EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING FOR THE 9TH EDITION OF THE HISTORIC MINARDI DAY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 13TH -14TH TO CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MINARDI TEAM. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON TICKETONE

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Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit, Passion returns to the track on the occasion of the 9th edition of the Historic Minardi Day which promises to be a record-breaking event in both quality and quantity with track sessions almost sold-out.

The event created by the Minardi family, in collaboration with Formula Imola, is ready to spark once again the passion of the thousands of fans (in 2024 there were more than 17,000) who, thanks to the tickets (daily-subscriptions-VIP, the latter reserved for adults 16 years and over with access to Pit-Lane and Paddock 2 parking) already available on TicketOne (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/historic-minardi-day/), will be able to access the most exclusive areas of the facility, experiencing the event as protagonists. It will also be an opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the debut of the Minardi Team in Formula 1 which took place on April 4, 1980, on Brazil’s Jacarepagua Circuit at 9.30am during the first free practice session, with new merchandize available in the circuit.

In the 15  sessions scheduled for each day, extraordinary Formula 1 racing cars that wrote memorable pages will take turns on the track, including the Tyrrel P34 and P34B, Lotus 72 E/5 and TYPE 91, Ferrari, Fondmetal, Shadow, Wolf, Motoverdi, Williams, March, McLaren, Arrows, Merzario and, of course Minardi, to mention but a few (the entry list is continuously being updated).

There will also be Formula 3000 cars such as Reynard, Lola and Ralt, F2 that forged great champions including the 1979 Chevron B48 of Siegfried Stohr, the 1977 March BMW 772, and the 1983 Minardi M283B-BMW, Formula Junior, Formula Italia, Formula Abarth, Formula Ford, GP2, Prototypes like the Lucchini Alfa Romeo, SR2, P392 with the iconic Martini Racing livery, GT, GTS and Historic GT such as the 1947 McLaren M1C Can-Am, Porsche 993 3.8 RSR, the 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Le Mans Classic, the 1973 De Tomaso Pantera, the unmistakable 1989 Lancia Delta Integrale, Mercedes 190E 2.5 16 Evo DTM, thanks also to the important and decisive contribution of the Scuderia Nuvolari Italia, up to the more modern Ferrari 296, McLaren, Lotus, Porsche, Maserati, Alfa Romeo for a line-up that satisfies all the tastes of the fans. The Scuderia del Portello Alfa Romeo will be the protagonist with nine gems from its Museo Dinamico Alfa Romeo storiche da competizione (Dynamic Museum of historic Alfa Romeo racing cars) including the Formulas Alfa Boxer and Tatuus Monza, the Giulia TZ, 75 Superturismo, GTV2000, 33 CIVM, two GTAm models and the exclusive Berlinetta Effeffe. On the track there will also be supercars and hypercars created by the flair of Horacio Pagani, Lamborghini, Dallara, Juri Pambuffetti (PJ01) and the Mazdas. These are just some of the cars that will be featured in the 2025 Historic Minardi Day.

The packed programme of the ninth edition of the Historic Minardi Day is further enriched by the ACI Storico Festival which will feature the Raduno Terre di Romagna (Lands of the Romagna rally) on September 14, organized by the AC Ravenna. This event was made possible thanks to the valuable collaboration of (in alphabetical order):  AC Ancona, AC Bologna, AC Ferrara, AC Firenze, AC Forlì, AC Modena, AC Pistoia, AC Ravenna e AC Rimini. As per tradition, the programme is packed with events, starting with the departure from the Imola Circuit of the 100 teams enrolled that will pass through Faenza to visit the Racing Bulls F1 Team to then return to the track for the parade and the close of the event.

