Archive for category: F1

The first two test days in Barcelona have already given us a clue about the potential world champions. Hamilton and Rosberg have managed to notch 320 sessions up without showing any problems. Behind them, we have seen an interesting Ferrari with Sebastian Vettel leading the standings with his SF16-H.

We have asked Gian Carlo Minardi for a specialised opinion. “The first two days have proven all the Mercedes supremacy, especially in terms of reliability. Hamilton and Rosberg have concluded 152 and 172 sessions without any problems. According to the rumors from the circuit: who has tested the times with the stopwatch, talks about a great power gap between the German Power Unit and the trans-alpine one” the manager from Faenza observes. “That being the case, Red Bull has been able to make an excellent frame once again”.

The SF16-H seems “well born” and it represents a new development in comparison to the single-seater for 2015. “In the winter Ferrari took a good step forward, but it is early to determine the gap, since I have the impression that Mercedes is marching purely in race trim. Mercedes and Ferrari are a step ahead of the others” Minardi concludes.

Williams and Ferrari have chosen to present their new 2016 cars through the web, as Red Bull that so far has presented the new livery that will dress the single-seaters consigned to Ricciardo and Kvyat. The return of Renault in the world championship as Manufacturer has been more traditional: they announced their organogram and unveiled a total black livery destined to undergo significant changes in colors.

This is a F1 more and more Social, that is trying to get closer to the new language of the young and very young people.“F1 must be able to race fast not only on the racetrack, but also with news and images. These days presentations are a first step closer to the needs of young people, who lean more and more to social networks to get immediately the news” Gian Carlo Minardi comments.“It is for this reason that the teams do their presentations in two or three steps, before arriving at the final version, starting from the livery” as in the case of Red Bull and Renault. “They can achieve millions of visits this way, ensuring a great visibility to sponsors. On the expenditure side, is also a big saving”.

The web allows  reduce distances and boundaries.“Journalists must n’t even move from their offices, and many more people may have available the press kits, ensuring a greater disclosure of that material through sites and personal blogs”.Minardi notices another good aspect “Do not forget that there are only four months between the last race of the year and the new season. This new way of working allows teams to take full advantage of the time to develop and prepare the car” the entrepreneur from Faenza concludes. “I appreciate this new approach and this methodology of providing information“.

 

Although in 2016 Italy won’t be in Formula 1 with its drivers, at an international level the situation is very different with five standard bearers already confirmed in the three most important championships: GP2 Series, GP3 Series, and FIA European F3.

A strong signal demonstrating how the “Beautiful Country” is still able to prepare and make grow its guys.“It is the result of the work of the Federation in last years and the prove that Italy has nothing to envy to the other nations” Gian Carlo Minardi says. “Unfortunately, to reach F1, besides drivers’ technical qualities you need huge budgets and it would be useful to have a minor team ready to bet and capable to find the most talented drivers. As Federation we are working to help, in part at least, our guys, also under the economic aspect with some scholarships” the manager from Faenza continues.“Last year we started the ACI Team Italia project and it continues also this year. It’s not a consolation, but the situation isn’t better outside our borders. In these days, Stoffel Vandoorne, maker of an excellent season in GP2, is engaged in pirelli’s tests at the Paul Richard with McLaren. He declared he isn’t sure to enter the world championship not even in 2017”.

Antonio Giovinazziand Raffaello Marciello will race in GP2 respectively with Prema and Russian Time colors. If to Marciello 2016 should be the year of redemption after a complicated season, Giovinazzi will debut in the waiting room of F1, after his positive season in FIA European F3 and his success in Master F3. “I was really glad reading Prema’s announcement about Giovinazzi, even if I am a bit embittered because four years ago I had already supported the candidacy of Antonio to important Teams and groups. When I saw him at Imola in his sixteen years, he made me an excellent impression”.

After the eight place achieved last year, Antonio Fuoco is again at the starting grid in GP3 series with the Trident Team, while the schedule of GP3 Series vice champion Luca Ghiotto is to be defined. The Venetian driver would be glad to sign his debut in GP2, future Formula 2, but he could remain another season in GP3 with the aim to win the title. On the FIA European F3 front, Alessio Lorandi will keep his growth.“He will be the driver of the Carlin Team, one of the top team in the championship. Even him comes from kart and at his first year in F3 has done very well despite his very young age“.

 

 

Last season will be remembered not just for the Mercedes domain and for Lewis Hamilton’s third world title, but also for the strong debate connected to the supplying of Power-Units, with Red Bull as starring.

After having blamed Renault harshly, Horner & C. have knocked on the doors of Mercedes and Ferrari, obtaining a year dated supplying and the “marching orders” from the president himself Carlos Ghosn. A scarce solution for a team whose purpose is to win, after having dominated the stage for four consecutive seasons and after being away from top position in the last two years. As we know, after hesitation, peace is back (paid weight in gold) between “the soft-drinkers” and the trans-alpine constructor. We have a different situation at Toro Rosso that will host again Ferrari, with a 2015 supply thanks to an exception. ” The client engine supply is a situation with wich I am very familiar. Keeping out the parenthesis of“Modern Engine” break when we fought against official car manufacturers as Ferrari, Honda, and MBW with a private engine built and developed from scratch, we had always had client engines that pay aminimum of 70-80 hp since 1988” Gian Carlo Minardi recalls.

