F1 | SINGAPORE GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “VERSTAPPEN WAS PERFECT, ANTONELLI A GREAT CHAMPION”

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The weekend in Singapore was all about Red Bull and Max Verstappen who won both the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix, after having even taken pole position in both. The Dutchman showed that he is in great form, managing every phase of the race with great composure. However, it was a more complicated weekend for Isack Hadjar who was hampered by technical problems that forced him to start the Grand Prix from pit lane. In any case, the Frenchman managed to climb back up to tenth place, taking a point. Also to be noted was Liam Lawson’s excellent performance, seventh in the GP after fifth place in the Sprint Race, with another solid performance by the Racing Bulls.

In the Sprint Race Verstappen managed the very treacherous conditions in the best way possible. After having overtaken the Dutchman at the start George Russell took the lead, he made a very bad mistake and crashed into the wall at the last corner of the first lap. This episode compromised his result and opened the road to victory for Red Bull’s driver, and “handing over” precious points to Antonelli.

Sunday confirmed the superiority of Verstappen who controlled the race right up to the chequered flag. Behind him, Charles Leclerc took an excellent second place for Ferrari, but questions remain about the behaviour of their two drivers. At one stage of the race, Hamilton seemed to have a better pace, yet Leclerc did not let him pass, making him lose precious seconds. Previously, during the tyre change, it had been Hamilton who had let his teammate pass. On this occasion, the seven times world champion showed he was more willing to work in the best interest of the team. It is hard to say whether a different choice would have changed the final result, but the management of the situation warrants some reflection.

The third step of the podium went to Antonelli, who delivered a performance worthy of a true champion. Once again, he had to contend with several track-limit violations. Despite this, he displayed great maturity—especially when compared to the errors made by other key contenders like Russell and Hamilton.

Antonelli managed the pressure well and secured crucial points in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. His championship lead over Russell has thus extended to 102 points, aided by the struggles of his teammate, who after a power unit change managed to recover to ninth place.

It was a disastrous weekend for McLaren, between the crash in the last lap of the Sprint Race with the collision between Norris and Piastri when they were battling for the top places, and the performance and strategy issues in the Grand Prix. Added to this was another mistake by Norris in the closing stages, in the battle with Hamilton, which also allowed Antonelli to make up ground. One would expect a driver fighting for the title to handle such moments differently: these are mistakes that can have a huge impact on the outcome of the season. I don’t know how pleased they can be at McLaren.

Now the attention turns to Austri where a decisive stage in the title race could unfold. Antonelli has a very comfortable lead and, should he continue on this path, he could already have the chance, as early as the next round, to mathematically secure the World Championship. Furthermore, Mercedes is also expected to introduce updates to the power unit, something to watch very closely.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | SINGAPORE GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “EVERY POINT STARTS TO COUNT”

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After Sepang, the Formula 1 World Championship stays in Asia and moves to Singapore where the Sprint Race is also scheduled for this weekend. This situation is completely different from Malaysia: Marina Bay is a very demanding street circuit characterized by many corners, braking points and acceleration zones, with the barriers very close to the track and limited opportunities for overtaking. The changes introduced in 2023 made the third section faster, but Singapore is still one of the most demanding races for the drivers.

The Sprint format will make all this even more complicated. In fact, the teams will have only one session of free practice before the real action begins, with the Sprint qualifying and race taking place between Friday and Saturday. It will therefore be crucial to quickly find the right set-up of the car, without having much time to make adjustments.

Even the tyres will be interesting, Pirelli will bring the C3, C4 and C5 compounds, Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. Marina Bay is medium to high level of roughness for a street circuit and a marked change of the levels of the grip over the course of the weekend. Add to this the chance of intermittent rain, typical of the equatorial climate, which could quickly alter the conditions of the track.

Wear of the tyres should not be particularly high, and a one-stop strategy remains the benchmark. In any case, this year the Softs could play an even more important role in the race itself, thanks to its performance in recent races and the capacity of the current racing cars to make better use of the softest compound. It will therefore be interesting to see how the teams will interpret this factor, especially over a weekend in which the Sprint Race will provide further insight on the behaviour of the cars.

Kimi will need to carry on racing as he has done so far, without letting his lead affect him. At Sepang, he handled a difficult race very well and he took home a second place which, in light of Russell’s retirement, has taken on even greater significance.

For George, however, Singapore is his first chance to bounce back. The retirement in Malaysia came at the worst possible time, after having narrowed the gap from his teammate in Baku. Now he must try to make the most of a circuit on which precision, speed and skill at handling pressure can make all the difference, even though he will be hampered by the replacement of the power unit.

It will also be interesting to see if Red Bull and Verstappen will be able to continue the form shown at Sepang on a completely different circuit. The win in Malaysia confirmed the competitiveness of the team, but Singapore will present a different testing ground.

For Ferrari, after Hamilton’s third place and Leclerc’s fourth place at Sepang, and for McLaren that comes off a weekend that fell short of expectations, it will instead be important to see to what extent the street circuit could shake up the pecking order once again.

Singapore will therefore be a particularly interesting round: there is little time to find the right set-up, a Sprint Race which will already award points as early as Saturday and technical characteristics that are very different from those in Sepang. Following a Grand Prix that further extended Antonelli’s lead, the championship would give us new insights on the Title race.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | BAHRAIN MALAYSIA GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “VERSTAPPEN PERFECT, ANTONELLI WITH A VERY HEAVY SECOND PLACE. FERRARI MAXIMISES ITS RESULT”

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As was easy to predict, the Sepang Grand Prix was strongly affected by bad weather that delayed the start by about 90 minutes. This delay could have also influenced the planning of the strategies, given that we are talking about a track with asphalt that tends to dry quickly. This is precisely why we saw very different choices among the drivers: some chose the Soft tyres, including the two Ferrari drivers, while Verstappen, Antonelli and Russell started with the Mediums. On the other hand, the two McLarens chose the dry weather Medium tyres.

The strategies then changed quickly. In Ferrari, we saw two different choices: Leclerc returned to the pits to switch to the Mediums, while Hamilton chose the stay on the track with the dry tyres, and he then managed to make up many places. It was a decision that paid off in the end and allowed the Englishman to take an excellent third place, with Leclerc fourth.

The race was dominated by an absolutely flawless Verstappen. Max consistently posted excellent lap times and managed an extremely complicated race, characterized by the wet track, by the progressive changes to the conditions, by the Safety Cars and the Virtual Safety Cars, to perfection. He was always composed, finding an excellent race pace even when the track was drying. After having slipped behind the two Mercedes in the early stages, he took back the lead and from that moment he built up a well-deserved victory, without making any mistakes.