In addition to the activities on the track, there will be events in the Conference Room with many presentations of books and award ceremonies (the whole programme is available on the official website https://www.minardiday.it/intrattenimento-minardi-day/), featuring some of the most authoritative names of Motorsport such as  Franco Nugnes “Senna, Le Verità”  (Senna, the truths), Mario Donnini “CRAZY RACERS I “folli” del Motorsport” (Crazy racers, the madmen of Motorsport), Paolo Filisetti “FORMULA 1 2023/2024 La tecnica”  (Formula 1 2023/2024 Technology), Emiliano Maria Savini “Parole di corsa”  (Racing words), Heribert Stohr “5 Anni di Formula 1 2018 – 2022 Cronache tecnico-umoristiche” (Formula 1 2018-2022 Technical-humorous news reports). During the intense programme the following volumes will be presented: L’ultimo garagista: La storia della Forti Corse raccontata da chi l’ha vissuta by Claudio Maglieri and Gianfabio Forti (The last gearhead: the history of Forti Racing told by who experienced it), Quella volta che… memorie di vita e di corse by Ivan Capelli (The time that… memories of the life and races)  I primi 50 anni del Club Gilles Villeneuve by Erbè di Stefano Benedetti (The first 50 years of the Gilles Villeneuve Club),  Ferrari crisi e riscatto. Da Surtees a Hamilton, dissidi, tragedie, flop e grandi trionfi della Rossa in Formula 1 by Adriano Cisario (Ferrari crisis and redemption. From Surtees to Hamilton, disputes, tragedies, flops and great triumphs of the Red Car in Formula 1), and  Un’estate lunga dieci anni – L’avventura della Scuderia DIEMME by Enrico Borghi and Marco Balbi (A ten year long summer-The adventure of the DIEMME Team). Sunday 14, from noon to 12.45 Gian Carlo Minardi will meet with the Press for an open discussion. This will be the opportunity to take stock of the event, share reflections of the current state of motorsport, and discuss prospects and future projects. Saturday 13, during the photo shoot on the track with all the protagonists (1.00pm) the “Nando Memorial” Prize will be presented. There will be plenty of entertainment in the Paddock area with professional simulators, model cars, the car village and the LEGO® exhibition.

F1 | GP HUNGARY, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN DOMINATES. FERRARI SLUMPS IN THE FINAL PART”

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At the Hungaroring McLaren scored its seventh one-two finish of the season, the fourth in a row, demonstrating its overwhelming domination. So far both Norris and Piastri have been the protagonists of a very fair duel, the likes of which we have rarely seen. They knew how to manage any type of strategy in the best way possible, changing them (rightly so) between the two drivers, with Norris earning the win on the track.

An excellent third place for George Russell who never gave up even though Mercedes was not perfect once again, especially during Antonelli’s tyre change. However, Antonelli still managed to take a point which should give his morale a boost. Now he has a month’s holiday to recharge his batteries and rediscover the right peace of mind for the last part of the season.

After Leclerc’s masterful lap in qualifying, Ferrari said goodbye to Hungary with fourth place. The driver from Monte Carlo was very candid after qualifying, declaring that he was absolutely surprised at having taken pole position because their real potential was for third or fourth place. Anyway, the collapse in performance after the second pit-stop was inexplicable, costing him over 37” (plus penalty) from Norris in just 30 laps, after running two thirds of the race at an excellent pace that allowed him to keep the two McLarens behind him.

It was another positive result for Sauber, with Bortoleto battling it out with his manager Fernando Alonso, finishing fifth. The Brazilian is putting his teammate in difficulty, confirming his excellent past in the lower formulas. After a few disappointing results, Aston Martin has been reborn, taking both cars into the points. A completely unexpected ninth place for Verstappen who, despite having fought tooth and nail, crossed the finish line more than seventy seconds behind McLaren.

We now have to wait almost four weeks before starting again with the Dutch Grand Prix.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP HUNGARY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “40 FORTY YEARS FROM THE FIRST EDITION AND THE MINARDI TEAM’S DEBUT IN F1”

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For the fourteenth round of the World Championship, Formula 1 arrives at the Hungaroring in Budapest to cross the line of the 40th edition – just like the years since the Minardi Team’s debut in the F1 World Championship – with eleven rounds still to go.

The Hungaroring will be the last round before the (well-deserved) summer break and will most likely be the watershed moment for many realities, in particular, the smaller teams which will then have to make the important decision of whether to continue focussing on the season or to channel all their efforts towards 2026.

