Joao Vieira attends the Adria Winter Trophy

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Three weeks after the last appointment of Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth, Joao Vieira is ready to get back at the wheel of his Tatuus #28, for the 2014 Winter Trophy  in the Adria International Raceway circuit.

For Joao, this is a return on the track of Rovigo: in June, the 2,702 meters have been for the 16-year-old Brazilian driver the scene of the first weekend of competition at the European and at the wheel of an open-wheel. The race will be the closing party of a growing season, which led him to fight quickly with the first of the class, gaining podiums and important points over seven rounds on the calendar. In these four months, the driver followed by Minardi Management has risen steeply in the starting grid, even touching pole-position and victory on several occasions. “Unfortunately, only the victory missed. It would be just the cherry on top. This weekend, however, is back on track“, Joao says satisfied. “I close the season at Adria, just where four months ago I started this fantastic adventure. It will be the last event of the season at the wheel of an open-wheel, waiting to define 2015 plans. On November 23rd, in fact, I’ll fly to Las Vegas for the Supernationals Kart Race”. This is competition is considered the event of the year within the American karting, and the young driver has already won it. “I’ll try to hunt the encore“.

“We got to the last appointment of the season. The Winter Trophy of Adria is also the last chance for Joao to achieve a well-deserved victory, considering the significant growth, race after race, and the great feeling achieved with the team of Marco Antonelli and the features of this category. It will also be an opportunity to enrich his showcase with a great trophy. We are preparing to store a definitely positive season. Going on this way, also next year we will be able to fight constantly for winning right from the first races, whatever the championship will be”, the manager Giovanni Minardi says.

The event will involve motor racing and karting in the same circuit, where, for the first time, karting and Formula 4 will be busy live at the same time. This year, WSK Final Cup stops in the brand-new Raceway Karting circuit of Adria. Races program focuse on the two days of Saturday and Sunday, November 1st and 2nd, after the series of free practice tests, that are scheduled on Friday, October 31st. Each of the two days includes warm-up and Qualifying in the morning, followed by the race in the afternoon, based on the usual 28’ plus one lap. The new open-wheel will be the queen of a weekend that, together with 500 Abarth Trophy, will also host Touring and GT races, classified as Adria Trophy, and F.2 races of the Italian Trophy.

Gian Carlo Minardi “Sainz Jr, Ocon, Marciello, Evans for third car”

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“If third car must be, it has at least to be entrusted to young people, to keep growing in the future“. With these words, Gian Carlo Minardi analyzed the difficult economic situation that Formula 1 is going through, with the sale of Caterham and Marussia and the spectre of third car.

Since the beginning of his career, the DNA of the constructor from Faenza has been characterized by working with young drivers. Therefore, we could not shirk from asking him which names he would see working on third car. “Right now, promising young people are many and Made in Italy is second to none. Keeping within our bounds, Ferrari is asked to point to one of its young people, between Antonio Fuoco and Raffaele Marciello, without forgetting Antonio Giovinazzi“, Minardi says. “Coming out of our zone, I would certainly give an opportunity to the winner of FIA F.3, Esteban Ocon, who got behind the brand-new Toro Rosso driver, Max Verstappen. Moreover, it’s also said that he went very well in Valencia with Lotus and he will soon test the Ferrari at Fiorano, as a reward for winning the title. As I’ve underlined many times, I would see working the winner of WSR 3.5, Carlos Sainz Jr, paired with Verstappen in TR. The team is growing also structurally. So, I’d rely on a very young pair, aiming for continuing developing together, reaping the benefits within 2-3 years. With Ricciardo and Kvyat, Red Bull Racing’s doors seem to be locked in the short term“.

Going on the pyramid, we arrive to GP2, which consecrated Jolyon Palmer. “Personally, I like Mitch Evans and Felipe Nasr very much. In view of third car, also Stoffel Vandoorne have to be included, being part of McLaren’s young drivers program“.

