F.1 – Australian GP: THE POINT… BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI

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The first Grand Prix of the season allowed us to know truth and reality. The hunt for the two Mercedes, which will once again rush, as we already know, has just started.

Ferrari was back on the podium, winning the challenge of the “numbers 2” and we had seven different cars in the top ten positions, but I would beware. Only 16 cars out of 20 started and, in addition, there were two players missing, like Red Bull-Renault and McLaren-Honda, in late considering the schedule.

The Grand Prix must be analysed with a correct interpretation, and not as an ultra. Confirmation is Mercedes, which races at crazy pace, after a stratospheric Qualifying for Hamilton benefit, while Rosberg made some mistakes in the test sessions – never worrying the teammate during the race. They have a huge advantage over the competitors. Ferrari won his challenge against the current Williams rivals. After closing Qualifying with the fourth time result behind Massa, Vettel gained the podium to Brazilian driver’s detriment. A result that will have to be won, race after race. Although Raikkonen was missing (forced to retire with a pits’ mistake, something unusual for Ferrari), the SF-15T proved to be reliable, thanks to the important development that makes them stand before Red Bull and McLaren. A podium that is certainly moral, especially considering the great changes that took place in Maranello this winter. An incentive to continue to do better.

However, reality has to be seen in comparison with numbers. Stopwatch in hand, the Circus had a very important evolutionary step, thanks to the chassis, Power-Unit and tyres, but, basically, nothing has changed in terms of the gap between Mercedes and its rivals. On Saturday, Vettel’s gap from the pole was 1″4 versus Alonso’s 1″5 in 2014. During the race, Sebastian gets the third placement, with a gap of 34″. Twelve months ago, Alonso had finished fourth at 35″. This is the harsh reality of the chronometric results. Those left behind, for the moment, are Red Bull and McLaren; according to my information, the latter would have raced without electric engine. The chassis is up to the competition, but at the moment the problems come from the Japanese Power-Unit. Red Bull is still an unknown element. Ricciardo struggled with a knife between his teeth, with a car that is not competitive and unreliable, as demonstrated by the withdrawal of Daniil Kvyat in the warm-up.

Great debut for Sauber’s Felipe Nasr, who gained immediately points with Ericcson. Last year they were missing. Well done even for Sainz Jr. who collected points with Toro Rosso, forced to fight all the Grand Prix with a damaged car right at the first corner, showing great difficulty in the final. Verstappen is less lucky, forced to retire because of technical problems when he was in the Top 10.

In short, we get to know the 2015 Formula 1 World Championship. We leave Melbourne, a street circuit with special features, to fly in a fortnight in Malaysia – permanent circuit -, which will be the real test bench for teams’ performances.

F.4 – Joao Vieira in action at Imola. Once again he beats the 2014 pole.

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Joao Vieira‘s championship is going on towards the opening round of the Italian Formula 4 Championship second season at “Piero Taruffi” circuit in Vallelunga, scheduled for May 3rd.

After Monza, the Brazilian driver of Antonelli Motorsport moved on the track named after Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, which will host the Tatuus F.4 in the penultimate round in September. A two-day test in which Marco Antonelli’s staff has worked alongside the driver, in order to continue car’s development and to study its performance using different new and used compounds. Living not far from Imola, the round in Imola always has a special taste for the Brazilian. “It’s my home-race. So, I want to get ready. Last year we did a good job and in these two days we start again from where we left“, Joao Vieira says. “Both with new and used tyres I was able to stay under the pole of last year, driving respectively in 1’45″290 and 1’45″700. I could improve myself further, but at the end there was a red flag that interrupted the racing day. We are working in the right direction and every time I go out on track with this car, I find myself more and more at ease. However, there will be a more definitive result only in the first race at Vallelunga”.

“They were two very intense days in which Joao has covered several laps, collecting a lot of data that will be useful for the season, especially for the round in Imola. We were very pleased for the chronometric results scored on track through the two compounds, although we expected a greater margin. Certainly, we are working in the right direction. This year goals are ambitious and we want to start driving hard from the first race“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

On Sunday at Adria International Raceway, which will host an unprecedented challenge between Joao Vieira and Marco Antonelli, Driver VS Team Principal, in the Champion Kart first test session of Parolin. May the best man win!

F.1 – Gian Carlo Minardi: “What is happening in Melbourne is unbelievable”

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Tonight, when in Italy will be the hours 2:30am, spotlights on 2015 Formula 1 World Championship will switch on officially with the first free practice session.

