Archive for category: News

Fernando Alonso(ESP) European Minardi PS01
Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona 26 April 2001
DIGITAL IMAGE

We have come to the tenth round of the calendar, and we are quickly approaching the conclusion of the first half of the world championship. After the Spanish Grand Prix, there will be 14 rounds remaining, practically the number of races that made up the calendars of a few years ago.

Montmelò is a peculiar track, demanding both technically and on the tyre front with Pirelli bringing its hardest compounds, C1-C2-C3. In particular, bends 3, 13 and 14 are very demanding for the lateral G forces. Furthermore, 9 of the 14 are right-handers, so they put more stress on the front left tyre.

We are talking about a track that everyone, drivers and teams, know very well. Normally, the car that goes strongly here also adapts very well to other tracks. Precisely for this reason, this will be a very important test for everyone.

Of course, the duo of reference remains the pairing of Red Bull-Verstappen. The characteristics of the track suit the configuration of their racing car very well, but it will be just as important to observe Ferrari after a difficult weekend in Canada., as well as to verify the confirmation of McLaren, and assessing the progress by Mercedes.

After the disappointment of Montreal, last weekend Ferrari may have been revitalised by the repeat win at the 24 Ore of Le Mans with its 499P Hypercar. A win achieved by having the better over eight manufacturers involved in the premier class. A result that will certainly also give the F1 sector the right stimulus to continue growing.

In the last few days, the Federation has opened the doors to the maximum category also to the deserving seventeen-year-olds. After the entry of Max Verstappen, who has amply demonstrated he deserved the place, the same FIA has set the minimum age to enter F! at 18.

I believe it is more correct to evaluate the results on the track, rather than on age. If the youngster demonstrates the right qualities by conquering on the field, through the selective FIA brand championships, the points for accessing the Super License, it is fair that he has his chance to put himself on show, obviously after having run the minimum number of kilometres at the wheel of an F! car. I have read that this operation may have been made to facilitate the entry of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Let us not forget that he will come of age in August, so it is not far away. In addition, he has amply demonstrated with facts that he deserves entry to the major category. Before him, the same Russell, Piastri, and Norris (to name but a few) had put themselves on show, also confirming themselves in F!, Let us welcome this change to the regulations.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Having said goodbye to Imola, it is already time for the next round, Monte Carlo. This is a fascinating and glamourous circuit and completely different from all the others present in the calendar, one in which technique counts less and the quality of the driver is enhanced.

Qualifying will be heart stopping, especially Q2. In Imola we saw 16 cars within barely eight tenths of a second. I dread to think what might happen on Saturday…

As always, the car and the driver of reference are Red Bull and Max Verstappen, even if they have shown some problems lately. It will be interesting to see who between McLaren and Ferrari will manage to annoy the world champion.

Post-Imola I heard and read a lot of criticism directed at Aston Martin, which would be in crisis of results. I would go easy on certain declarations. Stroll arrived in the points zone and Alonso’s race was conditioned by the mistake in qualifying, which led him to start in from the pits in last position and from an absolutely risky strategy that did not pay off. Otherwise, Nando would have easily occupied fifth/sixth place.

The Monte Carlo grand prix will see the McLaren of Norris and Piastri take to the track with a celebrative livery in honour of Ayrton Senna.

It is certainly nice and exciting to see the celebrations of the thirtieth anniversary in memory of a special champion and man continue, but it would have been more coherent to bring it to the Imola GP. Senna was certainly the King of Monte Carlo in terms of pole positions and wins, but Imola it would have completed the various ceremonies, also considering the emotional lap of the track by Sebastian Vettel at the wheel of the McLaren MMP4/8.

A good grand prix to everyone!

Gian Carlo Minardi

We are now close to the Miami Grand Prix, the sixth round of the Formula 1 world championship, but all the attention is on the future of Adrian Newey. In the last few hours Red Bull has released a statement making official the exit of the brilliant engineer at the end of the season, after a stay of 19 years and 13 world titles between the drivers and Constructors’.

What will he do now? Newey has always been attracted by important challenges, see Leyton House in the early days, his arrival in Williams when it was on the rise, his move to McLaren, and in 2006 the arrival in Red Bull. In every case his contribution was decisive for the growth of the team. At this point the possible roads are: the titles Ferrari with all its history, or the Aston Martin challenge? And let us not forget Audi’s entry in 2026…

We are at the end of a winning cycle and, as history teaches us, these types of changes are the order of the day. This also triggers new stimuli, new challenges. The Horner case will certainly have given it a push, also because it has been growing day by day.

Right now, all the teams are pretty much focussed on the future, in 2026, taking Red Bull’s success and supremacy practically for granted. Coming to the Grand Prix, McLaren will bring some innovations to annoy Ferrari once again, even if the more important updates will come in Imola. Mercedes is counting on turning its season around with the arrival in Europe.

Just like China, Miami will have a Sprint race.  By now, the track is known to everyone. That is why we will have fewer unknown factors compared to two weeks ago.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Formula 1 returns to Shanghai after an absence of five years. It practically starts from scratch.

This is why I find myself in line with the drivers who are complaining – Verstappen first and foremost – about the decision to schedule the Sprint race (scheduled for 5.00am on Saturday) precisely in China, with barely an hour of free practice available before the qualifying for the Sprint (starting from 9.30 Friday)

Compared to the last edition we have completely different cars, tyre with 18” rims and asphalt subject to precision grinding, shot peening and sealing to eliminate the unevenness that has developed over time. A further unknown factor. In addition, some drivers do not know it at all.

On the compounds front, Pirelli has brought the C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium) and C4 (Soft compounds). In particular, the front left tyre will be particularly stressed on a track that has two very long straights and significant braking.