The question marks around the use of third car are still numerous. “It’s necessary to understand how it will be used for television rights and for scoring“, the manager from Faenza says. “Since we arrived at the third to last appointment, I hope that third car will be subject of meetings, facing with seriousness and coldness the topic“.

FIA WEC – Davide Rigon flies to Shanghai, scene of the first victory in World Championship

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Being confident of the one-two won in Japan, along with team-mate James Calado and AF Corse’s mates, Davide Rigon is ready to get back at the wheel of the Ferrari 458 GTE-PRO #71, for 6 Hours of Shanghai, scene of the sixth round of FIA WEC World Championship.

For Rigon, this will be a return on the 5,451 meters of the Chinese circuit (also scene of F1 World Championship), where a year ago he won the first seal in FIA World Endurance Championship, with a victory in 8Star Motorsport’s colours, on Ferrari in GTE-AM category. Thanks to that success, and other podium placements, the 27-year-old from Thiene contributed significantly to winning the titles of Team, for 8Star Motorsport, and Constructors, for Ferrari.

With the second place at 6 Hours of Fuji, Rigon and Calado raised steeply in ranking, entering the Top-10 and strengthening Ferrari’s leadership among Constructors. “I have to say that China has always brought me good luck. Last year, I celebrated the first victory in World Championship, while in 2008 I won the title in Superleague Formula, with the colours of Beijing Guoan“, Davide Rigon says, flying to the Republic of China. “The One-two and podium gave us not only awareness of working in the right direction but also great drive in view of championship’s end”. After Shanghai, FIA WEC Circus will move to Bahrain (November 15th) and Brazil (November 30th) for the grand finale.

“In Qualifying we could give up something to opponents, recovering then in race pace. Both my team-mate and I, we’re rookies in the leading class and we’re called to do our part, in order to win and confirm Ferrari’s title. We finally got to race on tracks that are already known to me, and this can be translated into an advantage. Moreover, Shanghai“, Davide concludes, “is the last less favourable track for our car”.

United States GP – PREVIEW

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In virtue of Caterham and Marussia’s forfeit, the adoption of third car will be the subject of meetings during the Grand Prix at Austin, third to last round of the Formula 1 World Championship.

Arranging a third car is not so simple and obvious, because, besides the cost, it also requires precise organization in terms of manpower and logistics. It’s necessary to weight up at 100% all Pros and Cons of such operation, to avoid finding oneself in similar situations, with excessive increase of costs that are ruining not only to the two “Cinderellas”. We have at least one other team navigating dangerous waters. Unlike Caterham’s situation, Marussia has an interesting business card, resulting from the current ninth place in Constructors’ Standings (before Sauber and Caterham), which would be tuned into money at the end of the season. Of course, it’ll be necessary to size up all the way the state of health. Getting to controlled administration three GP from the end is not a good sign. It have also to be considered what are the terms of the “bonus” granted by Mr. Ecclestone, in order not to lose the rights obtained through the current ninth place.

There are too many irons in the fire and I hope that it’s high time to sit around a table to evaluate difficulties and find solutions, to save this sick F1. There’s need of the right antidote, to give new lifeblood and vitality to the environment.

With regards to this Grand Prix, Austin is certainly one of the more technical and valid circuits (among those of latest generation). It will lead to inflamed competition, in which 2 pit-stops are expected, having at disposal Medium and Soft. So, we return to talk about strategies, which are the missed ingredient in Russia. Little to say at Mercedes. Won the Constructors’ title, Mercedes should just figure out who will be its champion. Open fight between Lewis and Nico, where each one has a specific purpose: trying to close the gap in the case of the German and widen it, to be less vulnerable in Abu Dhabi, in case of the English. Behind them, there’s the race for third place, while, among constructors, the challenge for Constructors’ third and fourth places will fire up, with a three-fight: Williams, Ferrari, McLaren. We expect a second/third row in ferment.