The new season has not yet started, but the pages of websites and newspapers are filling (unfortunately) with the economic vicissitudes related to some realities that have little to do with sport, in particular Sauber and Manor (Marussia). It is certainly not a sign of good luck, whereas we are just at the first round. Therefore, we wanted to hear all opinions of Gian Carlo Minardi, who speaks about the events of the Swiss team and the presence of Manor Team to the columns of his website, www.minardi.it.

Van der Garde – Sauber

What is happening now in Australia at Sauber about the controversy related to Van der Garde is unbelievable. Since some years, there’s been the Contracts Recognition Board, or a notary who’s located in Geneva and at his office all teams register all contracts of their drivers in a sealed envelope. The contract that is registered first will have the priority over all others. I find absurd that, during the launch of the first race, there are judges and court decisions that determine who has to race. The Contracts Recognition Board was born many years ago, due to a problem created by Jean Alesi, when he signed three contracts simultaneously with three different teams in the 1990s: Tyrrell, Williams and Ferrari, if I remember correctly.

Once again, this scene represents a humiliation for those who have created the regulations. There should be really a little more seriousness. The other point of discussion is linked to Drivers’ Superlicense. Considering my information, Van der Garde has the A Superlicense. Therefore, it becomes only a formal, solvable fact. This quibble won’t surely prevent him from racing.

Manor

It is an economic-political case. Manor team is present in Australia, at Melbourne circuit, only to preserve the royalties (and get the benefit) won last season with the tenth place in the Constructors’ Championship. When I was racing with my team, if you’d like to be considered at the event, you had to carry out all checks. Then, it did not matter whether or not you took part in the race. In this very difficult moment its only thought is to tear allowance arising from television and commercial royalties (we remind you that Manor team hasn’t taken part in any test and it will race in this championship with the car of 2014, which is updated only of the nose of 2015). It would be nice to know how many mechanics are present in Melbourne.

F.1 – Road to Melbourne

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After less than five months the final race in Abu Dhabi, the countdown to Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of Formula 1 World Championship, has already begun.

The Circus prepares his arrival in Melbourne with many certainties, including the double domain of Mercedes. During the collective test sessions in Jerez and Barcelona, the Champions in office have never used Pirelli Super Soft tyres, unlike all the others, scoring anyway the fastest chronometric result with Nico (1’22”8), against 1’23” of Williams with the SS. All things considered, it is a difference of almost 1 second between the pair Hamilton/Rosberg and their first pursuers, the Williams of Massa and Bottas. Then, behind them there is a large group with Ferrari, Red Bull, Lotus, Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso.

At the moment, it is difficult to establish with certainty the hierarchies, because we don’t know most of the parameters considered for the cars on track. One out of all, the amount of petrol. Therefore, the weekend of Melbourne will be interesting. It will give us the first results on the winter work. No one can hide away. Fuel consumption will be examined carefully. Performances are getting closer to those of 2011-2012 with time results, speed and fuel consumption different from last year. In twelve months, F1 has managed to gain as many as 3″ on aerodynamic development, engine and tyres.

THE FRONT ROW

World Champions are ready to start from where they left, with Rosberg who confirmed to be very fast in Qualifying. Last year, reliability was the only Achilles’ heel, allowing us to have a different winner on three occasions (Canada, Hungary and Belgium), thanks to Daniel Ricciardo. From what we could see in the three sessions, they focused much on reliability, racing many kilometres. This could further make impossible for competitors to act.

FIRST AMONG OTHERS

Williams will be at the start as the second force of World Championship, with a slight lead over Ferrari, Red Bull, Lotus, Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso. After the excellent growing season in 2014, Mr. Frank went on to develop a simple car, but more and more reliable and streamlined aerodynamically. It will be really the second force of the Championship.

GROUP FROM TOP 10

Ferrari made an important evolutionary step, proving to be able to rely on good reliability both in terms of mechanical power unit, as well as of Sauber team. Despite the financial problems, Lotus and Force India, driven by the German engine, have impressed. In particular the VJM08, which saw the light only in the last three days of test sessions, carrying out a large number of laps (about 1600 km). Unfortunately, the serious financial problems may affect the development. Let us hope that they can find the best solution. Do not forget also Toro Rosso. Verstappen and Sainz Jr collected a lot of laps, far more than the cousins of RBR, getting important positions in standings.

THE UNKNOWN

Red Bull is the main unknown element. Among Top Teams, it seems to be late in car’s development, but I don’t think they will arrive unprepared in Australia. Just think about what happened a year ago, with the disastrous winter tests. Ricciardo was able to be on podium in Melbourne opening race, but being disqualified for a regulation that has been changed today. So, that said, I expect the World Champion Team will take part in the fight for the third row. 

