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

L'articolo F1 | JAPANESE GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ANTONELLI IS AN EXCEPTIONAL ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG DRIVERS” proviene da Minardi.

Now we move to Japan, on a track that really brings out the best in all the drivers, and I hope that he will be able to show us all how talented he is once again.  Suzuka is a real track, one of the most popular in Formula 1, because its eighteen bends really allow the driving skills to shine through.

Unlike previous years, the Circus has come to the track at the start of the season. This is a significant change from a logistical point of view too, and one that could affect the weather conditions that the drivers and the teams will face: heavy rain that could in fact give way to temperatures that are even higher than the seasonal average.

On the tyre front, Pirelli has chosen the hardest compounds – C1 for the Hard, C2 the Medium and C3 for the Soft – partly because the track surface tends to favour graining, especially in the softest tyres

We are only at the third race of the season, so it is too early to draw up a clear pecking order. The exception is Mercedes that currently appears to have an overall advantage across all the areas of the car, and not just in the power unit, as some would have us believe. For now, Ferrari sits behind them as the second strongest team in the world championship.

But keep an eye on the calendar. After Japan there will be a “blackout” of a month, due to the (temporary?) cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP. This will be a period in which all the teams will work intensively in the factory and on the simulator. When the season resumes in Miami (1-3 May) the balance of power could also change. Today Formula 1 is capable of reacting much more quickly than in the past.

In the meantime, for this weekend some teams – including Haas, Racing Bulls, Red Bull and Mercedes- have unveiled special liveries to mark the occasion, helping to make these cars even more striking.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | JAPANESE GP GIAN CARLO MINARDI “A SPECTACLE ON THE TRACK, AND THEN SILENCE: SUZUKA BEFORE THE FORCED STOP” proviene da Minardi.

Congratulations also go to all those who believed in him right from the start: starting with my son Giovanni Minardi, who brought him to Mercedes, to ACI Sport, to Mercedes, and to Toto Wolff for the work they have done in these years. But the main credit belongs to him: “Kimi” has grown race after race and he proved it again today, by setting the fastest lap in the 53^rd lap with tyres that already done 42 laps.

He managed the race like a champion, demonstrating that he had learned from the past. This is one of his best qualities: he never makes the same mistake twice. This is a very important sign for his career.

The consistency of his race pace is also impressive. We also saw this during the Sprint and in previous races: a pace that is always very high. As his fuel tank emptied, he continued to improve, lapping with minimal differences between each lap, often in the order of thousands of a second.

Ferrari continues to have a better start, but at the moment, it is still three-four tenths of a second slower than Mercedes at race pace. The fair and spectacular battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is really exciting, with the British driver finally taking his first podium finish in Ferrari’s colours.

As I have already pointed out, reliability makes all the difference in this phase of the season. Points are precious and those who managed to keep out of trouble were rewarded, Oliver Bearman, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Carlos Sainz Jnr and Franco Colapinto were very good and capitalized on the many retirements, taking home important points for their respective teams. On the other hand, McLaren’s debacle, with neither car starting, was sensational.

Now, let us enjoy Antonelli’s splendid win. In two weeks, Suzuka awaits us, a real circuit that will tell us more about the values on the field.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | CHINESE GP THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “KIMI HAS ALREADY MADE HISTORY: POLE, FASTEST LAP AND VICTORY. AN EXCELLENT BATTLE IN FERRARI” proviene da Minardi.

The first signs from the opening round have already sparked some thoughts within FIA. The pre-season test days showed that they were probably not enough for all the teams to thoroughly evaluate the technical variables of the new racing cars. It cannot be ruled out that there may be changes in the winter preparation in the future, although any changes will inevitably take time.

Dopo una sola gara, tuttavia, qualsiasi analisi sul reale equilibrio di forze tra le scuderie deve essere condotta con cautela. Le squadre si trovano ancora in una fase di comprensione delle vetture, tra raccolta dati, correlazione tra simulatore e pista e progressiva ottimizzazione dei set-up e di tutti i nuovi sistemi.

After only one race however, any analysis of the real balance of power between the teams must be conducted carefully. The teams are still in the process of understanding the cars, collecting data, correlating simulator and track performance and the track and progressively optimizing  set-ups and all the new systems.

