F.4 – Podium and comeback for Joao Vieira at Imola

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On the international circuit of Imola, scene of the third round of the Italian F.4 Championship Powered by Abarth, Joao Vieira has once again proved to be stronger than the bad luck and all external events which have influenced his result, right from the beginning. The Brazilian driver of Antonelli Motorsport welcomes the appointment at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit with positive third place and recovery in race-1, closing in the top-10.

During the first round of Qualifying, Joao was forced to stop at the pit for almost the entire session, because of a problem with the valve of the left rear tyre, put on incorrectly right by the tyres’ supplier, moving back to the 23rd position out of 27 drivers on the starting grid. In the second round, the Brazilian recovered the gap, signing the fourth fastest time in just 309 thousandths from pole position, despite a greater fuel load. Mindful of the great comeback in Monza, Joao did not give up and along the 4,909 m of the track, he signed another sensational comeback, finishing in ninth position in the overall standing, more 14 overtakes in just 17 laps. The podium came at the end of the weekend, in race-3, after the entry of two safety cars. “As happened in Vallelunga and Monza, even here in Imola we collected what we deserved. The weekend started with difficulties, Joao was forced to miss Qualifying-1 for a problem with the valve of a tyre, due to Pirelli’s staff. In Qualifying-2, Joao did a good job, because, despite 10 kg more fuel and a small imperfection at the Rivazza bend, he finished in the fourth position. In race-1, he completed another amazing comeback, demonstrating potential and greeting the weekend with a podium. In race-2, he tried to win the victory, but because of a mistake caused by rush, he had an accident. Unfortunately, the weekend in Imola put us out of competition for the championship, but I’m sure we will fight tooth and nail till the end, starting right from the next race, at Mugello circuit“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.

“It was a weekend conditioned by external factors, but also my mistakes, such as in race-2. These are errors that are paid and that you should not do, but that’s racing. I am very happy with the Qualifying-2, where I almost get the pole, despite a higher load of gasoline, and the recovery in race-1. Unfortunately, in race-3 I could not do more. The first two drivers were just too fast for us. I do not give up and I think about the next challenge at Mugello”, the driver of Minardi Management, Joao Vieira, says.

F.4 – Federico Iribarne and Mugello circuit: first contact

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Official testing days of the Italian Championship F.4 powered by Abarth and organized at Mugello circuit was an opportunity for Federico Iribarne to get acquainted with the international Tuscan track, continuing the work begun at Imola last week.

At the wheel of the Tatuus of Antonelli Motorsport team, the Argentine driver from Lanus, currently busy in the Metropolitan Formula Championship – accompained by former driver Miguel Angel Guerra and closely followed by the manager Giovanni Minardi, under the watchful eye of Gian Carlo Minardi – has confronted with the tricky circuit that will host the cars on July 12nd to mark the fourth round of the Tricolored F.4. For Federico, this was his second contact with the car and with the staff of Marco Antonelli. “It has been definately a positive test. He did not make mistakes, despite a tricky circuit, racing with interesting lap times and used tyres. Given the lack of experience, he failed to make the most of the new compound, but I am optimistic in view of the upcoming tests”, the manager from Faenza, Giovanni Minardi, says.

“I adapted easily to the track, managing to race on good time results, entering the top-10. Unfortunately, when I put on the new tyres, I could not make the most of the car, but it was only my second test ever. I had the chance to try two very different tracks (Mugello and Imola) and this was very important. Along with Miguel Anguel Guerra and Castor Gonzale, we will try to program the 2016”, Federico Iribarne says.

F.4 – Joao Vieira is resolute for the “home” race at Imola

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This weekend at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola the spotlights will once again switch on on the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth, for the third event on the calendar, after the appointments at Piero Taruffi circuit in Vallelunga and at Monza circuit, in the temple of speed.

For Joao Vieira, bearer of Antonelli Motorsport team, this will be his home race, whereas he lives half an hour from the race track this time of year. The beginning of the season has been characterized by some technical problems that have denied the green-gold driver to collect what he well deserved, despite the undeniable quality of sprinter, as demonstrated by the more than forty positions reassembled in the two race at Monza circuit and the podium. Right in March, during the test-day, Joao raced under the pole of last season. “I want to start from this result in order to begin the weekend as best as possible. In the first two appointments, the results were below our expectations, especially due to some technical problem, which also affected the last test at Imola “the driver of the Minardi Management, Joao Vieira, says. On Tuesday Joao was back at the wheel of the #50 Tatuus on Mugello international circuit for the collective test session that involved 21 drivers on track. “In the morning it went very well. I drove on good time results. In the afternoon session, unfortunately, I made a mistake. Crashing, I also did badly in the leg. I was then back on track, but the car was not performing as before and so was not able to improve. Now look with enthusiasm the first tests at Imola“, Joao concludes.

