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

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First European weekend marked by Mercedes, thanks to Nico Rosberg, who was the best driver on track, managing to do well in all sessions, winning the pole and gaining the final victory. Hamilton has left only the satisfaction of the fastest lap, with a 1’28″270 at the 54th passage. It is an exceptional time, which proves all the potential of hi car. He hoped to recover the 13″ that still outdistanced him from Rosberg, who was racing between 1’29 and 1’30. Mercedes closed the weekend leaving behind Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari with 45″. Last year Daniel Ricciardo (third with RB) had suffered a gap of 49″.

Ferrari was able to start in front, thanks to the German driver, trying to optimize the new aerodynamic package, still showing, however, a heavy lead as Maurizio Arrivabene himself pointed out after the race. As there was no chance to try, it was fine to diversify the cars. Despite this fact, the gap between Seb and Kimi was quite reduced. Therefore, in the coming days during collective test sessions they will try to develop and review the work done.

The forces in field have complied with Mercedes-Ferrari-Williams to lead the group. Bottas did well, keeping Kimi behind his car and just for 1” Kimi failed to overtake his compatriot. Good race also for Red Bull, author of a troubled weekend – as recently happened –, Romain Grosjean, who gained important points for Lotus and Toro Rosso thanks to the ninth position of Carlos Sainz Jr. The team of Faenza made us dream during Qualifying, monopolizing the third row with the fifth lap of the Spanish driver and the sixth of Verstappen. Correct not to penalize the Spaniard for the contact with Daniil Kvyat, because it was a normal racing incident.

Then there was also ACI Team Italia event, which started with his bearers Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello busy in GP3 and GP2 with Trident team. There was immediately a pole position and a second placement in Race 1 for Ghiotto, who greet the opening weekend with third place in standings. Marciello suffered even though he did well in winning important points for the championship in the first European event. ACI Team Italia is only the latest step in a major project that follows and promotes the Italian drivers with the aim of bringing our bearer in Formula 1.

Gian Carlo Minardi

 
 
 
 

From Campos to Sainz Jr.: the Faenza-Spain's axis

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Speaking about the Spanish Grand Prix, we can not forget Faenza-Spain’s axis, a twinning grown stronger and stronger over the years, through every Spanish driver, without only Pedro De La Rosa. The Minardi team led the way in 1987 hiring Adrian Campos. Today the baton has passed to Scuderia Toro Rosso, which can rely in its ranks on Carlos Sainz Jr., paired with the Dutchman Verstappen.

After its debut at the wheel of the M187, with its fourteenth placement as the best result exactly in Spain, Adrian Campos stopped in Faenza also the following season, along with Luis Perez Sala, before leaving the wheel of the M188 to Pierluigi Martini. For the team managed by Gian Carlo Minardi these were the first years in Formula 1 World Championship with its debut in 1985, but already in Detroit the first championship point was celebrated, thank to the sixth positiona of the manger from Romagna.

We arrive to the late 90’s and early 2000 with Marc Gené and Fernando Alonso. Before moving into Williams’ ranks ans then  Ferrari as test driver, Gené defends the colors of the Minardi team in the 1999 and 2000 seasons, together with Luca Badoer and Gaston Mazzacane, winning points in the European Grand Prix at the wheel of the M01 with Ford engine, before passing the baton to his compatriot and future bi-world champion Fernando Alonso. The last Minardi’s Spanish driver was Antonio Garcia, who in 2002 fallen was at the wheel of Mark Webber’s PS02 for a test-drive, before moving successfully in competitions. In his record of achievements, it appeared in fact the ninth place in the WTCC ’05, along with 2008-2009-2011 victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the wheel of Aston Martin and Corvette and 2009-2015 successes in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Considering the TR, 2009 was the year of Jaime Alguersuari and this year of son Carlos Sainz Jr. “They were really many Spanish drivers and I am pleased that since the Minardi Team signed his F1 debut in 1985, all drivers, except one, are passed to Faenza. For Minardi Team, along with Monza and Imola, the Spanish GP was the house race“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “I have wonderful memories of both Spanish fans and drivers, an I am still in good terms with them. The last Spanish arrived in Faenza is Sainz Jr; he has all the skills to do well. I hope he’ll have better luck than his proceeded Alguersuari, victim of RB’s mistakes. In 2006, I attended his debut in Formula, at Imola: pole, victory and fastest lap in both races. I thought about a future in F1, that there has been, bout too short“, the manager from Faenza concludes. He will in Barcelona to follow also Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello, busy in GP3 and GP2 as bearers of ACI Team Italia.