SECOND LINES

The Manor (Marussia) remained in the field, giving us a grid of twenty cars, but it won’t be certainly an easy season for them. The car will be that of 2014, just with the front adapted to 2015 regulation, and, of course, they will have to fight to remain within the limit of 107%.

At the start of the season McLaren-Honda disappointed a little and seemed far behind the competitors in terms of reliability and competitiveness. Moreover, they could not rely on Fernando Alonso. We hope that all speculations about what happened at Montmelo will stop and some light will shed on this matter. With all the available technology, it is not possible not come to a certain conclusion. Everyone must know what happened. I can’t understand what the problem in saying clearly the truth. This whole story isn’t good for F1 that would need new rules and convey serenity. It’s likely to further alienate fans. To date, they have told us a lot of lies. Now is the moment of truth.

Let the show begin. Mercedes hunt can start. It’s expected to be a new really interesting season that will give us different ideas.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Kart – Great recovery for Gianni Vigorito at Adria in WSK Super Master Series

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In the opening race of WSK Super Master Series at Adria International Raceway, Gianni Vigorito became the protagonist of an important recovery. The new bearer of the OK1 Racing Team has come back to competitions last week in Gold Cup after a year absence and he is quickly finding pace and feeling with car and new team.

Because of not perfect physical conditions, he ended the Qualifying rounds with a thirty-seventh position, but showing a great recovery in the pre-final, which was closed with an eighth place in B Group.

In the Final, he recovered three more positions, ending the comeback with an encouraging thirteenth place. The top 10 is now the aim of the champion from Sturno (Campania).

“Despite my fever, I managed to make a great recovery, showing that I’m finding the right feeling with kart. Together with team, we are working in the right direction and at the moment this is certainly the most important aspect. Going on this path results will also come. We are only at the first race of the season. The championship is still very long. Now the mind is already focused towards next race on 7 Laghi circuit“, Gianni Vigorito says.

“Despite a result certainly affected by his physical condition and some misfortunes, we are happy with Gianni’s weekend and his hard-work, developing KF materials together with OK1 staff. I am sure that we will see Vigorito’s true value at Castelletto. He is growing and integrating in the best way inside Minardi Team“, Alberto Tonti, supervisor of Minardi kart comments.

Kart – Karol Basz’s victory at Adria in the WSK Super Master Series

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A week after the success in the Gold Cup, Karol Basz gives an encore also in the opening round of WSK Master Series, confirming to be the “King” of Adria International Raceway, thanks to a peremptory victory in the final, where he crosses the finish line of the twentieth lap with an advantage over 3″ on the first pursuer.

For the Polish driver of Kosmic Racing Team, this is a weekend born under the best star right from the beginning; he leads chastely his kart in top positions during the free practice sessions, gaining one win and a second place in the Qualifying that counts as first line in view of pre-final.

The first satisfaction comes at the conclusion of the sixteen laps of the pre-final, crossing the line in the lead; a prelude to the victory that will close the first round (of four) of the Series. Karol is determined more than ever to put the sign on the weekend and to start dictating a fast pace. In the eleventh passage his advantage is already more than 1″2, coming to grow to over 3″ in the twentieth lap, managing to outdistance even the fastest lap of the race with an incredible 48″013. The Polish wins the Adria International Raceway, moving to the standings’ top with a total reward of 80 points.

“Another fantastic weekend for me and the team. Once again, we have done an outstanding job that has repaid us for this clear victory, bringing us to the top of the championship. Now we have to keep pushing also in the other three appointments“, the driver of the Minardi Management, Karol Basz, says.

“We are working on driver’s constancy and Karol is reacting well, realizing what I and Giovanni Minardi are passing on him: calm and determination. Karol is proving to be a real professional kart driver, without ever getting lost of mind and accepting the challenges with his head held high ands reacting with fast laps. Outdistance inflicted on rivals in the Final speaks for itself. We must put aside quickly what happened and think about the next challenge at Castelletto. A special thanks to all the Polish and Italians sponsors who believe strongly in us“, Alberto Tonti analyzes.

The second round of the WSK Super Master Series is scheduled for March from 19th to 22nd at International Circuit 7 Laghi.

F.4 – At Monza Joao Vieira breaks the new record

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Joao Vieira goes back to the “school desks”. The scene of the new study plan s Monza, the Temple of Speed. Therefore, the approach of the young Brazilian driver of Minardi Management is going on, with the opening race of the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth, scheduled for May 3rd at Vallelunga.