Red Bull remains the car to beat, but there could be some variables in the rear. This year there is a clear divide between the top five teams (Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Aston Martin) and the rest of the grid. One person under special observation in Racing Bulls will certainly be Daniel Ricciardo. He must try to come out of his anonymity, to safeguard his past, and above all to help the team to keep sixth place. Tsunoda alone (excellent in this start of the season) is not enough.

As is normal when we move towards the end of a cycle, we are faced with many negotiations behind the scenes, especially with an eye to 2026, which interests the drivers and especially the technicians and the engineers.

WEC. In addition to Formula 1, this weekend will also see the second round of the FIA WEC, which will stop in Italy at Imola’s Circuit.

For the first time the World Endurance Championship makes a stop in Imola, fifty years after the Mille Chilometri (Thousand kilometres) of Imola race. We are satisfied with advance sales, despite the current uncertain weather. It is important to show the organizers of the World Championship is of interest to the Italian public. We are talking about a calendar of eight rounds and many nations aspire to host it. It is an honour for us.

We are talking about a starting grid of the highest level, made up of 14 car manufacturers, including the LMGT3 and Hypercars, and the spectacle will certainly not be lacking, starting from Friday. Let us not forget that with the ticket you can go all around the circuit to see the cars in action in all the sectors of the track. In 6 hours of racing (start at 1.00pm) there will be fun to be had.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Imola.

Gian Carlo Minardi

In a few hours the engines will be switched on. From Bahrain, Formula 1 has landed in Saudi Arabia, on a very fast street circuit that last year gave us one of the most attractive races of the season in terms of competitiveness and overtaking.

Unfortunately, at the moment it is a Formula 1 that makes people talk more for non-sporting and technical matters. Look at the Horner case that continues to hold the stage, to which were added the investigations concerning FIA’s President. These are episodes I do not like, and which are not part of “my” Formula 1 as a fan. I hope that the results from the track return to centre stage, together with the main actors.

We come to the second round of the world championship. It will certainly be interesting to see if the balances that emerged in Bahrain will be confirmed, or if some outsider will manage to cut in. As of today, we have a Red Bull ahead of everyone. Followed by Ferrari as the second force ahead of Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin.

Also on this occasion, the programme has been brought forward by a day with free practice scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday), qualifying on Friday March 8 and the Grand Prix on Saturday starting at 6.00pm, Italian time.

Gian Carlo Minardi

The new season of the Formula World Championship is now upon us. From Wednesday the engines will start up for the three days of collective tests in Bahrein which will host the first round.
Let us not forget that the grand prix will be run on Saturday March 2 with the programme already brought forward by one day (it will begin Thursday with free practice), just like the following weekend in Saudi Arabia (March 7-9)

READY TO GO. We left behind a season dominated by Red Bull and Max Verstappen (who took his third world title), distinguished by great competitiveness in qualifying by all the grid enclosed within less than a second, particularly in the final part of the season. Compared to 2023 the technical regulations have remained practically the same, but the teams have had a year to fine tune the details. Precisely for this reason I expect further improvement in the performances, above all in the flying lap.

BUT MORE TEST SESSIONS ARE NEEDED. It does not need to be said. The point of reference remains Red Bull. It will certainly not be easy giving interpretations after barely three days of tests, Too few. It is true that there have been no upheavals on the regulation front and the drivers’ line up, but on the other hand, how would it be possible to launch a rookie in such a long and competitive a world championship with only three days of official tests? In the last few days, the drivers have come back to the track using “old” cars to remove the rust of winter, but in no other sport are there such tight limits “on training”.

EVERYBODY IS CHASING RED BULL. As of today, everybody says they are satisfied according to the results achieved indoors, on the simulators, but nobody knows what margin the RB19 still has and how they could have improved with the RB20. From what I hear the Racing Bulls should have made another big step forward compared to last year. It will be interesting to follow these developments.

FROM VIRTUAL TO REAL. The new racing cars have been revealed in a media format. Expressing judgments is practically impossible. We need to see if what has been seen in the photos corresponds with reality. Compared with 2023 we have seen many innovations, the results of continual development. It will be interesting to follow the tests also under this aspect. With only three days with so little time from the first GP, I do not believe they will hide too much.

HAMILTON-FERRARI: As we know all the teams had confirmed their line-ups at the end of the year. We expected a “quiet” first part of the season in this respect, to then go wild towards summer, but the start of this year was anything but serene. Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton thought to stir things up a year early. Honestly, I do not share this action. My DNA is tied to young people. I urged the Federation, through our school, to set a tutoring programme towards the young drivers by also activating collaborations with the various Academies of the Teams, FDA first of all. Announcing Lewis Hamilton today with an eye to 2025 means barring the road to young drivers of your Academy. Amongst other things, it has been two years since a winner of F2 has not found a place in F1, It is true that the arrival of the Hypercar in the WRC world championship has opened new opportunities, but those who set F2 and F3 programmes must be given an opportunity in F1. The seven times World Champion is at the end of his career, but the subject is not tied to age (editor’s note, in 2025 he will be 40 years old). Fernando Alonso has shown that, with the right car, age is only a number. In any case, I hope that this is not only a marketing operation to draw attention away from a non-competitive car. What is certain is that a difficult season will begin for Mercedes and Ferrari under the management of their drivers.

HORNER CASE. I am shocked by this whole situation. At this moment there is a lot of chatter going on which is tied rather to internal struggles between the Austrian and Thai owners. I also do not understand the interest of Ford, the next supplier and partner, since all this has nothing to do with them. I am also surprised by the interest of other parties outside the team. It seems to me that it is a real feeding frenzy that certainly takes away the team’s serenity.

We are approaching a very long new season made up of 24 rounds, with a lot of curiosity and many questions to be answered.

Gian Carlo Minardi