F.1 – Road to Barcelona

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The Spanish Grand Prix is traditionally an important sign for season’s performances. In these three weeks of apparent silence all big teams have worked to bring to Barcelona the developments they’ve studied, both on chassis and power-unit.

Rumors speak about an improvement of 3/4 tenths for Ferrari, but only the circuit will give us the final report. Mercedes has still frozen the engines, while Ferrari and Williams have worked on all fronts. Unfortunately, we read too little of Lotus, Sauber, Force India and Toro Rosso. This signal is not positive.

Therefore, Formula 1 prepares his arrival in the old country, with Hard and Medium compounds. A good test for tyres, on an abrasive track characterized by lateral forces that don’t stress just stress just tyres. We’ll see if Mercedes will be able – as I believe – to maintain its leadership and if Maranello confirms his second place at Williams’ expenses.

Behind the top four driver, there’s battle for the fifth position. Excluding Manor – for obvious reasons – they are all very close. It will be interesting to follow their battles. As I mentioned in recent weeks, the days following Barcelona GP will be crucial, with several boards of directors at Renault-BMW-Audi, which could reorganize the F.1. We also have Mr. Red Bull eager to join Bernie Ecclestone’s CVC. It could trigger a vortex.

With regard to Spain, I have to talk about the Spanish drivers and the Spain-Faenza’s axis. With the exception of Pedro De La Rosa, every Spanish F.1 driver started from Faenza, and many of them from the Minardi team. We start in ’87 -’88 with Adrian Campo and Sala in the ’88 -’89 season, to get to Marc Gene in 1999-2000, Fernando Alonso in 2000-2001 and Antonio Garcia who tried with us in 2002. Moving to Toro Rosso in 2009, Alguersuari arrived, till today with Sainz Jr. For Minardi Team, along with Monza and Imola, the Spanish GP was a little ‘house’ race. I do have a very good relationship with all the drivers who still meet gladly.

With Barcelona also the preliminary series are getting going. GP2 will reach its second appointment, while the spotlights will switch on GP3. The ACI Team Italia with Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello will start; they are both Trident bearer respectively in GP3 and GP2. I’ll be personally in Barcelona to closely observe our young drivers and see what device put to use in order to enhance their growth. It’s a very important step of the work planned by Aci-Sport.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.4 – Joao Vieira, a second place to start the Championship

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This result is certainly not enough for Joao Vieira and the team of Antonelli Motorsport at Vallelunga circuit, scene of the opening round of the second season of the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth.

The first racing weekend started under the best star for the yellow-gold Brazilian driver from Gurupi, leading his Tatuus #50 in the top positions and taking the lead in the second free practice session, prelude to the P3 and P2 won in two rounds of Qualifying, valid for race 1 and race 3. In the opening race Joao signed his first podium, thanks to the second place at the end of 28 ‘+ 1 lap of the race, followed by a good fourth in the sprint-race. With the rule of grid inversion, the driver managed by Minardi Management moved from the ninth position, succeeding in a great comeback in just 13 laps, getting to the foot of the podium and confirming the second place in the drivers’ standings, with 24 points. The biggest regret comes in race 3. The staff of Marco Antonelli is forced to change the Abarth engine, but Tatuus performances are no longer the same. A good battles with David Alexander Beckmann began: the Russian driver tried to overcome several times the Brazilian, until, unfortunately, the contact, which penalized Vieira with a drive-through, closing in twelfth place and out of the score zone.

“The biggest regret is what happened in race 3. I do not find correct the drive-through that has been assigned me. Commissioners saw the video, but there was nothing to do. Unfortunately, it cost me a third / fourth place. Important points in the championship. A real shame. It will be a hard-fought championship, but we have proven to be there for the victory too. Now, I wait for Monza for the speedy redemption. We are only at the first of seven rounds. The season is still long“, Joao Vieira says.

“Up to race 2, the weekend was going in the right way. Joao proved to be among the fastest drivers on track, managing to win the second place in race 1, putting together a good recovery in race 2. Unfortunately, the result of race 3 leaves us a very bad taste in mouth. Between race 2 and race 3, the team had to change Joao’s engine. Being a new unit, it was still to test and therefore not 100%. Unfortunately, there’s been the drive-through that has denied a final fourth place and, consequently, important points for the championship. Honestly, we do not agree with this decision, but we accept it and we remain focused in view of the appointment of Monza “, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

Next round of the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth is scheduled in Monza, for the weekend of May 31st.

