F1 | BELGIAN, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “RECHARGING AND RELIABILITY ARE THE KEYS TO THE WEEKEND”

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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”

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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”

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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

F1 | AUSTRIAN GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “RUSSELL DESERVED THE WIN. I WAS SURPRISED BY THE CONTROVERSY”

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Once again Formula 1 gave us a spectacular Grand Prix, full of tussles and fought to the very last lap. The first three crossed the finished line within less than two seconds, a result I did not expect after an extremely close qualifying with the first eight drivers separated by just 519 thousandths of a second and the first ten by less than a second.

This is a very encouraging sign for this Formula 1 which, while still having room for improvement, continues to offer spectacular races. We expect a very hard-fought season up to the last Grand Prix, in which reliability, technical developments and skill in interpreting the races will be the decisive elements. At the moment Mercedes remains the benchmark.

George Russell was excellent in turning pole position into a win. I was sincerely surprised by all he controversy after qualifying. In my opinion, there was nothing to discuss: the regulations were respected by Russell who simply exploited a permissible situation with great experience. This is part of motorsport and who can best interpret the regulations deserves only congratulations.

On the other hand, and it was absolutely understandable, a touch of experience was missing from Andrea Kimi Antonelli over the weekend. During the early laps he made a few slips, but from the middle of the race he was simply extraordinary. From the 32nd lap he set an exceptional race pace, culminating with the fastest lap in the 59th lap. In any case, third place represents a very important result, even in light of the championship.

Instead, Ferrari must stop and think. After the win in Barcelona and the developments introduced to the power units we expected another step forward, but the final result was inferior to the expectations.  Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, paying a gap of more than 26 seconds from the winner, while Charles Leclerc finished eighth with an even wider gap. Now tidying up and continuing to work calmly are needed, without letting themselves be dragged down by enthusiasm after a win or by useless arguments when the results do not come.

Even McLaren experienced a weekend harder than expected, that confirms how close the championship is and how a few details are enough to change the powers on the field.

It was a positive performance for Racing Bulls too, taking both cars into the points, confirming the excellent word done by the men in both Milton Keyes and Faenza. After having tried all or nothing in qualifying, Max Verstappen fought a very high-level race coming back to second place, confirming the progress in Red Bull.

Furthermore, another very positive weekend has concluded for Italy’s motorsport. With second place in Formula 2, Gabriele Mini consolidated his leadership of the championship, while Leonardo Fornaroli also continues to grow and who is always under the eye of Formula 1 teams, and is already in the orbit of McLaren. These results confirm the excellent work done in recent years and put our young drivers at the centre of international attention.

In a week’s time the World Championship will land in Silverstone, a circuit with completely different characteristics, where we will see if the values that came out of Austria represent an episode or a confirmation.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | AUSTRIAN GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “MERCEDES IS STILL THE BENCHMARK, BUT KEEP AN EYE ON RELIABILITY”

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Jos Verstappen (NED) Minardi Cosworth PS03.
Formula One World Championship, Rd6, Austrian Grand Prix, A1-Ring, Austria, 16 May 2003.
DIGITAL IMAGE

After having filed away Ferrari’s first win of the season with Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona, the Formula 1 World Championship moves to the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, one of the most unique circuits of the calendar. It is a short and very fast crack characterized by constant ups and downs, hard braking and sudden acceleration, where every thousandth of a second can make the difference, and the slightest mistake risks costing places on the grid.

Another element to bear in mind is the altitude. The 660m above sea level, together with the high temperatures forecast for the weekend, will put the power units, cooling systems and reliability under pressure. In a season in which several Grands Prix were affected by technical problems, this aspect could prove decisive once again.

In terms of the tyres, Pirelli chose the softest range: C3 as Hard, C 4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. This is a selection designed to widen the strategic options and favour a bigger number of pit stops, even though the new generation tyres have shown good consistency in performance. So, it will be interesting to see which approach the teams will adopt, and which solution will prove to be the most effective.

Furthermore, Spielberg is a track they all know very well and on which many teams will bring further developments, some of which will also involve the power units. Following the updates introduced in Barcelona, we may see the performance gap narrow even further, making the weekend more evenly matched.