In particular, I refer to those teams occupying the second half of the ladder, led by Sauber with 43 points, followed by Racing Bulls (41), Aston Martin (36), Haas (35, and finally Alpine bringing up the rear with 20 points.  The gaps are very small and all it takes is a positive result (see Sauber’s podium in Silverstone with Hulkenberg) to turn the situation around. At the moment, Aston Martin is focussed on internal reorganization and 2026, with repercussions on the results on the track.

They take to a track that is practically a wide kart circuit where qualifying plays a crucial role. The weather could also be an unknown factor that should not be underestimated with highly variable temperatures throughout the weekend (expected to drop from about 30 degrees on the Friday to the 25° forecast for Sunday) with the possibility of rain as well. These changes could also have repercussions on the tyres, with Pirelli bringing the C3, C4 and C5. Usually, the evolution of performances during the weekend is very marked on this track, especially during the first two days. Graining could appear during Friday’s free practice and then gradually decrease as the cars rubberize the asphalt. High thermal wear is a factor that the drivers will have to deal with even in the qualifying lap, with the Soft tyre that – if not managed adequately – could put them in difficulty in the last two bends of the track, just as the supplier points out.

The Hungaroring will not be the stage of the last days of Formula 1 activity before the summer break. In fact, a session of tests for the developments of the tyres for 2026 will also be held at the circuit, scheduled for Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 August with the collaboration of Ferrari (one day), Racing Bulls (one day), McLaren (one day) and Alpine (two days). The tests will be used to decide on the designs for next year.

On the track front, it will be interesting to follow the internal battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris with the Australian winning in Belgium, extending his lead over his teammate. Positive signs came from Ferrari with Leclerc’s third place and Hamilton’s partial comeback, thus reinforcing their second place in the constructors’ championship.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP BELGIUM, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “I DO NOT SHARE THE CRITICISM OF ANTONELLI. FERRARI IS IMPROVING”

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Spa-Francorchamps certainly gave us an eventful Gran Prix, as often happens in such wet track conditions, and in looking for safety: we had to wait an hour and a half before the start. It was a race that confirmed McLaren’s dominance, with Piastri demonstrating he has something more compared to Norris. His overtaking maneuver was a masterpiece, as was his overall management of the race. He made two minor mistakes, which can happen on a track like Spa.

Ferrari got onto the podium with Leclerc, third across the finish line, consolidating second place on the constructors’ world championship. The driver from Monte Carlo paid a penalty of 20 seconds, but this can be seen in a positive light: it shows that the innovations introduced are working, especially considering the great power of the team led by Andrea Stella. Hamilton made up for his “mistake” in qualifying where his time was cancelled by a few millimetres: otherwise, he would have started from the top 5.

Fourth place for the usual Verstappen, after his extraordinary win in the Sprint where he was masterful. After a good qualifying session, Tsunoda was again outside the points zone.

At the moment, I see Mercedes in turmoil. Looking at the race times, Antonelli was faster than Russell, and I honestly do not understand the strategy adopted towards him at his best moment. Certainly, he made a mistake that compromised his qualifying, – and consequently the race – but I do not agree with the criticism levelled at him.

Another weekend in the points zone for Albon, who drove his Williams into sixth place, and for Bortoleto who is improving, as is his Sauber. This is not a surprise, considering his past in F3 and F2: Gabriel is confirming his skills on the track. Equally as positive was Lawson’s eighth place, for both him and Racing Bulls. This confirms that, too often, some decisions are made too hastily. Pierre Gasly closed the top 10 with an important point for Alpine which has a lot to review internally.

We have entered the second half of the championship that promises to be heated, especially in the back lots, with four teams within a handful of points. However, I would not rule out Alpine, currently in last place with 20 points: a successful weekend is enough to make up ground.

Hungary now awaits us, before the summer break.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP BELGIUM, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “FERRARI IS BETTING ON SPA, RED BULL CHANGES FACES”

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After a three-week break and a few shake ups – see Red Bull –, Formula 1 is getting ready to switch on the engines for the halfway point of the season. Spa-Francorchamps promises to be a very important race in many ways. As already stated, it will be the first without Horner on the pit wall for Red Bull, while Mercedes should have reached a definitive solution on the drivers’ front.

All eyes are on Ferrari which will bring its new suspension to Belgium, already tested at Mugello during the 200km filming day. On a weekend which sees the return of the Sprint race and with only one session of free practice, on the Friday. This could be a strong signal from the team.

