Archive for category: F1

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team wins this year’s XXII edition of the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini trophy.
The prize dedicated to the unforgettable Italian driver will be collected by Toto Wolff, Executive director of the Star team, in the medieval village of Brisighella on 30 August. Moreover, Paddy Lowe, Technical manager of the group, will be honored with the Senate President medal.

As usual, many sportsmen and insiders emerging for their high quality and passion will be rewarded on this occasion.

That’s who will be awarded: Herman Rilke, the most eminent F1 circuit designer; National Cycling Ct Davide Cassani; illustrious Italian cameramen Franchino Scandinaro; former F1 Minardi’s designer, Gabriele Tredozi who is going to claim his prize driving a PS04 Minardi; Rai sport Journalist Sandro jacobini; journalist and director at Omnicose Franco Nunges; GP3 Aci Sport Team Italian driver Luca Ghiotto; RTL newscaster Florian Koing; driver and Sky sport columnist, Davide Valsecchi.

In such a charming setting, before such illustrious guests, Mercedes F1W05 Hybrid, 2014 World Champion sinle-seater, will be exhibited.

We remind to fans the Museum of F1 Champions’s Tracksuits and the attractive shows of classic cars: classic Mercedes and Fiat 500 ‘s parade.

With engines off for the summer break, www.Minardi.it has had the pleasure of meeting President of ACI Angelo Sticchi Damiani to comment along with him this first months of Aci Team Italia, and, of course, the future of the Italian GP at Monza.

This year you launched the Aci Team Italia Rally and Speed. On the front of speed we have Ghiotto and Marciello engaged respectively in GP3 and GP2 with Trident team. Can we make a first assessment?
The gained results clearly suggest that we are on the high road and we can say we achieved two important victory from now on. The first is against skepticism which has affected this project from the start. Always the same people.In particular some on line magazines passed from an initial irony to a general no-comment. Even so, I don’t expect any support from them. The majority of media and “authorized personnel” have soon understood that it was about the first steps of a serious project that will gain great results in the very near future. We achieved the second victory on the field making sure that the two guys at Trident could have a financial and communication support. So they could face as best as they can the season and gain good, sometimes excellent, results.

Talking of young, Marciello and Fuoco took part in the F1 tests driving a Ferrari. Luca Ghiotto instead, leading GP3 general standings, was called by Red Bull to test their F1 simulator. A good result for the Federal School. How do you judge the program?
For the Federal School and Aci (the Italian federation sport automotive, as we must remember) the achieved results are just the starting point which deeply empowers us for the future and engages us to keep on giving our best efforts to lead one or more Italian drivers to F1 as soon as possible.

Italian motor sport is having a good time. Other Italian drivers engaged in most important International Championship are also getting substantial results both on single-seated front and GT. This is the outcome of Aci’s strategy conducted through formative stages and FDA.What does we miss to reach F1 and what will be the next steps to assist this guys in the best way?
I don’t want to sound too optimistic , but from my point of view, we don’t miss anything and we are ready to get the goal that we have set ourselves. What are the next steps? Keep hard working with minor categories to find new talents and to enhance supports, including economical ones, towards the most deserving drivers.

You have been the first to embrace the project of F4 that was deeply wanted by FIA.This year we reached the second chapter of Italian F4 Championship powered by Abarth. What do you think about these Championship and project?
Yes, we first understood the importance of this project, and we first started. So we pointed out to others the way, even for technical choices. The Championship is having a good moment and its fame crosses national borders, as is shown by the participation of several foreign drivers. Again, we need to go on because it is through this formula that we’ll gain our future champions.

In 2016 we’ll celebrate the centenary of Targa Florio, but the contract between F1 and Monza will expire.What can you say about Italian GP?
I can say that our main goal is the confirmation of Italian GP at Monza. We are working in every directions attempting to make every protagonist understand not just the value of the GP itself due to its history and technical past, but also the great future benefits that all this can hand over F1. Unfortunately the recent cancellation of historical races taught us to look ahead to make everybody understand how having a GP in Monza could benefit us also from an economical point of view. F1 is having a bad moment on the front of audience and show.