Ferrari comes to Austria with enthusiasm and confidence after Lewis Hamilton’s win, a result that confirms the team’s progress and the importance of the experience of the seven times world champion in the development of the car. The men from Maranello are now tasked with building on the form shown in Spain.

Despite this, I still consider Mercedes the benchmark car in the championship. The real question remains reliability which in recent races has prevented the team achieving results that fully reflect the potential shown on the track.

There is also a lot of attention on Max Verstappen.  Red Bull is expected to introduce further upgrades, but the talent of the Dutchman is always an asset.  In Barcelona, he showed once again he knows how to get the most from the car, especially in qualifying, but on such a short track a perfect lap could be enough to find himself immediately in the running for pole position and the win.

The weather could also be another variable. The Red Bull Ring, nestled within the mountains of Styria, is often subject to sudden changes in weather conditions that can quickly alter the strategies and the course of the race.

So, I expect a very closely fought Grand Prix, with minimal gaps, decisive qualifying and a wide-open battle between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. In such a tight championship, the details will make all the difference once again.

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

F1 | SPANISH GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ITALY’S NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS PLAYED ONCE AGAIN. THE RIVALRY BETWEEN MERCEDES AND FERRARI IS HEATING UP”

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Italy’s national anthem was heard once again in Formula 1. This time it was played for Ferrari thanks to Lewis Hamilton who took his first win in the colours of the team from Maranello in Barcelona. For the British driver and for the Team it was a day of great satisfaction at the end of an almost perfect weekend.

Hamilton fought a race worthy of a seven times world champion, confirming his extraordinary value over all the weekend. I have the feeling that Ferrari has begun to take greater account of the indications and the experience of its driver and this approach is starting to produce solid results. The win in Barcelona could be an important passage in the development of the plan. It will be interesting to follow the next fifteen rounds closely.

It was a particularly interesting weekend and, in some ways, even surprising. In qualifying we saw seven cars within barely 411 thousandths of a second on a circuit that they all know perfectly and on which the teams brought major updates. This demonstrates how close the performance levels are and how every detail can make a difference.

For this very reason, it is hard to explain the superiority shown by Mercedes in qualifying compared to the difficulties encountered in the race. Barcelona was considered a key circuit for evaluating the true performance of the racing cars and, from this point of view, the weekend provided some very interesting indications.

The season is proving to be full of twists and turns and that reliability is assuming an increasingly decisive role. Currently Mercedes, as well as the client teams that use the same power unit, are not passing through a particularly easy period from this point of view.

It was a particular shame for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. He was driving a very intelligent race, managing the medium tyres better than his teammate and showing once again an extremely competitive race pace. His overtaking manoeuvre on Russell four laps from the end was one of the highlights of the race, but the technical problem that forced him to retire robbed him of a result he fully deserved.

George Russelle continues to confirm that he is very effective on a single lap, but in the race Antonelli showed once again that he can be extremely competitive over the full distance. It will be interesting to see how the evolution of the internal rivalry at Mercedes develops over the course of the season.

We are at a stage of the championship in which it really takes very little to change the result of a race or even to affect the championship ladder. For this reason, I believe that the rivalry between Ferrari and Mercedes is set to heat up even further in the coming weeks.

However, it was a more complicated weekend for McLaren. Even though it showed signs of improvement in qualifying, the team could not show the same level of competitiveness on other occasions, and it is still looking for the consistency needed to regularly establish itself in the battle at the top.

Barcelona remains one of the most technically demanding circuits of the calendar and the data collected over the weekend will be especially valuable for all the teams. The World Championship will now move to Austria, where we will have further answers on the true balance of power at play in what is proving to be an increasingly exciting season..

Another very positive weekend for Italian motorsport has come to an end.  Following the success of Formula 1, there were also very important results in the junior categories. Brando Badoer took an excellent fourth place in Formula 3, while Gabriele Mini took home a second and third place in Formula 2 and he leads the ladder, confirming his worth once again. These are very important signs that confirm the great work carried out in recent years and that should make us proud of the current state of Italian motorsport.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | SPANISH GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “MERCEDES IS THE BENCHMARK BUT KEEP AN EYE ON RELIABILITY”

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GP Spagna F1 1997 – Archivio Minardi Team

After the unique and particular round in Monte Carlo, Formula 1 moves to Barcelona for a Grand Prix that has always represented one of the most significant tests of the whole season.

