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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 | GP AUSTRALIA, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “MCLAREN MINDBLOWING, PUT OFF. WILLIAMS A PLEASANT CONFIRMATION

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Between confirmations and twists and turns, also dictated by particular weather conditions, Formula 1 gave us an exciting first grand prix in Australia.

We rediscovered some results that had already emerged during the Bahrain tests, especially related to McLaren and Williams, and even Ferrari, albeit negatively.

We are looking at a mind-blowing McLaren that demonstrated incredible solidity, despite some mistakes by the two drivers.

Behind them we found an incredible Max Verstappen whose talent most probably hid Red Bull’s difficulties by making himself the protagonist of an amazing race keeping Lando Norris and Oscar busy from the first to the last lap. He tried to chase down the winner right to the end.

Third and fourth place for Mercedes with Russell and Antonelli. I was very pleased that the marshals backtracked on the 5” penalty given to “Kimi”, giving him back fourth place. I had found the decision very questionable. He was the protagonist of an excellent comeback, finishing his first grand prix ahead of Albon’s Williams. He certainly started from a position that did not reflect his true potential, favouring him in overtaking, however, he made only one slip where many made important mistakes, which were paid for heavily with retirement. The rain and the slippery asphalt brought out his natural talent.

The real surprise of the start of the season is probably Williams that confirmed the excellent signs seen in Sakhir. Decidedly underwhelming for the whole weekend was Carlos Sainz, who was also the protagonist of an important mistake in the race that an expert driver such as he should not allow himself.

Even Fernando Alonso was the protagonist of a mistake, ending up against the “wall”, but this time it was Lance Stroll who stepped forward to save Aston Martin’s Sunday by taking it to sixth place ahead of an excellent Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber.

So, we come to Ferrari. When the weekend entered the thick of things, see free practice 3 and Q3, they got lost. They got everything wrong, including the strategy. The perplexities that emerged during the tests were confirmed in Australia. In fact, compared to last year, they are the team that improved the least in the tests and we saw it today. The season is certainly long because there are still 23 grands prix, but in China and Japan important positive responses must come. We hope that it will be a salvageable job. Let us not forget that this year, with the 2026 regulations just around the corner, the commitment id double.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP AZERBAIJAN, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “51 HEARTSTOPPING LAPS. PIASTRI PHENOMENAL. PEREZ-SAINZ? THE MEXICAN WITH THE GREATEST FAULT

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These young men know how to entertain us. They gave us 51 heart stopping laps with as many as 4 drivers within little more than two seconds. Piastri, Leclerc and Perez within less than one and a half seconds.

It was a hard-fought grand prix, won by a very good Oscar Piastri, author of a wonderful overtaking move at Leclerc’s expense, but above all skilful in managing the not easy situation on a track as complicated as Baku. This is certainly not a surprise because Piastri is a young man with all the credentials to make people talk about him. Plus, he has a car that is a notch above all the others, that allows him to brake later than the others and with better DRS. This was particularly evident when he overtook the Ferrari driver. He was able to recover 5 tenths of a second, against the mere 2 tenths of Leclerc, the author of a magnificent pole position. This however should make the men in Maranello pause for thought.

It was a shame only about the finish. We could have had a race with no interruptions despite a very high pace.

Until that moment it was an incredible comeback by Carlos Sainz, after a sluggish first part of the race. It was an equally remarkable race by Sergio Perez, who always gives his best on these tracks. Right now, Red Bull’s difficulties seem to be punishing mostly Max Verstappen. It is not easy to analyse the Sainz-Perez collision. Speaking from the television images, it seems to me that the Mexican had a higher percentage of blame since the Spaniard was ahead of him. Plus, he did not have a favourable view of him. He had plenty of space to move, there was enough to the left, to avoid the fatal contact.

Sainz’s retirement cost Ferrari dearly in terms of points, with the gap from the lead growing to 54 points with another seven races still to go.

It was a double celebration for McLaren. In addition to the win, it also took home the leadership of the constructors’ ladder, climbing above Red Bull after 55 races. Lando Norris’s race was also to be applauded. Starting from fifteenth position, he finished fifth ahead of Verstappen, also taking the additional point for the fastest lap-

The double retirement favoured George Russell, who took an unhoped-for podium, as well as the 2 Williams drivers and Oliver Berman, protagonists of an excellent weekend and rewarded with important points. Positive results especially for the two young men (Colapinto and Berman). The Argentine, an excellent shield bearer in regard to Albon. In his second grand prix, Berman once more entered the points zone with two different teams. Certainly not a result to be taken for granted driving a Haas.

We are approaching the final rounds which we predict will be fiery I am looking forward to seeing what will happen in Singapore street circuit.

As for our flag bearers, important results came in, starting with Gabriele Mini’s podium in Formula 2 (on his debut). Followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s third place despite a car damaged in a collision. In Japan, Davies Rigon drove the Ferrari 296 LMGT3 to the win in the FIA WEC World championship, and Raffaele Marcielllo took second place at the wheel of the BMW Hypercar. These results are all a source of great pride, as well as the fruit of the work carried out over all these years by the Federation and ACI Sport.