As usual, the weather will be an important variable: the forecasts predict mixed conditions, with a wet track for the Sprint Race, while qualifying and the GP should be run in dry conditions. On a track that is demanding track for both the cars and for the drivers – characterized by 19 bends, traction problems and engines under stress on the long straights – with the 1,900 metres of the Kemmel section, run under full throttle for 24 seconds, standing out.

For this round Pirelli has chosen three non-consecutive dry compounds: while Medium (C3) and soft (C4) are contiguous, the Hard will be the hardest of the 2025 range, namely C1. The use of two types of wet tyres, the Intermediate and the Extreme Wets, is not to be ruled out

We are entering into the second half of the season with two consecutive rounds (Belgium and Hungary) before the summer break. While there is little to say about the battle for the constructors’ title – solidly in the hands of McLaren – for the drivers’ title., with the internal battle between Piastri and Norris, there will certainly be plenty of interest, even when it happens behind the scenes.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | THE BRITISH GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “CHAOS AND SPECTACLE: MCLAREN DOMINATED, HULKENBERG ON THE PODIUM, DISASTER FOR FERRARI”

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Silverstone gave us a race that was as crazy as it was spectacular, marked by many mistakes by teams and drivers, with Ferrari and Mercedes among the protagonists in the negative way.

The absolute star of the weekend was McLaren that showed a race pace two seconds per lap faster than its rivals. A disarming, and in some ways worrying, superiority built on an excellent aerodynamic downforce. It was a shame for Oscar Piastri who compromised his race when the safety car returned; a trivial mistake, but one that cost him dearly. More than a win for Norris, it seemed like a race lost by the Australian.

Applause also for Sauber and Nico Hulkenberg, starting 19th, the German finished on the podium behind the two McLarens, taking the first podium of his career. His was an impeccable race in which he knew how to make the most of the mistakes by others.

Disappointment for both Ferrari and Mercedes, where Hamilton, without the mistake, could easily have aimed for the podium. It went even worse for Charles Leclerc, sunk by questionable strategy and by a few personal mistakes: it was a Sunday to forget.

Kimi Antonelli was also unlucky, forced to refire after being rear ended by Lawson who badly damaged the rear of the Mercedes. Once again, the young Italian talent found himself out of position due to faulty strategy.

After Saturday’s extraordinary pole position Max Verstappen finished fifth. He was penalized by a spin and a setup that was too focused on dry conditions. The Red Bull, lacking downforce, suffered in the wet conditions.

Such unusual conditions often give us unpredictable placings: aside from the first two places, standing out are the names of teams and drivers that seemed destined for anonymity after qualifying. Shining were Sauber and Alpine which were able to capitalize on the opportunity. Aston Martin took home valuable points with Stroll in seventh place and Alonso in ninth

The next round, Spa-Francorchamps at the end of July.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP AUSTRIA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN IS A SPACESHIP. ANTONELLI, A ROOKIE’S MISTAKE, BUT IT’S NOT ALL HIS FAULT”

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McLaren put on show all its technical supremacy, giving us a battle between Norris and Piastri that was as good as it was fair, especially in the first 20 laps.  Luckily, they were there to entertain us, otherwise there was little to see behind them, except for a few good battles. Their technical advantage is such that the two drivers can battle it out cleanly, and now it seems that they can only lose the races.

One of the main protagonists was out of the running right from the start, Max Verstappen, having been hit through no fault of his own by Antonelli who made a rookie’s mistake. I do not want to make excuses, but part of the responsibility also lies with the Mercedes team: they made some serious mistakes in qualifying, sending him onto the track too late. He started from a position that did not reflect either his value, or that of the car. I hope that he can quickly forget this episode, arriving in in good spirits at Silverstone where he took his first win in Formula 2 last year.

We saw a Ferrari that is improving, even though it still loses an average of 3 tenths of a second per lap. However, Leclerc’s third place and Hamilton’s fourth place were two encouraging results for the rest of the season, as we await the next developments planned in Great Britain. Furthermore, the Team took back second place in the World Constructior’s championship, behind McLaren. This too is a good sign for morale.