The track in Catalonia is probably the one that the teams and drivers know best. For many years it has been the setting for the winter tests and offers a very comprehensive range of technical challenges: very fast bends, tighter sections, long straights and demanding braking points. For this very reason, it is a track that allows us to evaluate very precisely the true potential of a car.

Furthermore, barely six months ago Barcelona hosted the first private tests of the new generation of racing car. It was the first true opportunity to get to know these cars, and it represented an important moment for collecting data and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the new designs. Today, going back to the same circuit will allow the teams to gauge the progress made during the season.

While Monte Carlo highlights the qualities of the driver and the precision of the car’s set up, Barcelona rewards the overall balance of the car. Aerodynamics, efficiency, management of the tyres and race pace will be decisive during the weekend.

We are coming to Spain at a moment when a Mercedes Team that is passing through a particularly positive time. Five consecutive wins by Andrea Kimi Antonelli was certainly not a fluke, but the result of a plan that has continued to improve race after race. Mercedes’ advantage lies not just in the power unit, but above all on the overall quality of the plan, as demonstrated by Antonelli’s 37 laps with the Medium tyres whilst maintaining extremely competitive times. This is an important sign in terms of both the chassis and the management of the tyres. However, keep an eye on reliability that continues to be a key variable throughout the season.

In addition to Antonelli’s results, we are experiencing a particularly positive moment for the whole of Italian motorsport. Andrea Kimi leads the Formula 1 World Championship, while Gabriele Mini goes to Barcelona at the head of the Formula 2 ladder. Added to this is the recent victory by Brando Badoer in Formula 2 in Monte Carlo, further confirming the quality of Italy’s young drivers. In addition, we must not forget Leonardo Fornaroli who in Spain will have the opportunity to take to the track during the first session of free practice at the wheel of the McLaren in place of Lando Norris. These are important signs that confirm the excellent work carried out in recent years by ACI Sport and the Federal School and they should be the source of pride for the whole movement.

I expect an important response from Ferrari. In Monaco the team showed encouraging signs, confirming that it is the second force of the championship despite Leclerc’s retirement. Now they need another step forward to close the gap from the two Mercedes and to reestablish themselves in the fight for victory.

Also keep an eye on McLaren and Red Bull. In this phase of the season all the teams are introducing updates and developments that could shift the balance of power we have seen so far. In fact, we are now entering  a crucial stage of the championship in which every detail can make the difference.

From the technical point of view, the management of the tyres will once again be one of the essential aspects of the weekend. The high temperatures of the asphalt and the many high-speed bends will put particular strain on the rear axis, making the work carried out during free practice even more important.

For this race Pirelli has chosen the C2, C3 and C4 compounds, as Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. This is a slightly more aggressive choice than in the past with the aim of widening the strategic options and encouraging a higher number of pitstops during the race. It will be interesting to see how the teams and drivers will respond to this choice during the weekend.

After the excitement of Monte Carlo, we now return to a track that represents one of the technical benchmarks of the World Championship. This is why I consider the Spanish Grand Prix essential for gauging the true values on the field and for determining whether the balance of power that came out in recent races will also hold true in the middle part of the season.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | MONTE CARLO GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “ANTONELLI MADE HISTORY BUT THE RACE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED”

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I experienced one of the most exciting days of my 55 years of motorsport.

I had a “younger brother” called Ayrton Senna who showed me see some incredible things, especially in Monte Carlo. Today, I saw an Italian driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, do something just as extraordinary.  First of all, the credit goes first and foremost to him, but also to all those who believed in him in the toughest times, when it was easy to criticize without really knowing his journey, and without understanding what he was building lap after lap.

Looking back at his weekend, from pole position to the fastest laps he set, even when they were not strictly necessary, the profile of a champion emerges once again. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s constant pursuit for the fastest lap was probably intended, above all, to keep his concentration high and to prove his worth to himself. These are the details which make the difference between an excellent driver and a champion.

This is a wonderful moment for Italian motorsport. Adding to Brandon Badoer’s win in Formula 3, another young man that I always had great faith in, even though luck has not always on his side. We are witnessing something incredible, five consecutive Formula 1 wins by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a record for an Italian racing driver who is not yet twenty. We should be proud of him.