Considering the market, the arrival of third car could move even more the environment. To date, four seats are missing, as well as many drivers that will try to propose themselves again, also putting pressure on their budgets. Taking that I do not like the idea of  “third car”, I hope at least that it should be entrusted to young drivers to keep growing. Meanwhile, in recent weeks Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed at Force India, one of the teams of second category, certainly more appealing.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Third car? Carlos Sainz Jr. the desire

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The spectre of the third car in 2015 is becoming more and more reality. Caterham and Marussia certainly won’t be present at Austin, within seven days in the third to last round of Formula 1 World Championship. The news doesn’t certainly stricken as a bolt from the blue, given the substantial rumors circulating especially in recent months. Even incredible the situation of the team from Norfolk. Few months later, the rescue made by people that as they’ve arrived, they’re also disappeared, is exploded like a soap bubble. Result: locations placed under seizure and structure entrusted to an administrator.

However, the crisis is not only about the two “Cinderellas”, but many other teams, which are much nobler (Sauber and Lotus). Therefore, the top teams are preparing for putting on track the “third car”, going on the hunt for new drivers. “I don’t like very much the idea of a third card, but if it’s really necessary to adopt, it should at least be entrusted to a young driver”, Gian Carlo Minardi commented this way on Saturday on his website www.minardi.it.

The name, that persistently circulates in Team Principal’s offices, is that of Sainz Jr. “Carlos Sainz Jr. is certainly in pole-position, although I still see him in Toro Rosso alongside Verstappen“. The manager from Faenza had already predicted very young scenery in the previous months within the Faenza’s team, with the Spanish alongside the Dutch Verstappen and the Russian Kvyat – upgraded in Red Bull instead of Vettel and beside Ricciardo. This scenery became reality at Suzuka Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel announces to leave Red Bull, which in turn upgraded the Russian at the side of its Australian, leaving a vacant seat in Toro Rosso. “If Red Bull were to free Sainz Jr. up, there would be Mercedes already ready to give him the third car“. Toto Wolff himself had already tried to rip Verstappen from competitors.

The market, then, get even more inflamed, along with the Fernando Alonso’s crux…

Is Formula 1 ready to greet two teams?

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Those who understand something is good. In recent months and weeks we’ve read everything and its opposite. Who buys a team and then retired on the eve of a double trip, with the seizure of locations and the team assigned to administrators. Now the latest news came through the words of Mr. Ecclestone: no Texas for Caterham and Marussia. Caterham itself should not even participate in the Brazilian trip, which is the penultimate round of the season.

The situation of this Formula 1 seems every day more and more serious, both economically and from a sharp drop in spectators. “Honestly, it’s a bad blow for F1 and missing two teams, four cars and four boys is certainly sorry“, Gian Carlo Minardi says on the website www.minardi.it. “Unfortunately, the regulation changes have heavily affected all the teams’ founds, leading to this result in teams already in great difficulty. However, the situation seems very strange for Marussia that, thanks to the two points won in Monte Carlo by Jules Bianchi, currently occupies ninth place in the Constructors’ Standings, before Sauber and Caterham. Points that will turn into money from TV royalties at the end of the year. This aspect should make attractive a team. Perhaps it would be better to buy one of these structures, rather than starting from scratch …“, the manager from Faenza comments.

But the financial crisis that rotates round the Circus is not only about these two realities. “If we exclude the top teams, all the others certainly do not sail in calm waters, indeed. This should make us think and ponder all. Before making decisions – see new Power-Unit or double points – it’s necessary to count at least to ten, to avoid being in these situations, with “bonus” for not participating in a round of World Championship, in the top automotive category“.