There was also a great performance by Racing Bulls, with Lawson deserving special praise, especially considering what he went through at the start of the season.

Fernando Alonso was equally impressive. He battled with Lawson for 70 laps, and he was fantastic defending against the attacks from “his” driver, Bortoleto. His gesture towards the Sauber driver at the end of the race was also very nice. The experience shows all his worth in battle.

It was an important grand prix for the second-tier teams which took valuable points, especially Racing Bulls, Sauber and Haas, making the most of the absence of a Red Bull and a Mercedes.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP AUSTRIA, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “QUALIFYING DECIDED BY THOUSANDTHS OF A SECOND”

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Formula 1 arrives in Austria’s Red Bull Ring where the teams will find unusually hot weather with temperatures that could reach 30° waiting for them. This is surely an unusual setting for this GP which, together with the very abrasive asphalt, could put the C3-C4-C5 chosen to Pirelli to the test.

Additionally, gravel traps have been added to bends 9 and 10 in order to limit the track limits between the kerbs and the concrete escape ramp which could cause difficulties for the drivers.

So, it promises to be a hot weekend both in terms of the weather, and in terms of sport, with the management of the tyres playing a very important role. Let us not forget that last year the 4,318m of the track were covered in barely 1:04.314 (Max Verstappen’s best time). This translates into a fiery qualifying session, probably decided by thousandths of a second where the slightest slip is enough to risk not making it through to the next round.

Despite the result in Canada, McLaren remains the car of reference, but we must keep an eye on Mercedes, on the rise after Russell’s first win of the season and the first podium of his career by Antonelli. Ferrari will take to the track with a new skid pad which should resolve the ground clearance problems pending further developments in England. Never underestimate the usual Verstappen who is racing at home, together with the team.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP CANADA, THE POINT BY CARLO MINARDI “KIMI, AN AMAZING PODIUM. HE HELD HIS OWN AGAINST THE SHARKS. NORRIS, WHAT A MISTAKE!!”

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Kimi Antonelli’s podium finish in the Canadian Grand Prix represents a moment that is as wonderful as it is important for Italian motor racing. This podium came after three hard grands prix for the driver from Bologna, mainly due to reliability problems.

At 18 years of age, he was the protagonist of an extraordinary race in a very hard context such as the Montreal track. If we analyze his lap times, we can see that in some circumstances he was even faster than his teammate, who won the race. Hats off to Toto Wolff and Mercedes who invested in him, but, above all, congratulations to him for earning this result on the track.

From the very first curve he made himself the master and then managed a very tight race in the best way possible, with five cars separated by barely five seconds with ten laps to go.  Apart from the mistake that involved the two McLaren drivers, with Norris confirming all his mental fragility, Antonelli was able to keep behind the current leader of the world championship. Piastri, who last year was in the battle for the title until the end, Norris, by twice attacking the two times reigning world champion Max Verstappen who managed to avoid being overtaken by making the most of the strategy by quickly entering the pits to change tyres.

He was surrounded by sharks, and he did not let himself be intimidated despite being the youngest and the least experienced. Let us not forget that experience cannot be bought at the supermarket but can only be acquired on the track without making mistakes. Just like he did today. This result can help us make the Italian system grow and credit also goes to ACI Sport.

In addition to Kimi’s podium, Mercedes also “took home” the first win of the season thanks to George Russell. The changes introduced in Canada paid off, earning them second place on the constructors’ ladder. For the first time since the start of the season McLaren finished a GP off the podium.

Fifth and sixth places for Ferrari.  This result reflects the current strength of this car. In a championship that is still very long and hard fought there will be room to recover. For now, those at Maranello can console themselves with the third successive win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Certainly, having cars in the first four positions is an incredible result, synonymous with competitiveness and reliability. Obviously, they still know how to build winning cars.

Now we wait to see what will happen in Austria.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP SPAIN, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “VERSTAPPEN NERVOUS. CORRECT NOT TO PENALIZE LECLERC. PIASTRI SUPERLATIVE”

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Barcelona gave us some important surprises. Such as Sauber’s fifth place with Hulkenberg, as well as the confirmation of Racing Bulls again in the points zone with the excellent Hadjar, seventh across the finish line.