What is your recipe to raise again the show and re-attract the audience?
Unfortunately we are accustomed to sectorial analysis that cause us to loose the overall view and also the right way to face the problems. It is the whole race world, save some sporadic exceptions, that is facing this crossing point to new way of making and enjoying this show. There aren’t any easy recipes. Sure, we need not to make errors like cancel Monza GP where love and passion towards F1 are assured to approach new region economically more favorable.

Downfall started with the introduction of these Power-Unit, also because “the little noise”. F1 is the right stage for this technology or it would be better to use the FIA WEC? Turbo and Hybrid will be the future for standards cars?
I don’t believe that the downfall started with the introduction of Power-Unit and surely F1 is the right theater for every new technology. Hybrid, in my point of view, is an essential step even in the present of standards cars. In the last months, security return on spotlight, a living argument even on our roads.

As ACI, what kind of campaign are you conducting? And what can we do to teach young to enjoy in moderation?
The battle for road security is a strong point for Automobile Club Italia’s action. Initiatives like Sara Safe Factor, for example, lead ten thousands girls and boys just licensed, to talk about road safety with drivers and auto sport men. But we can also think to Kart in Piazza where we start to talk about road safety to children letting them play with little karts on safe routes. Our activity is determined also in politics. There are our ideas and projects behind new initiatives. Unluckily we have still to realize that with 3000 deaths per year and hundred thousands injured we are facing a real war. Everybody should probably become aware of that.

A special thanks to President Angelo Damiani Sticchi and his Press Office for its kind cooperation.

After the teams, let’s analyze the Drivers.

Lewis Hamilton – 9 Especially for his five victories. At the moment he is the fittest driver. Fortunately for us, he too made some little mistakes. He will remember Hungary for a long time.

Sebastian Vettel – 8,5 He is fighting and making the most of his Ferrari taking it to the second place of the World Constructors’ Championship. He made two exemplary victories. In the time of need he was ready to make the most of “Mercedes’s favors”.

Nico Rosberg – 8 Decisively under level, especially in qualifying. Last year he won his personal challenge with Hamilton. But now, in my opinion, he looks discharged. He isn’t the Nico I expected to see.

Felipe Massa – 7,5 surely he done better than his team-mate wanted by rumors instead of  Raikonnen at Ferrari. He is still beyond Bottas in general standings but the Brasilian are making the most of his Williams.

Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr, Daniil Kvyat – 7 the Finnish at Williams’ is fighting, while Red Bull drivers represent the “advancing newness”.
The young guys are building their future in F1. Despite the jump into main team and the disapprovals received early in the season, the Russian is coping with Ricciardo.
Meanwhile TR is pursuing his “green” challenge. At the Hungaroring, Vestappen scored his best result and  almost touched the podium with a fourth place.

Daniel Ricciardo – 6,5 Half a point below his team-mate because he can rely on a greater experience. He isn’t the Ricciardo we saw last season. Undoubtedly he suffer more than the others for Red Bull lack of competitiveness.

Kimi Raikkonen- 6 It’s a vote of confidence. He dosn’t do what he should for Ferrari. In Hungary he was unlucky for a breakdown but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. In general standings he payed 3 tenth to his team-mate and a sec to Hamilton.

After Minardi.it announced a tam-tam concernig Renault’s interest in purchasing the 100% of Lotus team few days ago, now rumors consider an agreement between Red Bull and Mercedes as a done deal. According to them, Mercedes will provide his Power-Unit to Milton Keynes-based team already from the next season.

It is a really interesting step because a group who tenaciously wants to win again joins the current “fleet”composed by Williams, Force India, and Lotus. Almost certainly there will be four German’s customer-teams with Gérard Lopez’s group transition under transalpine colors.