Albon’s retirement then triggered the Virtual Safety Car, that was then turned into the Safety Car.  At that point all the frontrunners took advantage of the neutralization to make another pitstop. The closing stages first gave us Norris’ mistake when, during the Safety car, he risked crashing into his teammate by braking too late and losing several places, and then, the biggest turning point, Russell’s retirement due to technical difficulties. George was in the running for the podium and could have limited the damage in relation to Antonelli. The problem at the end cost him crucial points and paved the way for Hamilton’s third place, and fourth place by Leclerc, at the end, they had the better over an excellent Hadjar who crossed the finish line in fifth place.

Hadjar confirmed once again that he is an excellent teammate for Verstappen, and, at this time, he is one of the drivers who can put him to the test within the team. Even in Sepang, he disputed a very solid race, staying in the top places for much of the race.

On the other hand, for Antonelli second place carries enormous weight in terms of the championship. Kim disputed a very mature race, managing conditions that were anything but easy and taking home a hugely important result. Russell’s retirement, which came a few laps from the finish, further highlighted the significance of this result. Antonelli consolidated his lead in the ladder and took his lead over his teammate to 84 points. This result is worth more than the 18 points collected, it is another very important step forward in the battle for the World Championship.

For Ferrari, Hamilton’s strategy proved particularly effective. Starting from the front row, Lewis knew how to make the most of what his Ferrari could achieve today. After dropping down to the rear due to the choice of Soft tyres in the wet conditions, he managed to stage an extraordinary comeback to finish in third place. Leclerc too, after the early difficulties, recovered back up to fourth place. Considering the conditions and the choices of strategies, this was therefore a doubly positive result for Ferrari. Today’s result is probably the best they could have hoped for. Also, thanks to some favourable circumstances arising from outside the team.

A round of applause also goes to Alonso. After the renewal of his contract and some positive signs that came out over the weekend, Fernando showed once again that he is competitive and took home an excellent eighth place. In a race that was chaotic and conditioned by the strategies, this was a very positive result for Aston Martin.

This was also a decidedly positive weekend for Racing Bulls who said goodbye to Sepang with both cars in the points: Lawson seventh and Lindblad tenth. This was an important result in view of the head-to-head battle with Alpine which finished the weekend outside the points. Racing Bulls consolidated fifth place in the Constructors’ World Championship.

McLaren, on the other hand, faced major difficulties, both in terms of the performance and due to Norris’s mistake at the end which wiped out part of the result. Piastri did not go beyond sixth place, while Norris finished only ninth after ending up in the gravel during the Safety Car. This weekend was decidedly below expectations for a team that, for the values shown in the track during the season, could have been even more a frontrunner.

Now we look ahead. In a week’s time they go back onto the track in Singapore which will also host the Sprint Race. This is another very special round, on a street circuit that is completely different from Sepang, where the world championship could yet throw up some new twists in the challenge for the title.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | AZERBAIJAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “196 THOUSANDTHS OF A SECOND AFTER 51 LAPS: THIS F1 IS KEEPING US ENTERTAINED. ANTONELLI WILL HAVE LEARNT FROM HIS MISTAKE”

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196 thousandths of a second after 51 laps separated George Russell from Max Verstappen. Truly nothing, this is the demonstration that this Formula 1 is keeping us entertained, even if it might not please some people.

In Baku, Russell proved that he was very competitive for the whole weekend and he had an extra edge compared to his teammate Antonelli. It is worth pointing this out, On Friday Kimi made a totally unnecessary mistaken Q1 when there was no need to take such a risk. It would have been different if it had happened in Q3, when you go all out to take pole position. I am sure that, as always, he will have learnt from this experience and that it will not happen again.

In the race however, he was able to come back very well, climbing back from sixteenth place on the grid up to fifth place. It was a positive result, and probably what Mercedes and the driver could realistically have expected after such a difficult qualifying session. He lost a few points to Russell and now the gap in the championship has narrowed to 66 points. We still do not know how many races are left, and at this point of the season, every point counts double.

It was also a solid performance by Leclerc who maintained a good pace for the whole race, even though Ferrari is still far behind Mercedes. There is still a lot of work to do in Maranello. Hamilton, on the other hand, mainly complained about poor rear-end grip and a few problems connected to the engine.

It was an excellent performance by Red Bull that returned to the podium with both drivers. Verstappen certainly needs no praise, he drove an excellent race and, once again, he showed all his talent. But I also want to highlight Hadjar’s great performance after missing three races due to injury. He gave us a wonderful battle between the two teammates. This is the first time that Verstappen has a teammate who can really challenge him. Late in the race the order came from the team not to attack Verstappen and, considering the pace he showed, Hadjar would probably have been able to fight for second place. Red Bull is bouncing back from a slow start to the season.

It was a weekend to forget for McLaren and Alpine that both left Baku without any points. On a street circuit such as this one, danger is lurking behind every curve, and we saw this with Albon and especially with Colapinto. At the restart after the Safety Car, Colapinto locked his breaks at the first turn, and he hit his teammate Gasly who then crashed into Norris. All three were forced to retire. It was a costly mistake, especially because Gasly and Colapinto were well placed to score points for Alpine.

Inevitably, the Safety Cars affected the race strategy. We also saw a not very marked difference between the tyre compounds with the mediums demonstrating that they perform very well at various points. In the end, Russell was able to defend himself from Verstappen until the last metre, finishing with a lead of barely 196 thousandths of a second. Such a close finish is further proof of just how much this Formula 1 season still has to offer in terms of excitement.

Gian Carlo Minardi

THE HISTORIC MINARDI DAY, THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY PROVES IT IS A SUCCESS WITH MORE THAN 20,000 FANS AND 34 FORMULA 1 CARS

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The 10th edition of the Historic Minardi Day has concluded at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit. It was a weekend that once again turned Imola into a vast dynamic museum of Motorsport, attracting more than 20,000 fans and bringing 590 cars onto the track, to which must be added the 200 cars that took part in the rally and the parade lap.

Launching the tenth edition was the habitual lap of the track by Gian Carlo Minardi, this year aboard a 1956 Lotis Eleven powered by a 100cc Coventry Climax engine and driven by Roberto Farneti. This highly symbolic image officially launched two days packed with activities.