One thing seems clear however: the strength of the Mercedes. The new Mercedes W17 has shown its competitiveness, not just in terms of the power unit, but also in terms of aerodynamic efficiency, the strategic management of the race and the overall balance of the chassis.

In Melbourne, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli demonstrated an extremely consistent race pace, managing to complete 47 laps on the same set of tyres. This highlights not just the effectiveness of their management of the tyres, but also the stability of the chassis throughout the different stages of stints, which contributed decisively to the first one-two finish of the season by the team from Brackley.

The weekend in China will add further complexity from the technical and operational points of view. In fact, the Sprint format drastically reduces the time available for preparing the car: teams and drivers will have only one session of free practice before entering the regime of parc fermé. This means that most of the choices of the asset will have to be made based on the data from the simulations and the analyses carried out ahead the weekend.

The Sprint race, to cover 19 laps, will also offer a different technical scenario compared to the traditional race. The reduced fuel load will affect the behaviour of the racing car, impact on the balance, the thermal management of the tyres and the strategies for using the tyres.

On the tyre front, Pirelli will bring to Shanghai the C2, C3 and C4 compounds. This is a different choice compared to the one made for the opening race, but in line with the specifications used in the last few rounds held on the Chinese circuit since it returned to the world championship calendar.

In the opening phase of the season characterized by many unknown technical factors and a balance that is still to be defined, it will be essential for all the teams to proceed methodically, collecting data and progressively developing the cars.

There are still many variables, and the championship has only just begun.

— Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | CHINESE GP, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MERCEDES IS STILL IN THE LEAD, BUT FORMULA 1 IS STILL IN THE LEARNING STAGE” proviene da Minardi.

And it was the Mercedes driver who showed a very important sign of growth and maturity. With little more than three minutes left in Q1 he took to the track with only one useful lap and a car not in the best condition, he managed to qualify for Q2 and then even took place on the front row, setting the second-best time behind his teammate.

The first Grand Prix of the season confirmed the current supremacy of Mercedes that took a one-two finish, albeit with a smaller margin than on Saturday. In the second half of the race the two cars managed their lead, even managing to cover 47 laps with the hard tyres, compared to the 32 of Charles Leclerc.

On the other hand, Scuderia Ferrari confirmed its strength is at the start, taking advantage of this in the best way possible. Despite a less than perfect start, George Russell was able to defend his position, while his teammate lost several places before quickly recovering the lost ground.

I do not believe that the people from Maranello on the wall made a mistake in the strategy they adopted. The team wagered on possible deterioration of the Mercedes’ tyres which, in fact, was the only option to try to put them in difficulty. However, this deterioration did not happen. The good work carried out by Pirelli with the new compounds must be pointed out.

Also to be pointed out is Verstappen’s excellent comeback, favoured by 4 VSCs and by a strategy of two pitstops that let him set the fastest lap of the race. The race management also handled the race well.

Isack Hadjar was unlucky and also very convincing, proving that he was very close to his teammate throughout the whole weekend.  It had been a while since Red Bull Racing had shown two such competitive cars.

Among the positive notes of the start of this season there is also Arvid Lindblad who took home the Racing Bull’s first points on his debut thanks to a solid eight place. Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto with Audi and Pierre Gasly also scored points.

However, the Aston Martin F1 Team still has a lot of work to do. The possible cancellation of the GPs in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could offer a little more time to make up the ground lost. In any case, it will still be a week of intense analysis by all the teams ahead of the next race in China.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | AUSTRALIAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MERCEDES CONFIRMED. FERRARI? THEY DID NOT GET THE STRATEGY WRONG” proviene da Minardi.

Between Barcelona and Bahrein, we saw days of testing that were less complicated than I expected, even if we do not know precisely what was tested and in what way. For this very reason, it is impossible to venture a ladder of the forces in the field. Only Melbourne will be able to give us a real snapshot of the situation.  However, it is obvious that Aston Martin is currently lagging behind and struggling compared to the others.

As was predictable, with such a radical change of regulations the engineers have chosen very different solutions. We will see who has interpreted the regulations best. In contexts such as this, the balances established up until last season ca be completely overturned, anything really can happen.

Among the variables in the race, we must also consider the mistakes by drivers, who are called upon to adapt to a new style of driving. Even we viewers will have to get used to new scenarios which are not easy to interpret and decide. But, as with any new development, patience is needed before making any definitive judgments.