“Even in 1991, with Ferrari engines, we were three steps back. Moreover, in those years, to make a great difference were also gasoline and lubricants. We have fought for years to make sure that every manufacturer provided the same engine to every client”. Almost as it has happened since some years, unless exceptions.“Before PU, the usage of the same engines had levelled all the performances, and also the private teams were able to obtain great satisfactions, as Brawn Gp has demonstrated” the manager from Faenza continues. “With pleasure, however, despite customer engines, we had some satisfactions” as the front row conquered by Martini in 1990 during qualifying in Phoenix, the fourth place in Estoril and the fifth in 2002 in Melbourne achieved by Webber who placed his Minardi PS02 ahead of Toyota despite an Asiatech. On some occasions, we could have been very competitive with an official engine”.

“I become wild-eyed when Horner declares openly that the supremacy of Mercedes has to be controlled because it damage F1 interest., rr when a Boulluer says that the Circus is just for who can afford it. I would like to remember to  these Motorsport gurus that they did not complain when Red Bull had dominated the scene for four consecutive years (Mercedes was at its second season) and that without the difficulties at little Manor, McLaren would have been the last” Gian Carlo Minardi states on www.minardi.it and recalls that the World Championship has always been made by cycles.

History tells about supremacist signed by Williams, McLaren, and Ferrari till Red Bull and Mercedes ones. “Till the little teams have closed the starting grid, big constructors have animated the scene. As soon as they have remained in the back of the row, because the little teams started to close or to guess the right arrangement of a race, the big teams, like Toyota, BMW, Jaguar and Honda, have escaped. Listening to these opinions, I have the impression that F1 is not organized by great professionals” the manager from Faenza continues underling the importance of an intervention on rules to give some stability that will enable everybody to race by promoting fairness in the distribution of awards. “Spending over 400 million having a team made of 1000 persons to build two cars is absurd. Like it is crazy paying 25 million for the Power-Unit, only few years ago engines price was 5-6 million. Today, 20 million make the difference and it is difficult to find them in the market”. According to the numbers, today’s F1 isn’t a great investment as in the 90s when it assured the company an unequaled economic return.With clear projects and freedom “of creating”, we would be able to find out alternative solutions. Also the little teams would be able to carry ingenious solutions on track”.

There are chatter that distract from the moves behind the curtains that especially concern a very active Renault in the market. “With the purchase of Lotus and their return as Constructors, the trans-alpines have all the interest to reinforce each of their departments. They are looking for human resources, technicians, and drivers. President Carlos Ghosn is working to tear Fernando Alonso out from Honda”. To the Spanish driver it would be the third return to Enstone.Despite the confirmations that Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer received in the last weeks, they won’t be able to sleep very well. “Maldonado can count on Venezuelan assets that are useful to the team. Palmer’s situation is more complex. Informations coming from France confirm this path, even if it is not an easy solution. On Management front, as rumors confirm, Renault seems like to bet on Alain Prost as Team Principal”. The four-time world champion with McLaren and Williams will have decisive responsibility within the team. Without having any shares, as it happens at Mercedes with Toto Wolff.

In these last 2015 days, before embracing the new year, along with Gian Carlo Minardi we wanted to give our scorecards to the protagonists of F1 World Championship ended with Mercedes supremacy. We start today with the stables. Obviously the highest score goes to:

MERCEDES -9 they deserve the highest score of the classroom because they destroyed their competitors. But their three gifts to Ferrari have prevented them from gaining 10.

FERRARI – 8 they really did a lot to reach the “Silver Arrows”, even if the path is very long. Three seasonal successes and numerous podia were perhaps an unhoped result early in the year. Vettel, Raikkonen and the whole team were very skilled at overtaking their competitors and regaining the second place among Constructors.

WILLIAMS – 7,5 due to the third place in the standings, even if they would deserve something less for their decline compared to 2014. It is a characteristic of the English system and especially of Williams. After a positive season along which their arrears have been smoothed out, they conquered the third step of the podium with a minimum effort, defending also their wallet.

FORCE INDIA – 7,5 they have been makers of a wonderful championship ended in fifth. Despite their history as a “little” team, they closed a growing season. Surely it is a positive signal to both Perez and Hulkenberg in view of 2016.

RED BULL and TORO ROSSO – 7 Unfortunately, the engine reliability and the frame troubles have limited Verstappen and Sainz. Differently they would at least have been able to overtake Lotus. Red Bull has payed its arrogance and gab dearly. Their attitude cost more than they have been able to gain thanks to their fourth world place.I hope for them that they can be helped by Renault and get back on top, but certainly they must change the way they approach this sport, which is not just business.

LOTUS – 7 due to the misadventures thatthey faced just to reach the end of the season. Luckily They were rescued by Renault. This vote is due to the unexpected sixth place and to their reacting against the most difficult moment. Working with the worry of judges and seizures is certainly not easy.

SAUBER – 6 due to my affection. They started good, but unfortunately they lost themselves. They have never been effective.

MCLAREN – 4 perhaps because of Honda. We hope that this winter brings some advices, even if the path is surely uphill.

MANOR – NC they found incentives to resist. Being just 10 member teams, also them have won a share of the television rights for the next season.