As always, the programme was incredibly full featuring Formula Junior, Formula Abarth, Formula Italia, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 4, GP3, GP2, F3000, Prototypes, Historic GT and GTS cars taking turns on the track, also thanks to the participation of the Scuderia del Portello, the Scuderia Nuvolari Italia, and the Motori Modena “Scuderia Modena Corse” Club. Never missing from the track and the paddock were also Hypercars and Supercars including the Pagani Huayra R and Utopia Roadster, the Dallara Stradale and EXP, the Lamborghini Revuelto and Temerario, the Mazda MX-5 and Lotus.

Warming the hearts of the fans in the pits and along the 4,909m of the Imola Circuit once again were the historic Formula 1 cars showcasing more than forty years of evolution of the highest category of motorsport: from the 1971 Ferrari 312 B2 up to 2013 Ferrari V8 powered Toro Rosso STR8 driven by Jean-Éric Vergne.

Also present were the Shadow DN1 driven by Graham Hill (1973), Tyrrell P34/2 (1977), March Beta F1 761 (1976), Ensign N177 (1977), Arrows A1B driven by Riccardo Patrese (1978), Merzario F1A3 (1979), Wolf Ford WR7 (1979), Ferrari 312 T5 (1980), Shadow DN12 (1980), Alfa Romeo 179 (1982) taken to the track also by Arturo Merzario, Osella FA1E (1983), Lotus 94T (1983), Ferrari 126 C4 (1984), Osella-Alfa Romeo FA1G (1986), Arrows A10 (1987), Minardi M189 (1989), Monteverdi F1 (1990), Arrows A11B (1990), Ferrari 642 (1991), Ferrari 643 (1991), Andrea Moda Formula S921 (1992), Fondmetal GR01 (1992), Ferrari 412 T1 – chassis 154 (1994), Minardi PS04B (2005) and Williams FW33 (2011), together with the full scale model of the McLaren MP4/15.

Also significant was the presence of the Aston Martin Formula 1 show car taken to Imola by Fondmetal that this year returned to the Circus after 29 years as the supplier of wheels. This return symbolically brough things full circle: in 2000 Fondmetal said goodbye to Formula 1 alongside Minardi, with Fernando Alonso as the test driver, to find him once again 26 years later as a driver for Aston Martin.

As per tradition, there was a large turnout of people who wrote important pages of work motor racing and who continue to keep a maintain strong ties with the world of Minardi and the Historic Minardi Day. Present were the engineers Aldo Costa, Gabriele Tredozi and Nigel Cowperthwaite, together with Daniele Audetto, Heini Mader, Giorgio Piola, Biagio Maglienti, Mario Isola, Giorgio Serra “Matitaccia”, Giovanna Amati, Fabio Babini, Luca Badoer with his son Brando, Fulvio Maria Ballabio, Benito Battilani, Francesco Bergamini, Thierry Boutsen, Sergio Campana, Sonia Borghese, Vicky Piria, Massimo Ciccozzi, Roberto Farneti, Beppe Gabbiani, Bruno Giacomelli, Raffaele Giammaria, Alexandra Gallo, Pierluigi Martini, Arturo Merzario, Miguel Angel Guerra, Gabriele Lancieri, Giovanni Lavaggi, Andrea Levy, Riccardo Patrese, Gabriele Tarquini, Nicolò Piancastelli, Luis Pérez-Sala, Vinicio Salmi, Siegfried Stohr and Tamara Vidali.

The Checco Costa Museum was one of the main attractions of the event. Providing the backdrop of a packed programme of book launches, meetings, talks and award ceremonies, with the participation of some of the most authoritative writers of Motorsport, were six racing cars connected to the history of Faenza: the Minardi M185, M189, M192 and M193, together with two Racing Bulls.

The packed programmed was further enhanced by the ACI Storico Festival. On Sunday 20 September, the Rally of the Lands of the Romagna, organized by the Automobile Club Ravenna, that saw 20 teams set off from the Imola Circuit towards Faenza, where they visited the Local Council Art Gallery, before returning to the circuit for the parade lap and the conclusion of the event.

There were also many highly emotional moments, including the awarding of the 5th “Ferdinando Minardi Memorial” Award to Massimo Campodoni, one of the leading experts of Automobilia collectibles and a profound connoisseur of Motorsport history.

Gian Carlo Minardi: “This tenth edition of the Historic Minardi Day is an especially significant milestone for us and this result gives us great satisfaction. When we began in 2016, it was hard to imagine this sort of growth in both the numbers and quality of the cars present and the participation of the public and the many leading players of Motorsport who continue to show us their support. I was particularly pleased to see once again a very young crowd and a truly important presence of fans from overseas. Walking through the paddock and the pits, you meet young people and families from many countries who share a passion. Seeing the younger generations intrigued and captivated by cars from different periods that they have not seen firsthand is, I believe, one of the best outcomes of this event. This is the very spirit of the Historic Minardi Day: to preserve the history of Motorsport, to bring it back to the track and to share it, so that it can continue to thrill and inspire passion in the new generations as well. I would like to thank my brother Giuseppe, my niece Elena and Ilaria, together with all the Formula Imola team and all the people who worked for months to make this event a reality. Thanks also go to all the Institutions and to all those who continue to believe in and support this event. The strong turnout of spectators, Italians and from other countries, is another significant achievement for Imola and all the region, even in terms of the economic impact and international promotion”.

Marco Panieri (Mayor of Imola and responsible for the Circuit and major events): “The Historic Minardi Day is celebrating its 10th anniversary and continues to be one of the most cherished and authentic events for our Circuit and for the entire city of Imola. It is an event capable of uniting different generations in the spirit of pure passion for motorsport, opening the doors of the circuit, the pits, and the paddock to families, young people, and enthusiasts from all over the world, bringing them into close contact with the stars and the racing cars that have written indelible chapters in Formula 1 history. Seeing extraordinary cars parade around our track and welcoming so many champions, technicians, and industry professionals testifies to the vitality of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit as an international landmark of Motor Valley. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Gian Carlo Minardi, his family, and Formula Imola for believing in this project since 2016—a project that celebrates the history, hospitality, and identity of our region with a spirit of inclusivity and celebration.”

Pietro Benvenuti (Director General of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit):” The tenth edition of the Historic Minardi Day is a testament to the strength of an event that earned a special place in the Circuit’s calendar. Gian Carlo Minardi’s idea of bringing back to Imola the cars, the key figures, and the stories of motorsport has resonated more and more with fans, transforming the event into a unique opportunity to experience and pass on the history of racing. Seeing these cars return to the track and meeting those who drove them or were part of their history means keeping alive a legacy that belongs to motorsport and engaging new generations as well. It is therefore a pleasure for the Circuit to share this important anniversary, which celebrates ten editions of passion, expertise, and the ability to tell the story of motor sport through its people and its cars. This heritage finds its natural home in Imola, and we are proud to continue promoting it together with the Minardi family.”