Before our next appointment next week, I would like to welcome Mario Isola as the Managing Director of ACI Sport. I was personally involved in this choice, and I am proud of the arrival of such an important figure who represents a further step forward in the development of Italian motor racing, I am delighted to accompany this phase of transition from 2 January to 30 June  ahead of the official inauguration on July 1.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo MINARDI: “2026 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, RELIABILITY AND FUEL DECISIVE IN THE FIRST RACES” proviene da Minardi.

Today Norris was again the protagonist of decisive overtaking after the first pit stop. I fully agree with the decision of the marshals to penalize Tsunoda for three changes of trajectory while defending, as well as the decision not to intervene in the alleged track limit violation during the overtaking manoeuvre against him, the manoeuvre occurred on the straight with no advantage gained. Norris simply kept wider to avoid a possible collision caused by the movement of the Red Bull driver. The team radio communications were also judged correctly.

This result confirms how much composure within a team affects performance. Today, McLaren carried out an impeccable weekend, as did Red Bull with Verstappen. Even though the Dutchman reaffirmed the value of his four world championship titles, the Dutchman was the “victim” of a mid-season phase of internal tension that compromised his path to the title. With the arrival of Mekies, the team found its balance once again and was able to reopen the battle up to the final race.

Piastri finished in third place on the ladder, the two races without points during the season proved decisive for the Australian.

It was an excellent performance by Charles Leclerc, fourth across the finish line with a Ferrari that continues to show a gap that is difficult to explain compared to Hamilton, especially in qualifying. We saw some very close sessions, decided by thousandth of a second, where one small detail could have sent you from the front row to the back of the grid. In the race, Leclerc climbed back solidly, finishing in the points. With the change of regulations in 2026 we will probably see a different scenario.

Contrary to expectations, Mercedes fell short in the final round. Russell limited the damage with fourth place in qualifying, while Antonelli’s performance in Q2 was inexplicable after an excellent Q1. It was a season of highs and lows for the young driver from Bologna, but he ended the season with an encouraging seventh place in the drivers’ world championship, the first among the rookies. In the final race he gained valuable experience in race management, which will be essential in 2026. He has a promising future ahead of him. For Mercedes an era is coming to an end, and it will be essential to know how to interpret the new regulations in the best way possible. There is little time to catch their breath, the first tests in the new year are already scheduled for the end of January.

The Abu Dhabi race was also the race that said to goodbye to Sauber that is ready to pass the baton to Audi. It had a season of growth, rewarded with important points, and Hulkenberg’s first podium finish at Silverstone. It was an important season also for Renault that closed its chapter in Formula 1 after a difficult journey with Alpine.

2026 is approaching and expectations are already high.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | ABU DHABI GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “NORRIS, A WELL-DESERVED TITLE” proviene da Minardi.

Despite its evident superiority in qualifying, in the Sprint Race and in the race pace, McLaren compromised a potentially decisive result due to a mistake under the safety car. A mistake that weighed heavily on the result, especially when compared to the solid and impeccable performance offered by Verstappen and a Red Bull team that was once again impeccable in its management of the strategies.

In a championship decided on the edge of hundredths of a second, every mistake risks having a significant impact. McLaren, buoyed by having won the Constructors’ title, seems keen to give its drivers plenty of freedom in the fight for the World Championship. It is a commendable sporting philosophy but one that could prove costly. Norris will go to Abu Dhani with a favourable margin, but the feeling is that the composure and the lucidity shown by the team led by Laurent Mekies do not guarantee a peaceful night’s sleep

Kimi Antonelli, the author of another convincing performance also deserves a mention. The young driver from Bologna was penalized during the first spit-stop, when almost all the group except McLaren and Ocon stopped at the same time, forcing him to slow down to let several cars pass, including Sainz, who finished third. However, Antonelli managed to recover, despite losing fourth place to Norris in the end due to a small mistake. Two points that could prove costly in the overall standings, but they will not affect the Italian driver’s excellent end of the season.

It was a weekend of celebration for Italian Motorsport also thanks to the Formula 2 title won by Fornaroli. For the second consecutive year a rookie took out the championship, following last year’s win in F3, a result that confirms the talent of young Italian drivers and the work carried out by the Federation.