Mekies’ men must ponder a bit on the points thrown away at the start of the season. They now find themselves in sixth place, 26 points behind Williams. Personally, Hadjar is one of the best surprises of this 2025. I really like his approach to the race weekend, and also with the team. I am sure that he can do well. The first points of the season for Fernando Alonso, ninth across the finish line. Aston Martin is starting the see Newey’s hand.

Thanks to third and sixth places Ferrari climbed over both Red Bull and Mercedes in one fell swoop, moving up to second place on the constructors’ ladder. They did well, especially Leclerc who sacrificed a position in qualifying, saving a set of the compound. Certainly, a little help also came from the entry of the safety-car.

With the entry of the safety-car in the last 11 laps. following the retirement of Antonelli, the GP livened up and I found the penalty given to Verstappen in the tussle with Russell correct, as I also found correct the decision not to proceed with the one given to Leclerc. Verstappen, a little too nervous this weekend, was the only one to also use the hard tyres.

McLaren confirmed it is unbeatable, and Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull can only race for third place, barring some cataclysm. Piastri took his fifth win of the season firmly placing his bid for the world championship. Except for FP1, he “branded” all the sessions, including the fastest lap of the race. He was superlative. The car certainly supports him in the best way possible.

The reliability problems in Mercedes which, in this start of the season have struck both drivers, as well as Alonso’s Aston Martin (that carries the Mercedes engine) are starting to cause concern. Until his retirement Antonelli was having a very good race continuing his apprenticeship by solidly taking the fifth/sixth place. His lap times were in line with Russell, while he still needs to improve at the start.

We are witnessing a fine championship with a major diversification of performance between qualifying, heart stopping, and the race. If, in the fast lap the difference really is minimal – on Saturday in Q1 the 20 cars were enclosed within the space of 8 tenths of a second, and in Q2 barely 6 tenths – in the race the gap increased considerably. In fact, before the entry of the SC, only nine cars were on full laps.

In two weeks, they go overseas to Canada.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP MONTE CARLO, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “IT IS A RACE THAT IS RUN ON SATURDAY”

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Monte Carlo is a race that is run on Saturday with qualifying. You can put all the pit stops you want, but the only variables that can possibly change the result are accidents and safety-cars.

Monte Carlo is a race that enhances the skills of the drivers and, since we are talking about professionals, they were great at not making mistakes, as well as being a stage for sponsors and glamour.

This new regulation did nothing but make interpreting the race difficult and probably someone had even forgotten it. Compared to past editions we had no upheavals. I have the habit of following the GPs by also keeping an eye on the times and gaps, but as a mere spectator it is not easy. I dare not imagine in the grandstands.

However, congratulations must be made to McLaren, especially Norris for the pole position and win, as well as to Leclerc. There is no use complaining because he did very well by taking second place in both qualifying and the race. Hamilton paid the four tenths of a second gap from pole, that is then the gap of the Ferrari. Therefore, he carried out a masterpiece taking it to the front row.

Congratulations also go to the Racing Bulls, for both the race and the strategies that placed the two cars in the points zone, just like Williams and Haas that finished the race with Ocon in seventh place. Important points for all of them. Certainly, the two Mercedes failed, authors of an inexplicable strategy, and Fernando Alonso, forced to retire due to a technical problem.

We say a quick goodbye to Monte Carlo move on to Barcelona where the new TD will be introduced. Involving all the teams, I believe little will change.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP IMOLA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “242.000 TIMES THANK YOU”

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The Grand Prix concluded three fantastic days at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit for both the excellent weather conditions and the 242,000 people who invaded not only the circuit, but also the city of Imola. As Formula Imola we are very satisfied with this excellent result that rewards nine months of intense work. The invasion of the track at the end was an indescribable spectacle.

As far as the race was concerned, I must say that the first bend was worth almost the entire GP with Verstappen’s wonderful overtake of Piastri, as well as the last ten laps with the Red Bull driver setting four fastest laps in five rounds. We saw a few overtakes with a GP played on strategies and on the Safety-car. I am sure that the public enjoyed itself and appreciated the show. It is the source of great pride and satisfaction. Now we will see if we are ready for possible future choices.