“We have an outstanding account with the luck and at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit we will try to recover the revenge. We have proved that we have nothing to envy to others, either for speed features and car set up. Unfortunately, we were not lucky with the engines. We’ll try to go on the hunt for the result that we are still missing, the victory, aiming to close the gap from the top positions. Outdistance is important, but the championship is still long. We left behind only two appointments“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.

Kart – Matteo Nannini: "I’m already thinking about next challenge in Lonato"

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On Friuli international circuit, scene of the seventh round of the North Rok Championship, the driver from Forlì, Matteo Nannini, lived a troubled weekend, fighting with an imperfect set-up of his kart, which kept him away from the podium.

After his podium finishes in two appointments at 7 Laghi International circuit in Castelletto di Branduzzo and the incredible comeback of Adria (from the 33th to the 13th position), Matteo greeted his fourth race in the KFJ category with a fifth and sixth place in races, results that certainly does not reflect its potential after getting acclimated quickly to pass with 125 cc. Despite the difficulties, however, the eleven-year-old driver from Forlì did not give up, getting on track with determination, showing session after session his toughness and technical capacity, recovering various positions. “It was a not happy weekend and I want to leave it behind as quickly as possible. I cannot wait to come back to race for redemption, right from next race”, Matteo Nannini says disappointed.

“We leave the Friuli with a fifth and sixth place that do not represent the real potential of Matteo, as demonstrated by the results gathered so far in KFJ. We are already thinking of the next challenge on the South Garda Karting track, scheduled for July 5th. I was pleased to see, however, a driver who continued to fight after every session”, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

Despite having missed the first three seasonal appointments, Matteo confirms his kart in the eighth position in the overall standings, with 110 points.

F.1 – Gian Carlo Minardi: “These regulations have to be changed”

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The Austrian Grand Prix will be remembered not only for the double of Mercedes, but also for the penalties imposed to McLaren, Toro Rosso and Red Bull for exceeding the maximum number of Power Unit (four per season per car). Sum it all together they have touched a record of 70 penalty positions on the grid. Even Jenson Button would have to back 25 positions (in a line-up that counts on 20 cars maximum). It gets a little better his teammates.

Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button will be forced to change again the engine in view of the Silverstone Grand Prix. Here come another 20 positions of relegation, to which further penalty will be added in the race (drive through or stop and go) whether they fail to succeed in paying them all on the grid. “At this rate McLaren will eventually serve it penalties in the next season. It’s definitely a crazy and too complicated regulation“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “Fans can’t understand anything and this leads to a dangerous leaving. These regulations should be rewritten and revised. Look what happened to Maldonado. He lost control of his Lotus in the straight out of the wake“. Alain Prost was of the same opinion: “This aspect of the regulation should be changed. The driver has already been penalized because he could not finish the race or qualifying. And he has even to undergo an additional penalty”. Jean Alesi: “Who wrote these rules wants the ruin the Formula 1. Just need to talk to the fans in order to understand how much the public is moving away. To know the rules, it takes a degree in engineering … ” and Carlos Sainz following his son: “People no longer understands what are the criteria that determines the line-up. The rules of Formula 1 are too complicated”.

F.1 – Austrian Gp: DRIVERS’ SCORECARDS

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Nico Rosberg – 9 Like the team mate, in Qualifying he made a mistake, which probably cost him the pole position. He get back a lot in the race, overtaking against Hamilton at the start, flying to the victory by scoring the fastest lap of the race.

Lewis Hamilton – 7.5 Unfortunately the three errors (in Q3, at the start and exiting the pit) play against him, considering the technical potential available. Perhaps this supremacy of Mercedes is the cause of the distractions. It brings the two drivers to exceed and fall into errors. The championship will be played certainly between them and their respective mistakes.

Felipe Massa – 8.5 Good race for him, who successfully defended the third position thanks to his experience, eliminating the technical difference with the Ferrari that managed to close the gap.

Sebastian Vettel – 8.5 What happened in the pits is certainly not his fault. Author of a perfect weekend, he suffered a problem of construction that had already slowed Raikkonen early in the season. After recovering Massa, he failed to pass him, even because of Mercedes PU’s the supremacy.

Nico Hulkenberg – 7.5 Nice weekend and a good race for him, who ended with important points and the sixth place for Force India, which extends its lead over competitors.