GREAT NAMES OF MOTORSPORT ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THE 10TH EDITION OF THE HISTORIC MINARDI DAY. TICKETS CAN BE BOUGHT ON TICKETONE

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More than thirty-five champions and icons of Motorsport are expected at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit for the 10th edition of the Historic Minardi Day scheduled for Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. Tickets are available on  TicketOne, in the authorized TicketOne outlets or at the ticket booths at the Circuit.

This will be a unique occasion to meet drivers, technicians and personalities who have written important pages of world Motorsport and who, over the years, contributed to making the Historic Minardi Day a special event for fans.

Among the personalities expected are the President of ACI Geronimo La Russa, engineers Aldo Costa, Gabriele Tredozi, Luca Baldisserri e Nigel Cowperthwaite, together with Daniele Audetto, Heini Mader, Giorgio Piola, Biagio Maglienti and Mario Isola.

As per our tradition, there will be many drivers and key figures from the world of racing: Giorgio Serra “Matitaccia”, Giovanna Amati, Fabio Babini, Fulvio Maria Ballabio, Benito Battilani, Francesco Bergamini, Thierry Boutsen, Sergio Campana, Sonia Borghese, Massimo Ciccozzi, Roberto Farneti, Beppe Gabbiani, Bruno Giacomelli, Raffaele Giammaria, Alessandra Gallo, Pierluigi Martini, Arturo Merzario, Miguel Angel Guerra, Gabriele Lancieri, Giovanni Lavaggi, Andrea Levy, Riccardo Patrese, Gabriele Tarquini, Nicolò Piancastelli, Luis Perez Sala, Vinicio Salmi, Siegfried Stohr e Tamara Vidali.

One of the features that has made the Historic Minardi Day unique over the years is the chance to see the great stars of Motorsport take to the wheel once again. In fact, many former drivers chose to don their overalls and helmet once again here at Imola to give the public sights and thrills that are hard to experience anywhere else.

For example, in 2019 Emanuele Pirro took to the wheel of the Minardi M189 for the first time, while Gaston Mazzacane found “his” M02 once again, and Gian Carlo Minardi tried his hand with the M192-Lamborghini. In the 2018 edition, it was Aldo Costa, the then director of Mercedes AMG F1, who took to the track with the Mercedes W04. In 2020, it was the turn of Riccardo Patrese to warm the hearts of the fans at the wheel of the 1991 Williams FW14.

More recently, in 2023 and 2024, Thierry Boutsen thrilled the fans by driving Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari 312 T5 #2 and Alain Prost’s McLaren MP4/03 n.1. Even engineer Gabriele Tredozii took the Minardi PS04B to the track, while Aldo Costa climbed into the cockpit of the Dallara Stradale EXP, as did the world rally champion Miki Biasion.

Gianni Morbidelli put on a show in Pierluigi Martini’s Minardi M189, while Miguel Angel Guerrra drove Vittorio Brambilla’s March 761, swapping paces with Roberto Farneti, as well as making his debut at the wheel of a Minardi racing car, the M189. Arturo Merziario instead took to the wheel of the Lucchini Alfa Romeo of the Scuderia del Portello, while Bruno Giacomelli took back to the track the BMW powered Formula 2 March 772.

In last year’s edition, Roberto Moreno took to the wheel of the Formula 3 Ralt with which Pierluigi Martini won the 1983 European title.

Finally, there will be the unwavering presence of Pierluigi Martini, one of the symbols of the history of Minardi and the Historic Minardi Day, accompanied by a group of truly prestigious cars: the Minardi M189, the perfectly restored Tyrrell P34/02 and P34/05,the Ralt RT30 Ford-Cosworth and the Ferrari 126 C4 of Michele Alboreto.

In this way, drivers, cars and stories from different eras will come together in Imola, giving life once again to the spirit that accompanies the Historic Minardi Day since its birth, not just to preserve the history of Motorsport, but to bring it back to the track and to share it with the fans and with the new generations.

 

F1 | MADRID GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “A TRACK WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED. FERRARI NEEDS TO BOUNCE BACK”

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After having filed away the extraordinary weekend at Monza, highlighted by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s splendid and historic win, our eyes are already drawn to the next race. Formula 1 arrives in Madrid which will make its debut in the world championship calendar with a completely new track that is waiting to be discovered.

This will be a new challenge for the teams and drivers.  There are no data points gathered during previous Grands Prix to draw upon, and for this very reason, the work carried out on the simulator will take on even greater importance, starting from the first free practice sessions, it will be essential to verify that the simulations match the actual behaviour of the racing cars and quickly finding the right benchmarks and the best setup.

The Madring is a semipermanent circuit of about 5.4 kilometres and 22 bends, alternating city streets with specially constructed sections. On paper, it presents very different characteristics, including fast turns, fast braking points and changes of elevation. The expected speeds could reach 340 km/h.

One of the most distinctive features will certainly be “La Monumental”, the long-banked turn 12 with a bank angle that reaches 24%. It will be interesting to see which aerodynamic approach the teams will choose and how hard it will be to find the right balance between speed on the straight, stability under braking and the downforce needed in the tighter sections.

On a completely new track, the drivers’ ability to adapt and the speed of the engineers in analysing the data collected during the first sessions could make a big difference. I also expect the track to evolve significantly during the weekend.

Ferrari however will be able to count on a few more data points to work with compared to its rivals thanks to the Filming Day in July. This is a small advantage, especially in the very early stages of the weekend. I expect them to mount a strong comeback after the disappointment at Monza. Their home Grand Prix ended well below expectations with Leclerc’s retirement in the opening laps and Hamilton’s sixth place. Madrid offers the Team an immediate chance to turn a new leaf. Furthermore, the characteristics of the new track seem to be more favourable compared to Monza, where the speed on the straight was one of their main weak points.

Of course, all eyes will be drawn to Andrea Kim Antonelli. He comes to Madrid as the leader of the World Championship and riding on wave of enthusiasm following his incredible win at Monza, after starting from nineteenth place on the grid. It will be interesting to see if Mercedes can maintain its dominance even on a track with such radically different characteristics.