The weekend in Losail also mathematically confirmed Ferrari’s fourth place in the Constructors’ World Championship, a position that accurately reflects the car’s performance throughout the season.

Now all eyes turn to Abu Dahbi where the new world champion will be crowned in a week’s time, The battle between Norris (408 points), Verstappen (396) and Piastri (392) is more open than ever. And it is not impossible that the third driver could come between the two rivals.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | QATAR GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN, WHAT A MISTAKE!!” proviene da Minardi.

Despite its evident superiority in qualifying, in the Sprint Race and in the race pace, McLaren compromised a potentially decisive result due to a mistake under the safety car. A mistake that weighed heavily on the result, especially when compared to the solid and impeccable performance offered by Verstappen and a Red Bull team that was once again impeccable in its management of the strategies.

In a championship decided on the edge of hundredths of a second, every mistake risks having a significant impact. McLaren, buoyed by having won the Constructors’ title, seems keen to give its drivers plenty of freedom in the fight for the World Championship. It is a commendable sporting philosophy but one that could prove costly. Norris will go to Abu Dhani with a favourable margin, but the feeling is that the composure and the lucidity shown by the team led by Laurent Mekies do not guarantee a peaceful night’s sleep

Kimi Antonelli, the author of another convincing performance also deserves a mention. The young driver from Bologna was penalized during the first spit-stop, when almost all the group except McLaren and Ocon stopped at the same time, forcing him to slow down to let several cars pass, including Sainz, who finished third. However, Antonelli managed to recover, despite losing fourth place to Norris in the end due to a small mistake. Two points that could prove costly in the overall standings, but they will not affect the Italian driver’s excellent end of the season.

It was a weekend of celebration for Italian Motorsport also thanks to the Formula 2 title won by Fornaroli. For the second consecutive year a rookie took out the championship, following last year’s win in F3, a result that confirms the talent of young Italian drivers and the work carried out by the Federation.

The weekend in Losail also mathematically confirmed Ferrari’s fourth place in the Constructors’ World Championship, a position that accurately reflects the car’s performance throughout the season.

Now all eyes turn to Abu Dahbi where the new world champion will be crowned in a week’s time, The battle between Norris (408 points), Verstappen (396) and Piastri (392) is more open than ever. And it is not impossible that the third driver could come between the two rivals.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | QATAR GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN, WHAT A MISTAKE!!” proviene da Minardi.

The sixth and last Spring Race will take place in Qatar. This means that the drivers and teams will have only one session of free practice available to get to grips with the tyres and to prepare the racing cars for qualifying and the Sprint itself. Something to also bear in mind is that the grip levels of the track change significantly and can alter the behaviour of the cars.

This weekend the tyres will play an even more important role. Pirelli has brought the hardest compounds, C1, C2 and C3, and has also stipulated that each set cannot cover more than 25 laps of the Losail circuit. This is limit is calculated across all the sessions, including any laps under neutralization. This scenario paves the way for strategies with at least two stops but could even push some teams to consider three.

The reason is linked to the characteristics of the track. Losail is a circuit full of medium-fast corners and long wide curves that put a lot of strain on the front right tyre in particular, as well as a very long main straight that requires an aerodynamic compromise that is anything but simple. The management of the traffic will be a key factor because, despite the DRS, overtaking cannot be taken for granted; starting at the front in qualifying will be crucial to putting together a solid weekend.

Complicating all this even further will be the weather: intense heat, high humidity and a physical exertion comparable to that of the Singapore GP. In the past, Qatar has already shown that it is an extreme race with drivers severely tested by dehydration and heat stress. Therefore, physical fitness will be a crucial variable in both the Sprint Race and the long race.

The final element that should not be underestimated is the possible entry of the safety car, which is always a threat on a circuit that punishes mistakes and with such delicate strategies, could shake things up at any moment.

So, mental focus will also be decisive, especially for the top three in the World Championship. Verstappen, buoyed by his latest wins and comeback; Norris called upon to defend his lead with composure and Piastri who will try to overcome his difficult period.

Gian Carlo Minardi

L'articolo F1 | QATAR GP, MINARDI “A MENTAL BATTLE BETWEEN NORRIS-VERSTAPPE AND PIASTRI” proviene da Minardi.