Mercedes has made a big leap forward compared to last season. It can count on two top class drivers and an extremely close-knit team. George Russell is going through a difficult time at the moment, but I still consider him an excellent driver. During the race he was held up by Hajdar and the penalty further compromised his final result.

We are now entering into a crucial phase of the championship. The lead built up by Antonelli is starting to make a real difference, but there are still a lot of Grands Prix to go. This is precisely why it will be vital to continue working with the same determination and maintain the focus at the highest levels.

Toto Wolff is quite right to urge the Italian Press not to get carried away with Kimi’s  current form, since he built up a lead of 42 seconds from his direct rivals before the red flag, and I agree with him. We must let him get on with his work and continue to enjoy himself. Similarly, we must not go overboard with our criticism of Ferrari but let the team work in peace. They certainly have the quality and the resources to bounce back. Today, Ferrari is once again the second force of the championship.

I noticed that Charles Leclerc was particularly nervous. He probably did not expect to find such a motivated and competitive team alongside him. I believe that the mistake that cost him a third place – which was very important for him and for Ferrari – was the result of several factors, also including some tension. There is still a lot of work to do, Leclerc must not become discouraged, but he must stay clear headed and calm to make up for those tenths of a second that he was missing.

It was a Grand Prix full of twists and turns that gave us an unusual and very interesting ladder. Isack Hajdar’s third place did not surprise me. He is one of the rookies who got closest to the championship leaders throughout the season. It has been some time since Red Bull could count on two drivers performing so closely. Max Verstappen was unlucky today but Hajdar had already shown his potential right through free practice and on Saturday he put on an extraordinary qualifying session. Only Antonelli managed to deny him pole position.

Racing Bulls’ fifth and sixth places were also excellent. It was also a historic day for the Cadillac which took its first world championship point with Sergio Perez. They made the most of the opportunity that presented itself, helped by a bit of luck and by good reliability. I hope that they continue to improve

Before saying goodbye until Barcelona next week, I would like to make a final point regarding the decision to display the red flag and to restart the race with a standing start. With ten laps to go, given the obvious issues that they were trying to manage, I believe that in all likelihood the race should very likely have been suspended.

Safety must always be the highest priority. I have dedicated my entire career to this cause and continue to do so through ACI Sport. For me, the movies are a different matter altogether

See you in a weeks’ time.

Gian Carlo Minardi​

F1 | MONACO GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “IN MONTECARLO, QUALIFYING IS WORTH HALF THE RACE. PETROL COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”

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Monte Carlo remains a unique round of the Formula 1 calendar. It is a sort of roulette where much of the result is decided on Saturday. On such a narrow and twisty track, qualifying takes on fundamental importance and, barring accidents, the safety car or unusual episodes, the race is very often already decided at the first corner.

This year we come to the Principality with some new changes to the regulations introduced primarily with safety in mind, including a ban on active aerodynamics. It will be interesting to see how these changes will affect the behaviour of the cars on a circuit that demands maximum downforce and an extremely precise setup.

At Monaco the power of the engine takes a step back compared to the efficiency of the chassis, the setup and the skill of the drivers to avoid the guardrails for lap after lap. As I had already stated, also keep an eye out for the importance of the fuel. On a track as unique as Monte Carlo, where the cars race with the maximum downforce, and where today any detail can make a difference, the quality of the fuel used by various teams could become an even more decisive factor.  When the times are so close, even apparently minor details could affect the final result. For these reasons, I expect a particularly close fought weekend.

Mercedes and McLaren are certainly the favourites but also keep an eye on Ferrari as they could well joint the battle at the top. On the Principality’s track, the engine plays a lesser role than on other tracks and the quality of the car’s setup could make all the difference.

In addition, Ferrari renewed Charles Leclerc’s contract This is a significant decision that ensures continuity for the team and will allow the driver from Monaco to approach his home grand prix with greater peace of mind, focusing solely on his work on the track.

From a technical point of view, Pirelli has once again chosen the softest compound range available: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. The circuit features a very smooth asphalt, and, in some sections, it was resurfaced recently, particularly between turns 19 and 1, and between turn 7 and the entrance to the tunnel, as well as the entry and exit of pitlane. Traditionally, tyre wear is very low, and this could favour a one stop strategy.