Il will be an important testing ground also for McLaren. At Monza they knew they had to be more on the defensive compared to previous races, but they probably hoped to achieve something more than fourth place with Norris and fifth place with Piastri. After the strong progress shown before the Italian Grand Prix, the new Spanish track may give us further indications of the true balance of power with Mercedes.

Of course, also keep a keen eye on Max Verstappen, who returns from his excellent third place in Monza. On a completely new track, the experience and skill of the driver to find the limits of the racing car quickly could take on even greater importance and, in this regard, Max certainly remains one of the top contenders.

It will certainly be a particularly special weekend for Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, who will race in front of their home crowd. For Sainz it will have even greater significance since he was born right here in Madrid. They are two highly experienced drivers, and I am convinced that the support of the Spanish fans will give them even more motivation.

In terms of the tyres, Pirelli has chosen the intermediate range made up of C2, C3 and C4. Since there are no precedents, the choice was made based on the simulations. The expected stresses are significant and comparable to those of demanding tracks such as Silverstone and Francorchamps.  In addition, the choice could favour s two-stop strategy and offer greater protection from overheating in high temperatures.

Therefore, Madrid is a big unknown. Mercedes comes from the spectacular one-two in Monza, McLaren needs to bounce back after a disappointing weekend that fell well below expectations, Ferrari is looking to redeem itself immediately and Verstappen is still an adversary not to be underestimated.

On a circuit where we are essentially starting from scratch, I believe the skill of the drivers to adapt, their work on the simulators and above all the speed of the teams in interpreting the data collected after the first free practice sessions will be crucial.

Gian Carlo Minardi

THE WORLD OF MINARDI IN THE NEW APP: HISTORY, FORMULA 1 AND THE HISTORIC MINARDI DAY ALWAYS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

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Available free of charge for Apple and Android devices, the new Minardi App gathers the articles and comments by Gian Carlo Minardi, the history of the Minardi Team and an ample section dedicated to the Historic Minardi Day.

Starting today, the world of Minardi is even closer to its fans. Available for Apple and Android devices, the new Minardi App, designed to gather in a single unique digital space, the news, history and events connected to one of the best known and appreciated names of Italian motorsport.

The new application lets you follow all the articles signed by Gian Carlo Minardi, including the analyses dedicated to the Formula 1 World Championship, and the now traditional “IL PUNTO / THE POINT” column, through which the founder of the Minardi Team makes comments and analyses the Grand Prix races, the frontrunners and the main teams, technicians and sportsmen of the World Championship.

Of course, an ample space is reserved for the history of the Minardi Team, the protagonists of more than twenty years in the Formula 1 World Championship. Thorough the App fans will be able to leaf through this extraordinary adventure, discovering racing cars that took the name Minardi to all the world’s circuits and the drivers who wrote its history.

One space is dedicated entirely to the Historic Minardi Day, the event that every year brings to Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit racing cars, historic cars, drivers and fans.

Ahead of the 10th edition, scheduled for Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, with the App it will be possible to look up the event’s programme, have access to photos and discover the cars taking part in the 2026 edition.

Furthermore, during the two days of Historic Minardi Day, the App will let you follow the live webcams installed in the circuit to experience up close what happens on the track and in the paddock. There is also space for “Shorts”, quick and immediate contents through which trivia, news, and last-minute updates from the Imola Circuit will be told.  In this way, the App will become a real travelling companion for experiencing the Historic Minardi Day, for both those in the circuit and the fans who will want to follow the event from far away.

The new App was created for the purpose of creating a digital point of reference for all the fans of the world of Minardi, bringing together the past, present and future: from the history of the Minardi Team to the current Formula 1 narrated by Gian Carlo Minardi, up to the Historic Minardi Day and the cars the continue to bring back some of the most fascinating pages of the history of motorsport.

The new Minardi App is now available for download on the Apple App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/minardi/id6782636438) and the Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.minardi&pcampaignid=web_share).

 

F1 | ITALIAN GP , THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “FROM ASCARI TO ANTONELLI, KIMI MADE HISTORY IN MONZA”

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This was a special day that confirmed once again how much Italy is a key player on the international motorsport scene.

My first round of applause goes to ACI for the wonderful organization of the Italian Grand Prix. New record attendances were set, and we saw a very well-organized event on a par with the history and prestige of Monza.

Making this weekend even more special were our young people who made the Italian National Anthem resonate and gave us major results. Thank you goes to all these young men who, with their commitment and their results, are contributing to making Italian motorsport stronger and stronger.

Congratulations to Nicola Lacorte, the frontrunner in Formula 3 with a wonderful win in Monza, and to Emanuele Olivieri who, in Imola, won Race-1 of the Regional Formula and took second place in Race-2, confirming his place at the top of the ladder.

Of course, today we saw something that will remain forever in the history of our motorsport thanks to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s extraordinary win.

Sixty years after the last win by an Italian driver in the Italian Grand Prix, Kimi took Italy’s flag back to the top step of the podium in Monza with an extraordinary race that he built up starting from nineteenth place and finishing when he decisively overtook his teammate George Russell at the Ascari Variation three laps before the chequered flag.

This win takes in even greater significance when we consider the history of our motorsports. Antonelli came to Monza as the leader of the World Championship, something that had not happened with an Italian driver since Alberto Ascari. Winning his home race while starting from the back of the grid is a feat that speaks not only of speed, but also his maturity, determination and the ability to read the race.

What impressed me the most was Antonelli’s race pace. He was consistently fast throughout the race, progressively making up ground until he caught up to Russell. At that point we saw a thrilling confrontation between the two Mercedes drivers that Antonelli settled in the final laps. He did not just make up ground – he caught up to his teammate and beat him on the track.

He then completed an impeccable race by setting the fastest lap right on the very last lap. It was an extremely positive signal of the mastery and security that he has achieved at the wheel of the racing car, and a win that is worth a lot in terms of the World Championship.

On the eve we had highlighted how Monza could have been the circuit most suitable to serve the penalty connected to the power unit, thanks to the characteristics and the chances for overtaking. Kimi exceeded all expectations, transforming a weekend that, on paper, could have been raced on the defensive into one of the best and most significant wins of his young career.

We saw a truly thrilling race, characterized by intense battles, overtaking and lots of excitement. I believe that it was one of the best weekends experienced in Monza in recent years: Mercedes, as was predictable on a track with these characteristics, took a splendid one-two finish, ahead of Max Verstappen who never gives up and took an excellent third place.

Once again, unfortunately, I believe that on the Ferrari front, they should talk less and act more. The result was certainly below expectations, with Charles Leclerc retiring in the early laps and Lewis finishing Hamilton only sixth.