In his analysis, Minardi hopes for bigger control also by International Federation. “What’s going on at Caterham is really ridiculous. After 2-3 months, the rescue made by people that as they’ve arrived, they’re also disappeared, is exploded like a soap bubble. Locations placed under seizure, teams assigned to administrators and those who would have to buy and manage the situation with doomsday proclamations, they’ve stepped aside“. It’s getting more impressive the spectre of the “third car” starting next year. “It’s a situation that I don’t like very much, but if you really need to adopt, it should at least be entrusted to a young driver to keep growing“. Circus problems are not only of a financial nature. In particular, this season is characterized by a sharp drop and Minardi, before we say goodbye, posed us a question: “And if a calendar of 19-20 events was too packed? Twenty Grand Prix means just as many weekends in front of TV. Perhaps, are they too many for today’s needs? Add even a strong detachment of Circus lovers“.

Let’s put a bit in order

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Three months left. It’s already been seven months since that weekend in March that inaugurated the new season of Formula 1 with the Australian Grand Prix, as well as the beginning of the Mercedes supremacy. After sixteen (of the nineteen) appointments and thirteen won (with Hamilton and Rosberg), the first verdict arrived: at Russian Grand Prix, Mercedes won its first World Constructors’ Championship in history.

The internal challenge is open: Lewis Hamilton leads the standings, with 291 points thanks to the nine personal successes, +17 on the team-mate Nico, who can count on only four seals. Only the Red Bull #3 of Daniel Ricciardo managed to stop three times (Canada, Hungary, Belgium) this supremacy, putting the team-mate Sebastian Vettel in a difficult position. In Japan Vettel greeted Horner&C; his future destination is well-known (in Ferrari instead of Fernando Alonso), but has not been announced yet. In his place, there’ll come the young Russian Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso that’s been promoted in a top team only after a year of F1. Therefore, drivers’ market is animated as a domino.

Together with the Australian of RB, the other great surprise of 2014 is certainly Bottas’ and Massa’s Williams. In particular, the Finnish has been great protagonist of numerous podiums that launched the English team in third place (216 points), between Red Bull (342) and Ferrari (188). Considering these results, since long time the team has confirmed its drivers. To this day, Valtteri Bottas occupies the fourth place with 145 points, while the Brazilian team-mate is stationary only in ninth place with a poor result of 71 points. Behind the Finnish, there’s the four-times World Champion Sebastian Vettel (143) and the Ferrari’s twice World Champion Fernando Alonso (141) that will have to watch their backs from Jenson Button, who’s making great progresses as well as growth ready to attack the fourth place in Constructors standings, occupied by the team of Maranello.

Only 45 points separate Ferrari and McLaren, the fourth and fifth place respectively. With still three appointments (Austin, Interlagos and Yas Marina), all games are still open. Let’s not forget that the weird regulations provide for double score in Abu Dhabi. The situation behind them is more stable, with Force India in sixth place, before Toro Rosso and Lotus.

The biggest disappointment is Sauber, still in tenth place with zero points and behind even the small Marussia that, thanks to the two points of Jules Bianchi won in Monte Carlo, touches the sky with a finger in ninth place. Not least, Lotus of Grosjean and Maldonado (8 points and eighth place) slowed down by the problems of Renault.

Constructors’ Standings
1 Mercedes 565
2 Red Bull Racing-Renault 342
3 Williams-Mercedes 216
4 Ferrari 188
5 McLaren-Mercedes 143
6 Force India-Mercedes 123
7 STR-Renault 29
8 Lotus-Renault 8
9 Marussia-Ferrari 2
10 Sauber-Ferrari 0
11 Caterham-Renault 0
Drivers’ Standings
1 Lewis Hamilton British Mercedes 291
2 Nico Rosberg German Mercedes 274
3 Daniel Ricciardo Australian Red Bull Racing-Renault 199
4 Valtteri Bottas Finnish Williams-Mercedes 145
5 Sebastian Vettel German Red Bull Racing-Renault 143
6 Fernando Alonso Spanish Ferrari 141
7 Jenson Button British McLaren-Mercedes 94
8 Nico Hulkenberg German Force India-Mercedes 76
9 Felipe Massa Brazilian Williams-Mercedes 71
10 Kevin Magnussen Danish McLaren-Mercedes 49

Pierluigi Martini remembers Luciano Pavesi

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A new grief has hit the world of motorsport: Luciano Pavesi, well-known face of the 70s in Formula 2 and Formula 3 in 1975, has died. He was awarded the title of Italian F.3 at the wheel of Brabham of Scuderia Ala d’Oro, showing his skills also in F.2, and then becoming Team Manager, participating with his own team to the F.3 and F3000 Championships.