Gian Carlo Minardi

 

F1 | GP HUNGARY, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “RED BULL’S MORAL, SPORTING AND TECHNICAL SLAP”

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Hungary was the setting for the new qualifying format which saw the drivers face up to three sessions with the imposed compounds. A new experiment which requires further verdicts, but I find the signs decidedly positive. It can have a future. We saw a wonderful tussle on the edge of hundredths of a second. In Q2 sixteen cars were enclosed within a gap of barely 7 tenths of a second. In Q3 ten cars in little more than half a second with Hamilton, Verstappen, and Norris in 85 thousandths. It is easy to see surprises as happened with George Russell who went from the “rags” to “riches”. I am curious to see it repeated in Monza.

As far as the grand prix is concerned, what can I say? Max Verstappen was superlative, supported by a great Red Bull- They confirmed they are absolutely unbeatable. Verstappen crossed the finish line 33.7” ahead of Lando Norris, an excellent second place with McLaren, confirming the excellent evolutionary step already seen in Austria and England.

Oscar Piastri confirmed what I have been saying for some time, he is growing from race to race, above all since the World Championship has come to the tracks he already knew. More, now that he is also supported technically. He is possibly lightly punished by the strategies in favour of Norris, an English driver in an English car.

Too bad for Lewis Hamilton. With the imperfect start he denied himself the podium finding himself quickly behind not only Verstappen’s Red Bull, but also the two McLarens.

Sergio Perez completed his task, considering the car available to him. After a disastrous Saturday he recovered the podium, the minimum result. His teammates domination has probably demoralized him. Friday’s mistake was very serious, on the first lap on a wet track. A driver who aspires for the world championship cannot make these mistakes.

An equally serious mistake by Charles Leclerc in pit lane, even if it cost him little considering the 70” gap (which would have been 65 without the penalty) paid in regard to Verstappen. In any case, if you want to play for the world championship you cannot trip over such trivialities. A mistake also by the team, with the left rear. There is certainly great nervousness in Ferrari. The team cannot find a way out.

Today Red Bull also inflicted a lesson and moral, technical, and sporting slap to everyone with a pitstop that finished in 1.9” (Ferrari made 2.6”), to which must be added the best lap of the race by the Dutchman in 1:20.540. The only one to fall under the 1:21 barrier was Lewis Hamilton, the best of the others, who stopped at 1:21.601. Lando Norris 1:22.178. Charles Leclerc 1:22.469.

Now we only have to wait for Spa-Francorchamps before the summer break.

Gian Carlo Minardi

GIAN CARLO MINARDI CALLS ALL THE FANS TO IMOLA “WE’RE READY. A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AWAITS US”

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If, on the one hand the Azerbaijan GP gave us the usual unstoppable Red Bull which set the third double of the season (in the first four rounds), on the other hand Ferrari set its seal on the double pole position and on the two podiums with Charles Leclerc interrupting the positive streak of Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin (always on the podium since the start of the season).

“I was left positively impressed by the two times set by Leclerc in the final part of the GP with the fuel tank full and hard tyres. The driver from Monte Carlo lapped in the same times as Verstappen and Perez staying in the tussle for the fastest lap, together with Nando (which then went to George Russell after the pit-stop). It was exciting. A positive sign, above all connected to the wear of the tyres, one of the SF-23’s Achille’s heels,” commented the President of Formula Imola, Gian Carlo Minardi.

Leclerc crossed the finish line little more than 21 seconds from the winner Perez, paying a gap of 44 tenths of a second per lap. “A major step forward compared to the 7-8 tenths of a second at the start of the season. Ferrari managed to make the most of the month without races to make its car grow, also because now demanding tour-de-force awaits them with 5 GPs in six weeks”.

After Miami the world championship will come to Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit for the Qatar Airways Gran Prix of the Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna from May 19 to 21. “At Imola I expect even smaller gaps. Ferrari and Aston Martin could start to interfere in Red Bull’s schedule. Amongst other things it will be the setting for a new form of qualifying: the drivers will face Q1 with the hard compound, Q2 with the medium and Q3 the soft. An unknown factor to keep us entertained and a major reason to support Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and all our favourites. I hope to see many fans also on the Friday and Saturday when there will also be support races”.

The President of Formula Imola called all the enthusiasts and fans together to experience the first European round with many new features, and an intense racing programme between Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 e Porsche Supercup “If the teams have taken advantage of this month long gap to develop their racing cars, we have worked to make the Circuit as accessible and comfortable as possible. In order to satisfy the needs of the fans we have set up another six grandstands and other new developments will be announced soon. Furthermore, the weekend’s programme will be full of races, with many Italians already protagonists. Above all in Formula 3” Tickets are on sale on the Circuit’s website.

F1 – Spanish Grand Prix, race: Gian Carlo Minardi point

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red_bull.jpg'The end result of the Spanish Grand Prix accurately reflects the forces in the field this season, with a Red Bull unstoppable unless reliability problems, as we saw with the clear victory of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel accused by the problem on ‘ braking system
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