I find it hard to understand what happened in the first lap between the two Ferraris, including the subsequent mistake by Leclerc. Starting from third and fourth places, I believe that the priority should have been to keep the positions and think in terms of the team. Instead, they threw away points which could have been very important in the fight for second place on the World Constructors’ Championship.

It was a weekend that fell below expectations also for McLaren. They knew they had to come to Monza in a more defensive position compared to the recent races, but they probably hoped to harvest something more than Norris’ fourth place and fifth place for Piastri. The unique characteristics of the Monza circuit may have played a role, but after the great progress seen in recent races, it will be interesting to see, as early as the next race, whether what happened in Monza was only an isolated episode connected to the track, or whether Mercedes managed  to set up an important gap once again.

Instead, it was a positive weekend for Alpine that started with a pole position that was certainly hard to predict on the eve. The race then largely restored the values on the field, but it remains an important result in the battle for fifth place in the battle with Racing Bulls in the Constructors Championship. For its part, Racing Bulls managed to get both cars into the top 10, earning precious points.

And once again, the Italian public showed that it is a sporting audience and not fanatical. Seeing all the fans on their feet for the last lap, ready to cheer Kimi Antonelli for a win that seemed almost impossible the day before was one of the most wonderful sights of the day.

Monza applauded an Italian driver who won the Italian Grand Prix. This was an image that had been missing for sixty years, and one I believe that all of us will remember for a long time.

Before closing, I would also like to also share some news that is particularly important for us.  From today, the new Minardi App, which was designed to bring our world together in one place, is available for Apple and Android. All my articles, including “IL PUNTO/THE POINT” dedicated to the Formula Grands Prix, the history of the Minardi Team with the racing cars and the drivers which were part of that history and an ample section dedicated to the Historic Minardi Day.

Ahead of the 10th edition of the Historic Minardi Day, scheduled for Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, with the App it will be possible to look up the event’s programme, find out ab out the cars taking part, see photos and videos and, during the weekend, follow the webcams installed at the circuit and the “Shorts” with trivia, news and last-minute updates. It is a new way to always stay in touch with the world of Minardi and to experience our passion for motorsport together.

Download the new Minardi App:
Apple App Store | Google Play Store

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | ITALIAN GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “MONZA A CRUCIAL TURNING POINT FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. MERCEDES MUST STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE BY MCLAREN”

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GP Portogallo F1 – Archivio Minardi Team

The Formula 1 World Championship lands in Monza for one of the most awaited and fascinating rounds of the whole season. The Italian Grand Prix is always special, but this year it takes on an even greater significance given the tight competition that has characterized the championship so far and the presence of Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the top of the world championship ladder.

Monza is a unique circuit and completely different from Zandvoort. It is the Temple of Speed, a circuit in which aerodynamic efficiency, the power of the power unit, the speed on the straight and stability in braking are essential. The cars will race with very low downforce configurations, and it will be particularly difficult to find the right balance of being fast on the long straights without overly penalizing the car on the chicanes and the fast corners.

It will also be interesting to see the energy management. Monza’s long straights are an important challenge for the new generation power units, and it will be crucial to find the right balance between recharging and use of electric power. Furthermore, the simulations indicate lap times significantly faster than last season, and this will add another interesting element.

From what we saw at Zandvoort, one of the main themes of the weekend will be Mercedes’ response to McLaren’s progress. Lando Norris comes to Monza on the back of two consecutive wins and the team from Woking has taken great steps forward in recent races, managing to transform technical developments into performance and results.

Mercedes is still an extremely competitive car, as it showed with second and third place finishes in Holland by Antonelli and Russell, but now it is called to respond. Major updates are expected here in Monza, and it will be interesting to assess their effectiveness on a track with characteristics that are completely different from those of Zandvoort.

For Andrea Kimi Antonelli this will inevitably be a special weekend. He comes to his home Grand Prix as the leader of the World Championship and in front of the Italian crowd, but he must deal with the grid penalty for the introduction of new components of the power unit.

This was a strategic decision by Mercedes. We are entering into the phase of the season in which even the management of the components and any penalties become essential, and Monza, thanks to the characteristics of the track and the greater possibility of overtaking, may be one of the best tracks for limiting the consequences.

It will therefore be important for Kimi to have a faultless weekend.  Up to now he has shown great skill in reading the races, managing the tyres and adapting to different situations. These very qualities will be essential on Sunday to make up ground and secure important points in the World Championship. Watch out for the first turn!

Ferrari arriva invece davanti al proprio pubblico con l’obiettivo di essere protagonista. Nelle ultime gare abbiamo visto segnali positivi, alternati però a fine settimana nei quali non è riuscita a raccogliere quanto avrebbe potuto. Monza rappresenterà quindi un altro banco di prova importante per capire il reale livello della vettura e la capacità della Scuderia di inserirsi nella lotta tra Mercedes e McLaren; a tal proposito sembra che anche loro portino sviluppi importanti in particolare legati alla power unit.

On the other hand, Ferrari comes to its home crowd with the aim of being a front runner. We saw positive signs in recent races, alternating however with weekends in which it did not achieve as much as it could have. So, Monza is another important testing ground for understanding the true potential of the car and the capacity of the Team to join the battle between Mercedes and McLaren: and in this regard, it seems that they too are bringing major developments, particularly regarding their power unit.

There is of course a lot of attention also on Red Bull. Max Verstappen’s Dutch Grand Prix ended practically immediately, but the four times world champion remains a driver who can make the difference even when the car does not seem at its best. Monza will also be an interesting testing ground to assess the performance of the Red Bull on the long straights.

On the tyre front, Pirelli has chosen C3, C4 and C5 as Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. All three compounds could be used during the race; a lot will depend on the temperatures of both the air and the asphalt.

On paper, the strategy should be aimed at only one stop, also considering the time travelling through Monza’s pit lane. However, a lot will depend on the management of overheating, especially the rear axle exhaust which is under great stress during acceleration.

And it is the management of the tyres that could be one of the most interesting technical aspects of the weekend. The strong accelerations coming out of the chicanes, together with the power available, will require particular attention, while stability in braking and traction will be essential to putting together a competitive lap.

We are now entering the phase of the season in which simply having the fastest car is not enough. Technical developments, reliability, the management of the components of the power units (here the accelerator will be wide open for 75% of the race) and resulting penalties will be decisive, as well as the strategies of course. Within the teams the pecking order will also begin to take shape increasingly clearly as the battle for the World Championship intensifies.