This year a trial rule was introduced that required at least two pitstops, but the regulation was then scrapped and so the traditional strategy was reinstated. However, an eye must be kept on the potential issue of graining. Naturally, one of the variables to consider is the safety car which, in Monaco, could turn the race on its head in a matter of seconds. On the other hand, the weather forecast does not appear to be a decisive factor during the race.

Therefore, there are all ingredients for watching a spectacular Grand Prix, where precision, strategy and a cool head could prove even more important than sheer speed.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | CANADIAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “Antonelli is leading Italian motorsport forward

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The fourth straight win by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who also took the Canadian Grand Prix, confirming that Italian motorsport is at the top of the world championship ladders. This is also an extremely positive sign for all the work being carried out by ACI Sport and the Federal School.

It was an exciting Grand Prix, just like the whole weekend. Looking back at what we saw on Saturday, with a few more laps Kimi could probably have taken the Sprint Race as well. Both he and George Russell gave us thirty fantastic laps, giving life to a very fair and spectacular duel.

Toto Wolff certainly deserves credit. As the perfect head of the family, he knew how to mend the tear that arose after Saturday’s scuffle. We will surely see other clashes between these young men as the season progresses.

Like the great champion that he is, Antonelli gave his best performance on the very last lap, showing that he still has room for improvement and an extraordinary ability to keep his cool when managing the race.

It was also a positive result for Ferrari that took second place with Lewis Hamilton. On this occasion the British driver managed to clearly outpace his teammate, giving the impression that he has rediscovered his enthusiasm and consistency following the difficulties of last season.

Congratulations also go to Franco Colapinto, who finished in an excellent sixth place with the Alpine F1 Team ahead of his teammate Pierre Gasly, eighth across the finish line. Liam Lawson, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Oliver Bearman also performed well, making the most of the opportunities created by the high-profile retirements of Russell and Lando Norris.

It was an excellent race also for Isack Hadjar who was able to match Max Verstappen’s lap times something that Red Bull Racing had not seen for some time.

On the other hand, it was a race to forget for McLaren that paid a heavy price for a major strategic mistake at the start, compounded by various problems during the race. The team was probably aware that it did not have the pace to fight it out at the front and decided to play the card of the intermediate tyres, but without achieving the desired results.

Now the championship comes back to Europe with start times that are decidedly convenient for us fans.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | CANADIAN GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “CAN MONTREAL SHAKE UP THE BALANCES?”

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It has been three weeks since the Miami Grand Prix and Formula One is landing in Montreal, Canada on the 4,351m long track named after Gilles Villeneuve. It is an unusual track characterized by long straights and particularly demanding spots of braking that put the brake systems under severe strain. The track has been resurfaced recently and is currently very smooth and not very abrasive. Furthermore, we are talking about a street-circuit and consequently the track will evolve significantly during the weekend. This year, in addition to the top category, Formula 2 will also be present.

The Sprint format will also make its debut in Montreal. For the teams and the drivers having only one session of free practice before the main event will be an additional challenge.

This year the circus is taking place in Canada a few weeks earlier than usual in the world championship calendar, and this could have a further impact also in terms of the weather. Weather conditions always represent a strong source of uncertainty because they can change very quickly due to the absence of mountains and the proximity of the ocean.

This is traditionally a race based on two-stops, but this year the choice could be for just one pit stop. As always, keep an eye out for the for the possible entry of the safety car.

Pirelli has chosen to bring the softest range of compounds available onto the track; C3 as the Hard, C4 the Medium and C5 the Soft. Potential graining must also be monitored.

As I have already mentioned, we are coming back from a three-week break and many teams – if not all of them -, will introduce technical updates to try to challenge the supremacy of the Mercedes-AMG Formula One Team. In the front row there will surely be McLaren which was revitalized in Miami, but keep an eye on Red Bull Racing and Ferrari too.

Speaking about Red Bull, Max Verstappen kept himself in shape by taking part in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. His race ended three hours before the finish, but it is always great to see champions of his calibre taking time for fun and put on a show for the fans.

Amongst the unknown factors, we must not forget the infamous “Wall of Champions “which is always insidious at the exit of the final chicane following the long straight.

Let’s hope for a good time and to hear Italy’s national anthem once again.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | MIAMI GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “ITALIAN MOTORSPORT AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD”

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli had the Italian national anthem played once again in Florida a few after Gabriele Mini’s win in F2. This was a day of special significance for those who love this sport.