The fast Monza track will host the Tatuus F.4 for the second round of the season, while Joao continues the development work on the car set up by Antonelli Motorsport team, covering over 500 kilometres, lowering the time of 2014 pole position by more than 6 dec. Last season, Joao won a final second place, accomplishing a weekend constantly at the top.

“It was a very intense and positive working day. We raced many kilometres, collecting various data that will be useful for the race weekend. We made some small changes in set-up, scoring a fastest lap time of over 6 dec than the pole of last season”, the driver of Minardi Management, Joao Vieira, says.

“I’m really very happy with the work done by Joao. He was able to close more than 90 laps, improving constantly, until the fastest lap time of the day among other Tatuus F.4 on track, as well as beating the lap time of 2014 pole. Track conditions were incredibly optimal and thus affected his performance, but we are talking about a precious result, which proves Joao’s maturity and his excellent feeling reached with car, track and team“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.

F.1 – Gian Carlo Minardi: “FIA should shed some light on Alonso's accident”

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Finally confirmation has arrived: Fernando Alonso will not race the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of March 14th-15th and scene of the opening round of Formula 1 World Championship. Alongside Jenson Button at the wheel of McLaren-Honda, then there will be the test driver and third driver Kevin Magnussen.

A communication that will increase the already numerous questions that surround the accident of February 22nd on Barcelona’s track. Fernando had been taken to hospital as a consequence of the violent concussion. Since that day, however, no certainties. The International Federation has opened a file with the aim to clear up, but to date any official communication has not been issued.

As for now, the only accused is Aeolus. “There’s need to shed light on this affair. I hope that the FIA will clear up before the start of the World Championship”, Gian Carlo Minardi says, speaking on www.minardi.it. “When we speak about safety, I expect that all the necessary checks are aim of verification. From 1994 to date, great strides have been made in this sector, but in front of this new episode might be missing something. Maybe it was underestimated the side impact or something. Until now, so many words have been wasted, but without understanding the cause of the accident. I agree on Fernando’s decision not to take part in the Grand Prix, because after a head injury, you must always observe a period of rest for about 30-40 days. In boxing, after a KO, you have to be on the bench before coming back to the ring“, Minardi analyzes. “Motor racing is a very dangerous sport and it is useless to risk running into a new accident that could bring far worse consequences“. The decision was taken in mutual agreement with the doctors who followed the Spaniard in recent days. “The fact that they allows him to continue his athletic training is certainly a good signal“. The manager from Faenza and talent scout of the Spaniard champion clamours for truth coming to light. “We owe it to drivers, teams and especially to fans“, Gian Carlo Minardi concludes.

F.1 – Workaholic Sauber in Barcelona

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After the second round of four days on Montmelò track, winter test sessions have officially ended. From next round, it will get serious. In Melbourne, it will be there real World Championship. Everyone, or nearly so, will demonstrate 100% of the potential. Almost everyone because for Mercedes its 90% could be enough for dominating the weekend.

After playing hide and seek in the first two sessions, Rosberg and Hamilton have given a preview of their potential, scoring the best chronometric results on Friday and Saturday, using only Soft tires. Therefore, with SuperSoft tires the gap will be even greater. Stopwatch in hand, we talk about a lead of 1” from the first rivals, Williams of Massa and Bottas, and we must add additional 2-3 tenths to find the rest of the group.

Looking at the data of Barcelona, the many kilometers of Sauber emerge; the team collects more than 159 laps, which is more than 2,500 km, leaving behind the rest of the group, including Ferrari. Vettel and Raikkonen still stop at 2,000 Km. This is certainly an important and positive result for Maranello, that can rely on a good reliability of the new Power-Unit.

And it’s the sam also for the German engine. The Achilles’ heel of last season at Mercedes was exactly reliability, variable which allowed to hear different anthems from the English and German ones of two bearers. According to the various laps done, we can, however, rely no more on this variable.

Just in the last three days, the new Force India VJM08-Mercedes has finally made its debut, slowed by serious financial problems. Despite everything, however, Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez managed to collect more than 360 laps – that’s to say 1680 km and 2.5 GP – demonstrating that the new car of Force India is born under the lucky star.

Still remains to identify the real potential of Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat’s Red Bull, motorized Renault, that has driven far fewer kilometers than their cousins of f the Toro Rosso-Renault. And it’s RBR that has launched in these days the new livery. After spending the winter with “camouflage”, in Melbourne it will race with the traditional livery, although on the side pods more space has been given to purple. Finally, we have McLaren-Honda, forced to numerous and long pit stops, and also slowed by Fernando Alonso’s accident, on which still linger too many doubts. Meanwhile, the official news has arrived: Alonso will not be in Melbourne. In his place, McLaren will line up Kevin Magnussen. The MP4/30-Honda collected an average of 700-800 km per session. Too few. The car shows certainly interesting solutions and once solved all the defects, they will make up for delay. Let’s not forget the leap that F1 has been able to put on track between the last test and the first race in Australia, in 2014.