Also keep a keen eye on the young Italian drivers involved in the training categories. In Formula 2, Gabriele Mini comes to his home race in second place on the ladder and after a season that has seen him constantly among the front runners. It will be an important weekend for the race in the title, and I expect him to be in the top positions again. In Formula 3, there will be 3 Italians at the start: Brando Badoer, currently fifth in the championship, Matteo De Palo and Nicola Lacorte. It will be interesting to watch them in front of their home crowd during a weekend that has special significance for our entire movement.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | DUTCH GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “ZANDVOORT RETURNS WITH THE SPRINT RACE. THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IS ENTERING ITS DECISIVE PHASE”

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After the summer break the Formula 1 World Championship takes to the track once again for the Dutch Grand Prix. It is a particularly significant restart because this is the final edition of the Dutch race: from next year Zandvoort will be dropped from the calendar.,

So, it will be a special weekend, especially for Max Verstappen who will race his home Grand Prix for the last time in front of his home crowd. This is where the Dutchman built a major part of his recent history, taking three wins, and it will be interesting to see if he will be able to say goodbye to Zandvoort with another result as a front runner.A

The circuit is very distinctive and gives nothing away. Its 4,259m are characterized with 14 bends, some of them very fast, and especially the two banked bends, 3 and 14, which have inclines of 19 and 18 degrees respectively. These characteristics impose very high vertical and lateral loads on the tyres, and it will be essential to find the right balance of aerodynamics and management of the tyres.

For this round Pirelli has chosen C2, C3 and C4 as the Hard, Medium and Soft respectively, the same combination used last year. The choice of the softest range contributed to the two-stop race in 2025 race, also thanks to the interventions by the Safety Car. This year it will be interesting to see how the teams will interpret this combination once again, and whether the Sprint Race might further alter their approach to the management of the tyres.

Another element that is not to be underestimated will be the level of the grip. Zandvoort is very close to the sea and the sand carried by the wind could alter the conditions of the track, even during the same weekend. And the wind will also be another important variable, especially with this generation of racing cars and with their current aerodynamic characteristics.

The Sprint format will make everything even more complicated. Drivers and mechanics will have only one session of free practice, one hour in which to find the proper setup for the car before facing the qualifying for the Sprint, the Sprint Race, qualifying and the Grand Prix. So, it will be crucial to come well prepared and able to quickly assess the behaviour of the car.

After having seen the first half of the season, Mercedes is still the benchmark. Andrea Kimi Antonelli comes to the restart as the leader of the championship with 219 points, with Lewis Hamilton on 169 and George Russell on 160. The lead built up by the young Italian is significant, but it certainly does not allow him to let his guard down. With many points still in up for grabs and the Sprint format increasing the chances to shake up the ladder, the balance of power could change every weekend.

In the first part of the season Antonelli demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to manage the race and the tyres. As well as a maturity that continues to surprise given his young age. He will now need to maintain his consistency in the second half of the championship, knowing that the pressure will inevitably increase.

On the other hand, Ferrari comes to Zandvoort after a period in which it showed mixed results. Charles Leclerc’s win at Silverstone was a significant moment, but in Hungary the Team failed to continue that progress. Therefore, Zandvoort will be another test to gauge how Ferrari really measures up against Mercedes and McLaren.

And McLaren really is one of the great unknowns of the second half of the season. After having demonstrated significant progress in recent races, the team finally realized its true potential with Lando Norris’ first win of the season. This was an important sign that McLaren has returned to the fight for the top places and it will be interesting to see whether the win in Budapest marks the start of a new phase in the championship.

Even Red Bull deserves a great deal of attention. Max Verstappen continues to obtain impressive results even when the car does not seem to have the potential to stay constantly at the top.  And at Zandvoort he will also have a special incentive: to bid farewell to his home crowd with a performance that lives up to their expectations.

So, the second half of the season will open with many questions. Mercedes must prove its superiority; Ferrari must give continuity to the progress shown in the fits and starts; McLaren must show that the win in Hungary was not a fluke; and Red Bull must continue to make the best of every occasion.

Furthermore. Zandvoort will be a particularly interesting circuit to evaluate the capacity of the teams to adapt quickly to the conditions and the new format. With only be one hour of free practice, and the Sprint race already scheduled, there will not be much time to correct any mistakes in the setup.

Therefore, we expect a very intense and important weekend for the World Championship. After the summer break they will restart with the championship wide open and many points up for grabs.

Zandvoort will be the start of the decisive phase of the season and, with Monza coming straight after, even Italy’s motorsport is getting ready for some particularly important weekends.

Gian Carlo Minardi

THE HISTORIC MINARDI DAY IS HEADING FOR A FULL HOUSE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION AT THE CHECCO COSTA MUSEUM, F1 RACING CARS AND GREAT PROTAGONISTS OF MOTORSPORT. TICKETS ON SALE ON TICKETONE.

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A few short weeks after the opening of sales, the tenth edition of the Historic Minardi Day is already headed to a full house. The event, scheduled for Saturday 19 and Sunday 29 September 2026 at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit is drawing extraordinary interest from the teams, collectors and owners of historic cars.

Already sold out for both days are the slots reserved for Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3000, GP2, Prototypes and GT cars. On the other hand, there are still a limited number of spots for Formula 3, GP3, minor formulas and historic GT cars, confirming the great expectations that accompany the tenth anniversary edition and that already lets us imagine a new record attendance. There is also great enthusiasm from the fans for the track days, a unique experience that is open to everyone. The organization is working to accept the many requests received which exceeded the initial planned availability.

In 2026 there will also be a full programme on the track which will feature Formula 1 racing cars, including Minardi, Racing Bulls, Ferrari, Williams, Tyrrell, Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Aston Martin, Arrows, Wolf, Osella, Shadow, and March, that wrote memorable pages of the history of the World Championship, alongside cars from Formula 2, Formula 3, GP3, Formula 3000, Formula Junior, as well as Prototypes, Historic GT cars, and other racing cars. These cars are a unique heritage of history, technology, and passion which will come back to life along the 4,909m of the Imola track.

Now a well-established fixture and an integral part of the Historic Minardi Day programme, the ACI Storico Festival returns for its tenth edition. The highlight of Sunday 20 September will be the Rally of the Lands of the Romagna organized by the Automobile Club Ravenna. One hundred members of ACI Storico will be able to particulate free of charge in the Rally of the Romagna and, in the afternoon, experience first-hand the event’s programme. As per tradition, the rally’s full programme will see the start from the Imola Circuit, stopping at Faenza for a visit to the Local Council Art Gallery and return to the circuit for a parade lap of the track and the conclusion of the event.