“As previously mentioned Renault is not interested anymore in just a part of the Lotus team but in its entire stake, to start relevant manoeuvres which could concern also Red Bull which is heavily atoned for the transalpine PU. According to last rumors the first domino has fel apart starting a great change for 2016” Gian Carlo Minardi analyzes at the microphones of Minardi.it. “A direct rival for the title appears among Mercedes’ customer. Dietrich Mateschitz deeply wanted this transformation and his men want to win again. This could generate a wonderful championship. We hope that Ferrari could recover its gap to play the game” the manager from Faenza continues.

However there could be other news as told us by the ex Team Principal and Manufacturer.“Within Red Bull’s team there is also a discussion about an important change on the Driver front aiming to take a top driver to Milton Keynes, with respect to Ricciardo and Kyvat. There are really many opportunities to take advantage of ,with many drivers close to contract expiration or who could be released for lack of results”.

The summer of Formula 1 is going to be very hot, because of the overwhelming and devastating power of Mercedes that is creating many problems to all teams, especially to constructors competitors forced into a “mission impossible” run-up. In particular, Honda’s and Renault’s problems are affecting negatively on the results of McLaren and Red Bull.

MCLAREN-HONDA

The situation of the team from Woking is certainly not the happiest. The latest interviews with Ron Dennis and Eric Boullier leaked out new situation for such a famous team, but not new for the small teams that, due to force majeure, had to face it in order to remain in Formula 1.

Dennis said that a team like his certainly can not be satisfied with a client-engine, because he does not guarantee the ability to fight for victory. This is also why the challenge with Honda is born. On the other side, his Racing Director – Eric Boullier – complains that it’s hard to find major sponsors without the results.

After criticizing small teams, now they understand what’s the meaning of having to look for sponsors, occupying constantly the last position. Fortunately, they don’t have to pay for the engine. The small teams, like Minardi, arrive in November still without an engine (for a fee), with tyres to pay and having fond out new companies, then suffer the attacks of top teams’ marketing (McLaren first place). There has always been too much presumption and some Team Principals have never wanted to keep costs down. It’s time to offer mea-culpa. At the same time, an important Mercedes past player has been sighted in the area of Monaco … Whether they’re trying to involve someone else if Honda could not retrieve the desired competitiveness?

RED BULL – RENAULT

On the other side, we have Red Bull, which shows tranquillity against Renault, although the results are below expectations. Luckily for them, they don’t have economic problems because they are a reality that is self-subsidizes. The same goes for Toro Rosso. Anyway, the two companies, with accounts in order, are still suffering heavily on the technical front. In recent days, Christian Horner said that Red Bull is ready to honour the contract in 2016, but that they’re not good at being patient. In 2017 the situation may be different

FERRARI

He starts to leak some nervousness. The victory won in Malaysia came too soon, increasing illusions. Between the Team Principals Maurizio Arrivabene and Jamers Allison betrays little serenity. The novelties are not giving the desired results and Mercedes are moving away. In contrast, we are getting closer to February, when the Power-Units are to be frozen. They must quickly take important decisions concerning the development of PU and, simultaneously, take under consideration the second driver.

From this view – anything but calm-, one senses that something is wrong. But Formula 1 continues to live in his gilded world, as evidenced by the proposals approved in view of 2016 in Mexico City by the World Council. There has been talk of new score for Superlicense, 21 races in the calendar and penalties’ simplifications. Meanwhile, this year we lost the Grand Prix of Germany (thankfully, next year it will return in the calendar). We speak of a nation that is the mirror of maximum expression in Motor-sport (F1 world champions like Mercedes, Audi and Porsche at the top in the World Endurance Championship, Volkswagen in Rally and BMW in DTM) and in the productive sector, as well as being the reference in world economy. Despite all this, no German GP of F1.

Gian Carlo Minardi