Pastor Maldonado – 7.5 Once again he gave us a great show, losing control of his car on the straight, and then retrieve it. He prevailed over Verstappen.

Max Verstappen – 7 He lost the comparison with Maldonado, but he brought new points to Toro Rosso. His overtakings were exciting, without making mistakes. He is up to this F1 despite his young age.

Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo – 7 They have fought bringing home important points for their teams. Sergio Perez closed an important comeback with two points that complete the good weekend of Force India. Daniel Ricciardo was the last of the top-10, despite Red Bull in difficulty on the straights because of Renault.

Kimi Raikkonen – 4 Like in Canada, he lost control of the car, after being eliminated in Qualifying and starting from the back rows.

The situation at McLaren-Honda was very difficult. For the team, it will not be easy to convince new sponsors and I do not know how long Honda can economically support McLaren. To date, we haven’t seen improvements. On the opposite side, the team with Mercedes engine have resumed oxygen. In the top-10 we find seven teams with German PU and only one Ferrari, one Toro Rosso and one Red Bull.

F.1 – Legends Parade: Pierluigi Martini “Time is as it he had stopped”

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The Legends Parade is an appointment that is getting closer to the heart of all fans that experience the Austrian Grand Prix of Formula 1.

After the inaugural event last year, with the return of the Circus in the green heart of Styria, thanks to Red Bull and its owner, this year the event tied to the past has attracted the attention of fans, thanks to the presence of the turbo open-wheels of the ‘80s and the drivers that have made great this sport. Together with Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Lotus with the protagonists of that time (Niki Lauda, Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet, Riccardo Patrese, Gerhard Berger, Christian Danner and Jean Alesi), there could not miss the colours of the Minardi team.

Pierluigi Martini, at the wheel of the Minardi M186 of  the collector Mr. Frits Van Eerd, gave new life to the colors of the team founded by Gian Carlo Minardi and lasted for over 100 Gp. “It has been a fantastic event and I have immediately relived wonderful feeling. Once I get into in the cockpit, it was as if time had stopped. I felt young again“, Pierluigi Martini comments with enthusiasm.  “I have immediately felt at ease. What a pity not having been able to get the top speed, because after a few kilometres we gave a fireworks show with the explosion of our turbo engine “, Pierluigi says smiling. “It was really pleasant to laugh and joke with all the other drivers, recalling past events. Even the public response was fantastic. This is an experience to be repeated more often and these are the right initiatives that the public and the fans appreciate“.

“Once again I have to congratulate Red Bull for the organization and for the success of this event which is entering by force in the hearts of fans“, Gian Carlo Minardi says, coming back from Austria. “I had the chance to relive wonderful moments of my past, reviewing some cars that have colored the ‘80s with their drivers, along with those people who have made the history of motor racing, such as Mrs. Brenda, Secretary of Mr. Enzo Ferrari, or Paul Roche, the “father” of the BMW engines. A special thanks to a friend and the collector Mr. Frits Van Eerd for having made available to all fans and to Piero his Minardi M186“, concludes the manager Faenza.

Kart – Stunning recovery for Karol Basz in the UK

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It was a weekend from mood swings to Karol Basz, busy at the PFI international circuit in the UK for the second round of the European CIK-FIA Championship KF category, which will end in Sweden on July 26th in Kristianstad.

The English weekend of the driver from Krakow started under the best star, achieving firmly the top positions in the four free practice sessions, before going back to the twentieth position for a problem of set-up in the Qualifying session and affecting the results in the two rounds of the Qualifying Heat because of some impetuous Anglo-Saxon drivers. With determination and stubbornness the bearer of the Kosmic Racing Team took revenge in the 3-4 Qualifying Heat by winning the top-four. In the pre-final, thanks to a stunning comeback – missing the fastest lap for only 50 milliseconds – Karol was able to recover ten positions, closing in the top-ten and proving that the available material was no less to anyone and continues to be at the top. In Final, unfortunately, a problem with the front brake limited another possible comeback of Karol, who had to be satisfied with the eighth final position. “It was a weekend in which the bad luck and the aggressiveness of certain drivers have denied Karol chance to win a deserved podium. During the free practice sessions he had proven to be part of the race, but a small problem in Qualifying and the English driver made him go back to the group. Karol is a very good driver in the development and in the race pace, as proved by the great comeback in the pre-final in a hellish battle and the lap times. Our mind is already turned to the last appointment, in Sweden, where we would like to close with a good podium and a win“, Alberto Tonti analyses.