Among the new attractions of the 2026 edition, the Checco Costa Museum will be transformed into a dedicated space celebrating the history and culture of motorsport. The public will be able to admire an exclusive photographic exhibition marking the tenth anniversary of the Historic Minardi Day, set among the wonderful historic Formula 1 racing cars, while also attending the talks with authors and protagonists from the world of motorsport during the many book launches and award ceremonies scheduled throughout the weekend.

Attending will be some of the most authoritative signatures of motorsport. Included in the appointments (in order of scheduling) and already confirmed are Diego Alverà, author of “Giro di pista. Circuiti e piloti che hanno fatto la storia della velocità” (A lap of the track, Circuits and drivers who shaped the history of speed,; Umberto Zapelloni, with “Formula Italia: Le auto e i piloti che hanno fatto la storia della F1” (Formula Italia: The cars and the drivers who shaped the history of F1) ; Mario Donnini, together with Bruno Giacomelli, and Andrea Cordovani, for a double presentation dedicated to “Bruno Giacomelli – Continuavano a chiamarmi Jack O’Malley” (Bruno Giacomelli, they kept calling me Jack O’Malley) and “Crime & Motorsport”; Veronica Vesco, with  “Michael Schumacher. Una storia indimenticabile” (Michael Schumacher: An unforgettable story); Sergio Remondino, together with Stefano Casadio, for the presentation of “Una Lancia nel cuore – Riccardo Errani, la Delta, i rally” (A Lancia in the heart – Riccardo Errani, the Delta, the rallies); and Riccardo Patrese, with “Da Niki a Kimi. Coraggio, tecnica e passione nella F1 di ieri e di oggi” (From Niki to Kimi, technique and passion in Formula 1 yesterday and today). On Sunday 20 September from 12:00 noon to 12:45, Gian Carlo Minardi will meet the Presse and the fans for an open discussion. This will be an opportunity to share thoughts on the current state of motorsport and outline future prospects and plans.

On Saturday September 19, on the occasion of the traditional photo on the track with all the participants scheduled for 1.00pm. the “Fernando Minardi Memorial Award” will be presented.

There will be no lack of traditional entertainment inside the paddock, with professional simulators, models, the Motor Memorabilia, LEGO® exhibitions and many activities dedicated to fans and families.

Already available on TicketOne are the tickets to see the tenth edition of the Historic Minardi Day, with the chance to choose between daily tickets and weekend passes valid for the whole event. Also confirmed for 2026, in limited numbers, is the VIP formula, reserved for people 16 years and over, which will allow guests to experience the event from a privileged position thanks to access to Pit-Lane and a private area with a terrace overlooking the track. Among the major new attractions of the tenth anniversary edition will be the debut of the new Experience package also available exclusively on TicketOne and designed for participants 16 years and over. This is an even more exclusive experience reserved for fans who wish to experience the Historic Minardi Day as protagonists, with privileged access to the fourth-floor Terrace (Tower) Lounge, access to the Podium for the group photo, premium content, and dedicated services. For those dreaming of taking to the track in their own car, a limited number of Parade Tickets is available which include entry for the Sunday, parking inside the Circuit and the chance to take part, at about 6.00pm, in the final celebratory lap behind the Safety Car, alongside the other registered cars.

With the main categories already full, and the last places available for the other classes, the Historic Minardi Day is getting ready to celebrate it tenth anniversary with record numbers and content. It will be a weekend in which the past, present and future of motorsport will come back to meet at the place which, more than any other, represents passion for racing.

All the information about registration, the programme and the entertainments are available on our official pages.

F1 | HUNGARIAN GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “BUDAPEST WILL PUT THE PROGRESS OF FERRARI TO THE TEST”

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Nicolas Kiesa (DEN) Minardi Cosworth PS03.
Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring, Hungary, 23 August 2003.
DIGITAL IMAGE

The F1 World Championship moves to the Hungaroring for the final round before the summer break. If Spa-Francorchamps was one of the fastest and complete circuits on the calendar, Budapest offers completely different characteristics and will present the teams and drivers with a totally different technical challenge.

The Hungaroring is a twisty circuit full of medium and low speed corners, so much so that it is often compared to a go-kart track. There are few straights, and they are relatively short, while overtaking is traditionally very difficult. For this reason, qualifying will be even more important and starting at the front could prove to be a decisive advantage.

While at Spa managing the recharging on the long straights was crucial, in Hungary it will be above all the aerodynamic downforce, the traction out of the corners, the car’s balance, and the management of the tyres that will make the difference. Furthermore, the high temperatures that traditionally accompany the Hungarian weekend will put the cars, the drivers and the tyres under pressure, making management of the race even more important.

From what we saw in recent races, I still consider Mercedes the benchmark of the World Championship. Andrea Kimi Antonelli comes to Hungary on the back of his win in Belgium (his sixth of the season) and with a significant lead in the world championship standings. The team has demonstrated that it has an extremely competitive racing car, but it will be interesting to see how it performs on a track with completely different characteristics.

On the other hand, Ferrari arrives in Hungary with full of confidence following the excellent signs shown in Spa-Francorchamps. Charle Leclerc’s race pace confirmed the progress made by the SF-26, to which must be added Hamilton’s fourth place despite the 5” second penalty he served during his pit stop. But the Hungaroring is an even more significant testing ground. It the Team can confirm its competitiveness even on a track with characteristics that are completely different compared to those in Belgium, then we will be able to say that the car’s development is now fully established and not linked solely to the specific features of a single circuit.

Keep a keen eye on Red Bull as well. Max Verstappen remains one of the main contenders for the win and on a track where the driver’s skill can still make the difference, he will certainly be one of the front runners.  McLaren is also worth keeping an eye on, it has shown significant signs of improvement in recent races, and at the Hungaroring it may find a circuit that suits the characteristics of their car.

From a technical point of view, Pirelli has chosen C3, C4 and C5 as Hard, Medium and Soft respectively. This choice leaves a number of strategic options open, although a lot will depend on the temperatures of the asphalt and how the track develops over the weekend.

In addition, the Hungaroring is a circuit that puts the cars’ cooling systems under severe strain. The low average speeds and the high temperatures in fact reduce the airflow to the engine, brakes and mechanical parts.

I expect an extremely closely fought Grand Prix.

Gian Carlo Minardi