At the end we also saw Norris overtake his teammate. I believe that this was mainly an overtaking move dictated by strategies since Piastri was under investigation and risked a 5” penalty. Although this time they could do nothing against Red Bull and Verstappen, McLaren continues to exude peace of mind.

Positive signs also came from Ferrari that, as far as I am concerned, produced its best race of the season. There was a lot of talk about a disaster in qualifying but let us not forget that the gap from pole was just six tenths of a second. Currently six tenths are not a few to make up, but it is the confirmation that it only takes a nothing to be kept out of Q3. It set up a good strategy by differentiating between the two drivers, conveying an internal peace of mind that I was not ready for. A fourth and sixth place that can be read with confidence for the future.

It was also a positive weekend for Williams that took fifth place with Albon, although there was no lack of mistakes from Sainz, who was eighth nevertheless and in the points zone at the end of the race. A more than positive ninth place for Red Bulls with Hadjar. I like this young man more and more and I am sure that he will make people talk about him in the near future.

Tsunoda completes the top 10. Besides the bad accident in qualifying, he completed his “task” despite a significant gap from his teammate. I think I see Red Bull on the rise compared to the start of the season.

At Imola, Franco Colapinto made his return to Formula 1. Returning in the seventh round with a “different” car is never easy, especially with these regulations that do not allow you to train on the track in the correct way. Not even when you are called upon to replace a colleague after the start of the championship. He made a major mistake in qualifying, but in the race, he honourably took the car home. He must be left to work in peace and given time to grow. Experience cannot be bought at the supermarket.

They go back to the track in a week’s time, in Monte Carlo, and then on to Barcelona.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | WAITING FOR IMOLA, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “ALMOST 180,000 TICKETS SOLD. COME AND SUPPORT FERRARI AND KIMI ANTONELLI”

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We are now a week away from the Formula Grand Prix in Imola, the seventh round of the World Championship and the first stop in Europe, scheduled from May 16 to May 18 at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit.

We caught up with Gian Carlo Minardi, President of Formula Imola, who is engaged, together with his team, in organizing this extraordinary event. “We are working hard to give all the fans who come to Imola a great show and to make it harder for those who will have to make the final decision on the future of this Grand Prix. Today we are close to crossing the 180,000-ticket mark and we are optimistic about breaking all the attendance records over the three days. It would be an incredible and important result not only for the Circuit, but for all our territory. We want to show everyone that Italy is number one,” Commented Minardi.

In addition to the activities on the track, Imola will offer a schedule of events planned to involve the fans, families, citizens and visitors. “We are completing the FUN ZONE – open from Thursday – where, amongst other things, it will be possible to meet and talk with the protagonists, from the drivers to the Team Principals, without forgetting Imola’s city centre, the beating heart of the weekend together with the Circuit very equipped with amusements, entertainment and tastings”

There will be concerts, DJ sets, shows, talks, museums, artistic installations, driving simulators, activities for children, exhibitions dedicated to the history of Formula 1 and the great champions of the past, photographic exhibitions, historical models on display, together with the possibility of thematic guided tours between engines and culture, with extraordinary openings of the city’s venues, educational workshops, markets, book presentations, with Made in Italy in the centre in all its forms.

“We have designed a show within a show. The enthusiast and fan can go to the Circuit to follow the activities on the track with the Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Porsche Supercup races. Those accompanying him can enjoy an equally entertaining weekend regardless of Formula 1. Many special trains are available for this event, thus avoiding the stress of traffic. Imola’s railway station and the main entrance to the Circuit, located in Viale Dante, are just over 1,500m from each other, and along the way you pass through the historic city centre with all its attractions.

The engines will be switched on at 9.55 on Friday morning with the first hour of free practice of F3, F2 (11:05) and F1 (13:30) to be switched off only with the conclusion of the Made in Italy and the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. “Friday promises to be very interesting. All the teams will bring many new developments onto the track which will be tested in free practice, and it will be very interesting to follow. Furthermore, it is the day that costs the least. We are very satisfied with the presales, and I would like to hear, together with the Ferrari red tide, the support for our driver Kimi Antonelli even if he is racing in the colours of the rival team Mercedes,” concluded a smiling Minardi.