Italian motorsport is currently going through one of its finest periods in recent years. The results achieved by Antonelli and Mini, and Leonardo Fornaroli last year, confirm that the work done is producing talents capable of making their mark at the very highest international levels.

This represents a source of great pride and satisfaction for me too in my roles as the Managing Director of ACI, Chairman of the Speed Commission and Supervisor of the Federal School which, under the leadership of Raffaele Giammaria, is reaching important milestones

Once again Antonelli proved his worth with an exceptional weekend, starting with the commanding pole position. In the race he fought it out on the edge of thousandths of a second against the world champions McLaren and Lando Norris.

We are talking about a young man who is only 19 years, who still has wide room for improvement, and is making rapid progress, even though this does not come as a surprise for those who have followed him since the karts. Year after year he has deserved the place he is now occupying. I have every confidence in him because he has a maturity beyond his age. As is my habit, I followed the GP keeping an eye on the times lap by lap, and it was impressive.

As was to be expected, the enforced month-long break has shifted the balance on the track, starting with McLaren’s improvement following a difficult start to the season. All the teams have had time to analyse the data gathered in the first few races, although there is still a lot of work to be done, particularly in terms of reliability, as we saw at the end.

Ferrari has made progress, but at the moment it is still not quite enough to worry Mercedes and McLaren at race pace. Charles Leclerc in particular struck a problem in the end that cost him third place, while Lewis Hamilton seemed to me to be struggling slightly more.

It was a difficult weekend for George Russell too. Apart from not being at home with the track, I had the sense that he is feeling pressure from the growth of his teammate.

The circus now moves on to Canada, where everyone will bring further new developments. The season is still long but seeing Antonelli reach 100 points after only a few races is something that should make all Italian motorsport proud.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | JAPANESE GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ANTONELLI IS AN EXCEPTIONAL ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG DRIVERS”

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After his win in China, Kimi Antonelli confirmed that his excellent form by taking a clean sweep at Suzuka: pole position, the win, fastest lap, and the lead in the world championship.

Regardless of the result, what was most striking was the quality of his performance. To borrow a saying that was so dear to former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi – “eye, luck and skill” – this case had all the ingredients the eye of Mercedes in the choice and the development of the driver, the flawless administration of the variations of the race, and, above all, the skill of the driver.

From the technical point of view, Antonelli secured the win in the second half of the race, following the restart after the safety car. He maintained an extremely consistent race pace, consistently lapping under 1.33 – with only two exceptions -, and setting seven fastest laps, extending his lead over his closest rival Oscar Piastri, to 14”. A detail that highlights not only pure performance, but also the excellent management of the tyres and tyre wear on a demanding track such as Suzuka.

It was a wonderful start to the day that let us witness a hard-fought race, made even better by the win by an Italian driver who, despite his young age, is demonstrating that he learnt a great deal from his debut season. For Italian sport, Kimi is an exceptional role model and a great inspiration to many young people. He is a source of pride for the Federation, ACI Sport, and the Federal School with which I have had the pleasure of working over the years.

Mercedes still has room for improvement at the start but overall, it has shown that fit remains the technical hallmark, thanks to an extremely well-balanced package.

The battle between Leclerc and Russell also provided interesting comparison between Ferrari and Mercedes. The driver from Monte Carlo made the most of the situation, defending his place very well despite an inferior performance, particularly in terms of race pace. Ferrari took home an important podium finish, but there is still a gap to bridged especially in the consistency of performance.

There are signs of a comeback from McLaren after two difficult races: the return to the top indicates potential that must still be fully expressed. As they have the same Mercedes power unit, the focus is mainly on the chassis and the aerodynamic balancing.

Alpine too is benefitting from the excellent performance of the Mercedes engine that continues to be the hallmark. Gasly managed to hold off the attacks from a champion of the calibre of Max Verstappen. for all the grand prix

It has been an exciting start of the season. It is a shame about this forced month long break, though  all the teams will have the chance to work in their factories to analyse the data collected at first the three circuits which are all very different from one to another They will be able to do this without the stress of two demanding trips like Bahrein and Saudi Arabia. When the season resumes in Miami will be able to see a few changes.

Gian Carlo Minardi