“The English weekend did not go as we would have expected, especially after the results gained in practice sessions. In the pre-final, I enjoyed very much to recover, completing ten overtakings. Unfortunately in the Final, I had a problem to the front brake right from the beginning, then I was forced to close in eighth position”, the driver of the Minardi Management Karol Basz says.

Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox

F.1 – Austrian Gp: THE POINT… by Gian Carlo Minardi

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The Austrian Grand Prix ends quickly with the new Mercedes’ double. This time, Nico Rosberg win over his teammate that closes in second position, before Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel.

Nico Rosberg was perfect throughout the weekend, taking the lead of the race a few meters away from the start, leaving behind Lewis and the Ferrari driver, maintaining the first position until the end. As we expected, the two Mercedes were the focus of the whole race, with Vettel trying to keep up the pace, racing constantly with interesting chronometric results, just a few tenths behind Hamilton.

The pit stops of the top-four were opened by Nico Rosberg at the 34th lap, followed by Massa, Hamilton and Vettel, who stopped to switch to the yellow-Soft compound at the 37th lap. He slipped the change of the podium because of a problem with the right rear tyre, which is repeated for the second time this year, finishing behind the former Ferrari driver. It was not a perfect stop also for the World Champion, who touched the white line getting back on track. As on Saturday in Q3, Hamilton committed some imprecisions under pression, but they were just painless mistakes, because the 5” penalty guaranteed a second place, given the good lead over Williams. Thanks to the soft tires, Rosberg also signed the fastest lap in the race, with a 1.11.235.

Sebastian Vettel, with the only Ferrari remained in the race after Raikkonen and Alonso’s crash in the early stages, tried to go for broke to close at 6 dec from Massa, ahead of Bottas, Hulkenberg, Maldonado, Verstappen, Perez and Ricciardo.

We experienced a very exciting comeback with Sergio Perez that recovered till the ninth position. Hulkenberg’s sixth placement completed the great weekend of Force India. Toro Rosso gained again important points through Max Verstappen, the author of an amazing overtaking against Kvyat’s Red Bull, which closed the race in the eighth position, with Daniel Ricciardo who gave up also to Pastor Maldonado’s Lotus in the long straights of the Ring.

This will be a grand Prix to be remembered for the record of penalties (70 positions in total) given to the drivers of McLaren, Toro Rosso and Red Bull for Power Unit’s replacement. Some of them turned into drive-through and stop&go of 10 seconds. A record that could be beaten again and let us understand the problems of Honda and Renault, making race’s results difficult to read for all fans.

Also this year the Legends Parade took place, dedicated to the 80’s turbo cars. I experienced wonderful moments of my past, reviewing some cars that have colored the 80’s with the drivers who made history, such as Lauda, Piquet, Prost, Alesi, Patrese and our Pierluigi Martini, at the wheel of the Minardi M186. Together with them, there were also the actors of motorsport history as Brenda, the Secretary of Mr. Enzo Ferrari and the “father” of BMW engines, Paul Roche. Congratulations and thank to Red Bull for making the public relive these incredible emotions.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – Focus Ring

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With drivers’ press conference the spotlights on the Austrian Grand Prix switch on. Since last year the owner of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz, strongly wanted to return the Circus in the region of Styria, Austria has once again become an important event for the World Championship.

The track of Spielberg is 4,326 meters long and presents significant differences in height 677 meters above sea level, being positioned on the hillside, in the green heart of Styria.

The Red Bull Ring has four zones where the engine is very important, with three slow corners and a good guided segment. It requires a medium/high downforce and the asphalt is little abrasive. Soft tyres are the best choice for maximum grip. Here’s the Pirelli, for the third consecutive Grand Prix, leading the Soft and Supersoft.

The most critical point is engine cooling, due to track altitude, together with brakes, because there are outdistance sections that put a strain on the system. Be careful to fuel consumption: on paper every 100 kg/h allowed by regulation (when the motor exceeds 10,500 rpm rotation) are needed.

THE NUMBERS OF THE RED BULL RING
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Location: Spielberg
Laps: 71
Length: 4,326 meters
Altitude: 677-736 m above sea level

F.1 – Antonio Fuoco debuts on the SF-15T during the Austrian test sessions

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During the test session, which will take place on Spielberg circuit, the week after the Austrian Grand Prix, the Ferrari Driver Academy’s driver Antonio Fuoco will sign his debut at the wheel of the Ferrari SF-15T. For the 19-year-old Calabrian driver involved in GP3 with Carlin team, this will be the debut in an official test of Formula 1.

