 51 times, characterized by 20 bends, some at right angles and very slow, others very fast followed by the longest straight of the world championship.

The first novelty is the scheduling. Traditionally it was in April or June, while this year it is being run in September, just like next year. Compared to the past, teams and drivers will find warmer weather and the shady parts of the old town could affect the performances.

Being a street circuit, the performance will improve session after session and Pirelli has brought the softest compounds (C3 as hard, C4 as Medium and C5 as Soft).

On paper one stop is the best strategy, but they have to watch out for possible safety-cars or yellow flags.

On the race front, currently McLaren has replaced Red Bull as the car of reference, Horner’s team is trying to defend the leadership in the two ladders. The battle is open on the constructors’ front, especially between McLaren and Red Bull with Ferrari strongly narrowing the gap after their win in Monza.

Keep an eye on Mercedes. The characteristics of the W15 and its engine should be well suited to the configuration of the track.  We expect a very hard-fought end of the season. On the drivers’ front, Verstappen’s lead on Norris is still substantial. The reigning world champion can allow himself defensive races. He makes the difference within the team. Perse had not lost his “compass”, he is simply not supported by the car and it is the driver who must make the difference.

In addition to Formula 1, also coming back is F2 which will see Gabriele Mini in the Prema Team, paired with Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Mini will take the place of Oliver Bearman, committed with Haas in the place of the disqualified Magnussen. We will have the first taste of 2025.

With Aston Martin’s announcement the Newey soap opera has come to an end. The talented engineer has given continuity to his historicity, aiming at a reality that is still not world class. This is precisely what I expect, a while ago he made me think about this final destination. (link to the article)

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | ITALIAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “A SENSATIONAL WEEKEND NETWEEN “KIMI” ANTONELLI, LECLERC AND FORNAROLI”

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It was a weekend full of excitement, that began with the debut of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in F1 at the wheel of the Mercedes during the first free practice, followed with the confirmation as an official driver for the 2025 World Championship alongside Geroge Russella and ended with the incredible win by Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in the GP. In between, the F3 World Championship win by Leonardo Fornaroli with an incredible move on Mansell in the last bend of the last lap.

As far as “Kimi” is concerned, it is an honour for Italy finding its flag bearer again in the F1 World Championship. In this case, the pride is double because the debut came with a top team with eight world constructors’ title to its credit and goes to the GP to win. Of course, as ACI and ACI Team Italia, we are proud of this achievement and we will continue to support and help him even in the eventual difficult moments, should they come, because we must not forget that we are talking about a team that starts the season to win the constructors’ title.

As the Federal School, Leonardo’s win makes us just as proud since it opens the doors for him into Formula 2. I wish that Gabriele Mini can quickly forget this disappointment and that those who follow him closely will help him in continuing his adventure in racing cars. He has shown on a few occasions that he has the right qualifications to do well in this world.

Coming to the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari put together an incredible strategy, solidified by excellent work by Charles Leclerc, assisted by Carlos Sainz. Unlike the direct rivals, they opted for a single stop managing to overtake the excellent McLarens, by managing to protect the tyres. The constancy of the driver from Monte Carlo was incredible, from the 37th lap to the 52nd he consistently lapped between 1’23.5-1’23.7.

This weekend everything went well for Ferrari, putting the work into practice. It was a breath of fresh air, and we hope it can bring some peace of mind within the team.

To be applauded was Oscar Piastri’s overtaking Lando Norris. Done like a true champion. As I have always maintained, we are talking about one the most promising drivers who, as the grands prix pass by, gains the serenity to impose his choices on the team. So, we are talking about two young, very promising drivers. For some time, I have been saying for a long time that McLaren has the best pair of drivers,

It was a defensive race for Mercedes.  A result that did not live up to their expectations, also considering the fantastic engine that it has, as shown by the same McLaren. Russell’s initial mistake made a big impact on the result.

It was another defensive race by Red Bull that said goodbye to Monza at the head of the constructors’ ladder, but with the lead reduced to only eight points.

Now we wait for Baku, that will not see Kevin Magnussen amongst the protagonists, disqualified for having accumulated 12 penalty points this season. Decisive was the collision wit Gasly (a 10” second penalty and 10 points on the license).  We will see who will be entrusted with his Haas.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | ITALIAN GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI “IT IS AN HONOUR TO SEE AN ITALIAN DRIVER IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ONCE AGAIN. COLAPINTO, AN INTELLIGENT CHOICE”

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We have left behind the Historic Minardi Day in Imola and the Dutch GP in Zandvoort and it is already time for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

A Monza that is getting ready for two new developments. On the Mercedes front, it is an honour to have one of our drivers in the world championship once again. in this case the pride is double because the debut is with a top team that has eight constructors’ title to its credit and on a track like Monza. It is certainly a reward for everything he has been able to achieve over the years, starting with karting. It will be important to keep his feet on the ground.

The Argentine Franco Colapinto, born in 2003, will make his debut in Williams. Twenty-three years after Gaston Mazzacane, who made his debut with Minardi, Argentina has once again found its flag bearer. I believe this is an intelligent and fitting choice. He is a fast young man who knew how to put himself on show in Formula 2, as he did in the minor formulas. What is more, he comes from a country with a strong tradition in Motorsport.

This weekend will see an important grand prix based on strategy and reliability with the engines at full throttle for more than 75% of the lap. It will also be interesting to see the first bend after the finish line- which has been modified following the works that involved the Monza facility and track in recent months.

All eyes are on McLaren that is worrying everyone, with Red Bull having to defend itself to keep the lead in both rankings. Watch out especially on the constructors’ front. At the present time McLaren can count on the best pair of drivers. For some time, Red Bull had been racing with only one driver: Verstappen.

After the almost unhoped for third place a week ago, Ferrari will try to exploit in the best way possible the conditions of the track that require a low load to try and improve its performances.

After an anonymous weekend in Holland, I am convinced that Mercedes will return to the fight for the podium, considering that their engine is not second to none.

There are plenty of cues for following all the stages of the sixteenth round, starting with free practice on Friday.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | DUTCH GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN HAS SETS ITS SIGHTS ON THE CONSTRUCTORS’ TITLE”

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The Dutch grand prix gave us 72 demanding laps, run at a very high pace, and without a single accident or safety-car. It was a long and complicated grand prix, with a Lando Norris leading the way, despite an imperfect start, just like for his teammate.

I believe McLaren’s politics is to take out the constructors’ title, so they set up a particular strategy on Piastri, aimed at winning the highest number of points without worrying Norris who also took home the additional point for the fastest lap on the final lap with an excellent 1.13 812, leaving Verstappen 20 seconds behind.

In this circumstance Verstappen showed he is a champion. Having guessed that it would not have been a race to aim for the win, he managed his car as well as possible without taking any particular risks, bringing home an important second place. At this moment he must defend himself from the overwhelming power of this McLaren.

Excellent job by Charles Leclerc who took his Ferrari onto the podium in third place. An almost unhoped for outcome after the result in qualifying and could not have been predicted at all, especially having raced for the last 15 laps over the limit with a Piastri constantly on the edge of of a one second gap.

Carlos Sainz was just as good. The Spaniard recovered up to fifth place, after having started on the sixth row. A positive result for Ferrari ahead of Monza.

On the other hand, Mercedes was inexplicable. I saw them struggling after the latest positive results, but above all I find it hard to understand their strategy.

We are heading towards a very interesting end of the season with an important alternation. In a weeks’ time it will be back to the track with the Italian Grand Prix.

Gian Carlo Minardi