In 1983, here comes success in European F.3 alongside of Pierluigi Martini, whose streets came together again in 1986, with the second place (just two points from the title) in the International  Formula 3000, behind Capelli. “Luciano was a beautiful person; when he was speaking, he could get immediately to the point. He was a person of few words, but always very helpful and important”, Pierluigi Martini remembers at www.minardi.it. “Luciano was the teacher and he taught me many things, not only in racing, but also in life. Wise, honest and balanced. For me, he was like a second father. Before being Team Manager, he was a very good driver, with the victory in ’75 in Formula 3. I owe him his first lessons on the development of the car “, says Martini. “In 1983, I won the title of F.3 and two years later I touched the title of F3000 with his team“.

Photo caption: Pierluigi Martini at the wheel of Pavesi Ralt RT20 Cosworth Racing #71 team in the International Formula 3000 in 1986 in Austria.

Gian Carlo Minardi "Exciting season for Formula 4. Ending with F.3 European is amazing”

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At the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit in Immolate the curtain goes down over the first season of Formula 4, achieving resounding success thanks to a constant participation of 20 cars in the seven rounds – from Adria to Imola – that have enlivened the calendar with 28 drivers in all at the wheel of Tatuus T014, coming from 14 countries and 4 different continents. “The season of the Tricolored F.4 is a positive sign. We had an absolute leader with Stroll, who was awarded of important points right from the early appointments, demonstrating a highly professional approach for this innovative formula“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “The opponents, however, are not missed, thanks to our young Drudi – Russo – Pulcini, covering the role of the first actors in particular in the last rounds“.

The thoughts have already turned to next season, when also other Nations will bring to the track the F.4 Championship. “On this drive, we have to work to form the generational change, both in view of the next step (F.3 European) and for this preparatory formula itself. We has been the first to believe in this new reality, bringing it on track and the results have proved us right. With the arrival of other championships, it won’t be be easy to keep the lead, but with the help of WSK and all the staff of ACI-Sport will ride this success. As ACI, this championship has been our flagship“, the manager from Faenza comments.

The public response has been interesting, thanks to races full of overtakings and to the “Paddock Free” initiative, implemented by Italian Federation. “The audience gave a strong signal, wanting to get closer to the preparatory formulas for an introduction to the champions of tomorrow. We want to bring the fans back to the racetrack, to let them experience the racing weekend as a country outing with the whole family“.

The focus is racing program. At Imola, the young F.4 drivers have shared track and paddock with the Italian GT and European Formula 3, in order to pass the baton with two formulas, that are placed on the central axis of International Car Racing. “The spectacular nature of races plays certainly a crucial role in getting closer. The home-races of the Italian GT, which has seen a grid of nearly 24 cars per event, will end only with the last race in Monza with 3-4 teams still fighting for the title. Then, we had first contact with the “elder sister” European F.3 that, only in the last manche won by Max Verstappen, consecrated the Prema driver Esteban Ocon with our standard bearer Antonio Fuoco and AntonioGiovinazzi to complete the podium. For our F.4 rookie-drivers, this has been the opportunity to see first-hand the natural continuation of their career“.

A European F.3 that has returned to its past glories and benchmark for Circus’ Team Principals. Max Verstappen will make the leap to the top serie already next year, wearing the colors of Scuderia Toro Rosso, while Ocon will be at the wheel of Ferrari at Fiorano and of Lotus E20 at Jerez. “It seems to me to go back to the ’80s, when the hierarchy was formed by F3-F2-F1. At Imola we had a grid composed of 28 Dallata F3, even with 14 cars in 9 tenths. Thanks to Gerhard Berger and to FIA, this championship is finding again the glories of the past, acting as a real springboard, more than other categories“. On the agenda, there’s already the creation of a new intermediate category between F3 and F1. “In International Federation thoughts there’s a new Formula 2, which could reopen the scenarios that have written the history of Car Racing“, Minardi analyzes.