Kart – Karol Basz wins the WSK Gold Cup

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After the parenthesis in Lonato Winter Cup, this weekend you the spotlights are switched on again on the WSK Series. At Adria International Raceway, the “Gold Cup” has been awarded and Karol Basz was the great protagonist, gaining the first trophy of the season.

Since the free practice sessions, the driver of Kosmic Racing Team was at his ease along the 1302 meters of the track of Rovigo, bringing the kart constantly in top positions. At the end of Qualifying sessions, he signed the fourth fastest time result, just 37 thousandths from the pole position and gaining later the victory and the second place in Qualifying Heat 1 and 2. In the third round, however, he has been unfortunately slowed by an electrical problem, forcing him to go down to last placement. With great determination and grit, he recovered, from 26th place up to the 13th place, winning the fourth place sum up the results in view of the pre-final, closed in third place, a prelude of the success in KF final. At 3:00pm the crucial challenge started, with Karol determined to gain his first success of the season. At the start he immediately gets to second position, behind the main opponent Nielsen, and the ninth passage, the Polish driver attacks peremptory, taking control of the race, winning the Gold Cup.

“This weekend everything went exactly as we had planned. Once again, the Kosmic provided me a great kart, which I made the most for winning the WSK Gold Cup. Everything was perfect. Since the beginning of the season, we have proved our potential and I’m sure that there will be new opportunities to hear playing the Polish anthem“, Karol Basz says.

“It continues Karol’s alignment on Kosmic’s work method, that is developing very well the material at their disposal. Together with Tony Kart, they are certainly the men to beat. In recent months, Karol grew a lot even mentally. He matured rapidly and you can see it both on track and before the races. Very quiet, calm and especially determined“, the Supervisor of Kart Minardi Alberto Tonti analyzes.

A very important result, in view of the first appointment in the WSK Master Series, planned for next round always at Adria International Raceway.

Winter Test, Barcelona – THE POINT… BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI

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The next appointment will be in two weeks, with the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne. Today the fourth and final day of collective test session is ended, closing effectively the winter session.

After playing hide and seek, Mercedes gave a first taste of its true potential, beating off competitors with the best time result of Nico Rosberg (1’22″792), scored the penultimate day with Soft. What will happen with the SuperSoft? I am almost certain that this car has the potential to go down under the wall of 1’22”.

The Germans are once again on another planet. Lewis and Nico will play in a separate championship, but with an important variable. If last year we could rely on flawed reliability, this year we will not even have this excuse, considering the many kilometres run in the twelve days of test. Now, it is a matter of going to Melbourne to see who will be the second and third force. At this point, thinking about hierarchies is not easy, since we don’t know the load of fuel on board.

With a delay of 1″ we have the Williams of Massa and Bottas that closed their work with the fastest time of the day. Behind them, in a range of 2-3 dec, we find Sebastian Vettel’s and Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari. Force India impressed me a lot. Whereas the new car came to light only in the last three days, Hulkenberg and Perez were able to put together nearly 1700 km, proving that VJM08-Mercedes is well set up. Not bad also Lotus, despite a crack of Maldonado caused today by a brake problem. But yesterday, Grosjean made several long runs, as well as Sauber. They surprised thanks to the number of driven kilometres and their performance. Felipe Nasr ended the day with 159 laps more, collecting the largest number of km of the four-days (exactly 2537 km). A good signal also for the engine of Maranello.

However, we arrive in Australia with several unknown elements. Red Bull hasn’t still showed its real potential, while Toro Rosso with the young Verstappen and Sainz Jr. has collected additional 2000 km.

With yesterday (February 28th), the engines has been stopped and I have the impression that most wanted to verify the reliability, making a large number of kilometres – except for McLaren. McLaren is certainly late, but it can rely on a more than valid combination. With regard to chassis, it has very interesting solutions that take time, but will soon be able to recover the gap. Alonso’s accident could have taken more time. Just about the variable of Sunday, we are waiting for answers. There are still too many unclear points about the event. When it speaks about safety, I like I’d like to shed some light on this matter. I would hate if the fact were filed by blaming everything to Aeolus. In Romagna (Italy) there is a saying: “Rumours are taken away by the wind”.

Gian Carlo Minardi