Antonio will get into the cockpit on Tuesday 23rd and then pass the wheel the next day to the third driver of Scuderia Ferrari, Esteban Gutiérrez. “I am very happy with this news. The FDA program is very ambitious. I am convinced that Vettel’s next team-mate will arrive exactly from the Academy”, Gian Carlo Minardi commented few weeks ago, during the interview for his website minardi.it. “It would be interesting to a lean young to grow, that does not require large investments, diverting the latter on the development of the complex technical”.

For some time the manager from Faenza hopes a return to test sessions open to young drivers, perhaps even on Fridays of Grand Prix races, just a few years ago. “Do not forget that from the free practice sessions on Friday morning open to rookies emerged drivers like Sebastian Vettel – four times world champion – and Robert Kubica, just to name two. This proves that when people who know F.1 environment propose rules, something good is done. This is why I insist that within the Federation competent technicians involved in the team should intervene. Formula 1 should be run by the FIA, for the drafting of technical and sporting regulations, and by the FOA, with regard to communication and promotion. But today we have a Strategy-Group consisting directly from F1 teams, where everyone rightly furthers his own cause.

F.4 Italia – 400 km for Federico Iribarne’s debut at Imola

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On the track named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari in Imola, Federico Iribarne – class of 1998, from Lanus (Buenos Aires) – signed his debut in Italy and at the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport team’s Formula 4, completing the first days of the programmed test sessions, with over 400 kilometres driven.

For Federico, it was the first race out in the Old Country, having grown up in Argentina, where he engaged in the 2015 Metropolitan Formula Championship.

Thanks to the strong friendship between Argentina and the Minardi family, alongside with a former Argentine driver, Miguel Angel Guerra, Federico is followed step by step by the manager Giovanni Minardi, under the watchful eye of Gian Carlo Minardi. Federico stood out by scoring excellent chronometric results on track, racing close to the best lap signed by the current leader Guan Yu Zhou. A training day in view of the upcoming program for June 23rd at Mugello circuit.

“It was a really good day and I’m satisfied with my result. For me, it was all completely new. Car, team and track. I had a chance to drive a lot of laps, even if I found a lot of traffic and the red flag exactly in the moment when I put on new tyres. At Mugello I can take advantage of this experience, to take a further step forward“, Federico Iribarne says.

“I was really surprised seeing the work done by Federico. It was a debut on a demanding track, such as Imola. He managed to improve lap after lap, stopping the clock on ‘1.47.7. Unfortunately he found traffic and the red flags waved just when just when he put on the new set of tyres. Otherwise, he could further lower his time lap. I am very confident for the next scheduled appointment on another selective track such as Mugello“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

F.1 – In Austria the Minardi M186 comes back to thunder with Pierluigi Martini

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We are getting closer to the Austrian Grand Prix and the Legends Parade, which takes place together with the eighth round of the season. Last year, the protagonists were the nine Austrian drivers with a past in the World Championship; among them, there was Patrick Friesacher, at the wheel of the Minardi PS04B of 2005. This year the main theme will be the open-wheels with turbo engines of the’80s and, once again, Minardi’s colours will be present on track both with a car and a driver.

Together with the ’84 and ’85 McLarens, the Ferrari F1-87/88C, the Renault RE50-03 and the Lotus 98T will parade also the Minardi M186 powered by Motori Moderni of Andrea de Cesaris and Alessandro Nannini. For the occasion, Pierluigi Martini that with the team of Gian Carlo Minardi has covered more than 100 Grand Prix in eight seasons (from 1985 to 1995) will be at the wheel of the car. “I am honoured that, once again, a car of the Minardi Team has been chosen for the parade and I have to thank my friend Frits Van Eerd, for having made available the car. It will also be amazing to see the double Minardi-Martini. To me, all drivers were important, because they helped write the story of the Minardi Team, but certainly “Piero” deserves a special place, having raced with me over 100 Gp“, Gian Carlo Minardi comments.

For Pierluigi Martini, it will be a return into the cockpit of an open-wheel, after the experienced that took place in 2006, during the Gp Masters. We like to remember that in the palmares of the driver from Romagna stands out the victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1999) at the wheel of the BMW V12 LMR. “I really do not know what to expect. It will be surely a wonderful experience, being able to be back at the wheel of those cars. I don’t drive an open-wheel since 2006. It will be the right opportunity to understand how much crazy I was to race in those years”, Pierluigi Martini says, smiling.

Pierluigi has promised that will tell us all the feelings he experienced after the event. Then, see you after the Austrian Grand Prix.