Russian GP – Drivers’ Scorecard

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Giving a vote to this Grand Prix is not easy, because of track’s little difficulties. The asphalt proved to be not abrasive at all, Pirelli was too conservative and pre-weekend worries about bends were unfounded. In an astonishing circuit from scenic point of view, but insignificant on all other fronts, let’s give the votes:

Mercedes – 10 They win their first F1 World Constructors’ Championship. A well-deserved title, having built an almost perfect battleship. A result that has something historical.

Lewis Hamilton – 9 He’s read the circuit very well, right from the earliest tests, dictating his pace and driving the nth double

Nico Rosberg – 5/6 He threw away a Grand Prix at the first bend, becoming author of an amazing “comeback” (from last to second), thanks to his car and asphalt that doesn’t ruin the tyres at all. In fact, he completed 51 laps, no less, with the same compounds, scoring the fastest lap of the race right at the finish. For this reason, I cannot give him a high vote. Too easy so!

Valtteri Bottas – 8 Another podium for the Finn, who is growing Williams, firmly in third place among constructors

Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen – 7.5 They are helping the team to grow, supported also by an excellent Mercedes PU. They’re the team that has put together the most important growth in the last period and prepares to attack the fourth place of Ferrari

Fernando Alonso – 8 He’s the only one that keeps this Ferrari afloat, being the first among the “not-Mercedes”. He fights as only he can do

Daniel Ricciardo – 7 He has solidly confirmed his position in third place of the drivers’ standings and, once again, he’s ahead of his team-mate

Sebastian Vettel – 6 Maybe his head is elsewhere. I haven’t seen him fight as a four times world champion should do

Felipe Massa – 5 Completely lost in Sochi’s sea

All the others do not go beyond the 6. Not because of them, but because of circuit’s simplicity.

FIA WEC – Second place in FIA WEC World Championship for Davide Rigon at the 6 Hours of Fuji. He completes Ferrari's double.

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At Fuji circuit, before an audience of over 50,000 spectators, Davide Rigon (together with the team-mate James Calado), won with full rights the podium goal, thanks to a peremptory second place in the FIA WEC World Championship, behind only the twin car #51.

After taking the right confidence with the 4,563 meters of the Japanese track during free practice sessions, Davide and James have placed the Ferrari 458 GTE-Pro #71 in the fourth place of Qualifying and before the Ferrari team-mates and standings’ leaders, Bruni and Vilander, to close the sixth hour of race with the second step of the podium and the best result of the season, giving to AF Corse team and Ferrari both an important and amazing double. Thanks to this proof of strength, the racing team of Maranello lengthens in the Constructors’ standings, bringing its reward to 200 points, before its direct opponents of Aston Martin, stopped at 171 points. “It’s been a hard-fought race right from the beginning; we’ve done a great team job. We’ve been able to express our potential as much as we could, on a track that I already knew, having attended the round of last season, that was canceled due to bad weather, after a few passes”, Davide Rigon says, coming back from Japan.

“After driven half a championship on circuits completely unknown to me, now we come on tracks already known. This may be transformed into an extra advantage, because some secrets are discovered only during the race. Going back to Fuji’s race, with the second place we’ve completed an excellent weekend, both for us of AFCorse and for Ferrari that consolidates the leadership among constructors “.

Important leap forward in standings also for the driver from Vicenza: “a podium that gives us awareness of working in the right direction and being entered in the top-10, among the best of championship“. A success dedicated to his friend Jules Bianchi, who right in Japan is fighting his most important battle after his terrible accident. “We are all with Jules. We want to dedicate this double 100% to him, hoping he’ll come back soon to drive “.

“Finally, we’ve seen the potential of Davide in the World Championship. Till today, unfortunately, he wasn’t able to express himself at 100%, for lack of knowledge of tracks and for some technical problems. On the first occasion, however, he succeeded brilliantly. I am sure we’ll be competitive in all latest races, in order to help Ferrari, as protagonists, to win the Constructors’ title“, the manager Giovanni Minardi comments.
Next round of FIA WEC is scheduled for the 2nd of November in China, where there’ll be the 6 Hours of Shanghai.

F.4 – Joao Vieira greets the first season with the fastest lap at Imola

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Standings in hand, love hasn’t blossomed between the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit and Joao Vieira, who ended his first season in formula and in the Italian F.4  Championship powered by Abarth, at Imola. Scene of the seventh and final round of the F.4 Tricolored, Imola has left, in a certain sense, a bitter taste in mouth of the young Brazilian driver of Antonelli Motorsport, that had to say goodbye to the paddock with only a reward of 5 points, which don’t reflect the true potential.

Author of a season gone from strength to strength, Joao ended the championship scoring the fastest lap in race-2 and the second in race-3, behind only the much more experienced French Maisano, demonstrating that even here there were all the conditions to do well. However, the first venture into the world of formulas ends with a total reward of 93 points, seventh place in general standings, two podiums thanks to third place in the demanding Mugello Circuit and second place in the “Temple of Speed” of Monza and different placements in score-zone.

“Week-end that confirmed the leap seen in the last appointments. I’m very happy because he finally grasped the difficult track of Imola, scoring the fastest lap in race-2 and the second in race-3“, the Manager Giovanni Minardi says. “Unfortunately, he was marked by ups and down, together with misfortunes that have not allowed him to collect what he deserved. The potential would allow us to fight for victory in all three races, but a little bad luck and errors dictated by youth took us away the greatest satisfaction. It remains the awareness of having completed a season in crescendo. We got to fight with the best of the class and we are ready to challenge for the title of next season“, the manager of Minardi Management comments. “I conclude with congratulations to all staff of Marco Antonelli, who helped us to make great strides since first day of test“.

“On the hand of result, it wasn’t the weekend I would have expected. There remains the consolation for having scored the fastest lap in race-2 and the second in the last race. Anyway, I’m happy with my progress in this season. I really learned a lot, both on track and at technical level. I came to fight with the first drivers, winning two podiums and several placements“, Joao Vieira says. “Now, we will decide the next programs“.

Russian GP – THE POINT… BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI

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The first Russian GP in history took place, without doubts, in a wonderful scenery, but insignificant from the point of view of technics and show.

Worries about bends proved to be unfounded with an asphalt not abrasive at all. Without requirement to change compounds, the drivers would arrive safely at the end of the 52 laps without problems, as Nico Rosberg showed us, who had compulsory to stop on the first lap and author of the fastest lap during the last one.

Super Mercedes, both as team and as Power-Unit, with five riders placed in the top five positions. Only Felipe Massa was missing. With the double of today, Mercedes mathematically wins the Constructors’ Championship. Rosberg get lucky the second place, considering how things were at the beginning and Abu Dhabi’s double points. He was too impulsive and aggressive, thus compromising his race. Perhaps, the result would not be changed. Throughout the weekend, Hamilton  was in front of him.

McLarens have done a good job. The team is the one completed the most important evolutionary steps, in the last period, and prepares to attack the fourth place of Ferrari. Once again, only the talent of Fernando Alonso saves Maranello’s weekend, bringing Ferrari in a reality that doesn’t belong to it. He ends in sixth place, before the two Red Bull, but the “cans” have proven to be faster. He is the first among the Mercedes’ non-motorized. Another colorless test for Kimi Raikkonen, who ends in ninth position, just ahead of Perez. The error of the Spanish at the pit-stop – one of the strong points of “the Red” – is an important sign of lack of serenity within the team.

Gian Carlo Minardi