F.4 – Joao Vieira is determined visiting Vallelunga circuit

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Vallelunga Circuit is ready to get up the curtain on the second edition of the F.4 Italian Championship powered by Abarth. Among the major players, along with about 25 cars, there will also Joao Vieira who will appear at the start of the big favourites.

The yellow-gold bearer of Antonelli Motorsport get to the first of seven Racing weekends after several months of training, both athletic and on track, gaining the new record at Monza and Imola. In the last test session, just along the 4,085 mt of “Piero Taruffi” circuit, Joao excelled with his Tatuus F.4, ranking leaving the top of the second day, slowed only by a gearbox problem. “I can not wait to get on track for the first free practice session. Since that time, it will be true Championship. The season will begin. My goal, and that of the whole team, will be start with the right foot and pointing to the title will certainly not be easy though. I can count on one more year of experience, knowing curves, car and team. The novelty compared to 2014 will only Franciacorta and Misano circuits. I had the opportunity to learn about the MWC during a test day”, the driver of Minardi Management, Joao Vieira, comments. For pleasantries, Franciacorta were sent back.

“Finally we start, after many kilometres on track and so many hours of training in and outside the centre where he trains. From what I’ve seen in recent months working with Joao, he is ready to fight for the championship win. We do not know the true values of the Championship, because during testing we did not get to all join together on track, but I’m sure both Joao Antonelli and the team are ready for the first challenge“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

The appointment of the inaugural Formula 4 Italy will start Friday, May 1st with the two free practice sessions of 30’each, in preparation of the two Qualifying rounds on Saturday (9:10am and 9:35am), crucial for the deployment of the two races from 28′ + 1 lap (Saturday at 02:10 pm and Sunday at 02:20pm). Traffic lights of spint-race of 18 ‘+ 1 lap will switch off instead on Sunday morning at 9:00am.

Formula 1 of tomorrow

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The current grid of Formula 1 Grand Prix is composed of: four engine suppliers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault, Honda), three constructors (Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren) and seven private teams (Williams, Force India, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Lotus, Manor).

But the scene may change soon. Here’s how and why.

Renault: The days after the Spanish Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of May 10th, an Extraordinary Board of Directors will be organized directly by the Chairman and CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, who will speak about the situation Renault in F1. At this point, three different ways can be opened: leave the Circus, get in first buying a team or raise technically a Power-Unit that is currently not up to competitors.

Audi: the group is facing a historic transition. Ferdinand Piech, Chairman and major shareholder of the group, resigned because of internal conflicts. This means that there may be internal struggles that call Piech into discussion. Mr. Ferdinand was not against Bernie Ecclestone, as rumours said in these months, but the current F1 didn’t suit him. What will be the new strategies? Will Audi be interested in buying Red Bull Racing?

BMW: in mid-May, the German company will have a new CEO in the person of Mr. Kruger a technician with great experience in motorsport. This is a signal to raise again the brand in a world like that of F1, although it is much talked and denigrated, it has great attraction, increasing the brand.

Formula 1 in the coming weeks could change things both technically and politically. In this period Circus seems lethargic. But will be really this way? Do Bernie Ecclestone and Dietrich Mateschitz know something more? For several months it’s talking about a future Mr. Red Bull highly interested in buying CVC’s stocks. If that were so, he would be forced to leave the two teams (RBR and TR). Is it a coincidence that these rumours come out right now? Mateschitz has always said that F1 is a business fro him, being a marketing man. A very interesting scenario. A new breath of fresh air. We have a practical example. After purchasing the old Zeltweg circuit, he has been able to restructure and relaunch it. Last year, Red Bull Ring has experienced one of the most beautiful grand prix of the season, with lawns and bustling terraces and many initiatives. This year could be even better.

Well, maybe we’re in front of a big change.

Kart – Gianni Vigorito improved his feeling with KZ2 in Sarno

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On the international circuit of Sarno, scene of the fourth and final round of the WSK Super Master Series Championship, Gianni Vigorito improved his feeling with the new material of OK1 Racing Team in the selective KZ2, started in La Conca.

The talented driver from Sturno worked on the basis of future plans, to program after graduation in Human Sciences, but with the mind turned to the World Championship and especially to 2016, whose objective is to be present on track with greater consistency, to face all main commitments. Undeterred, Gianni has struggled with determination, collecting useful information both for him and the team. “It’s been certainly a not easy weekend, full of pitfalls. In Qualifying, I achieved the seventeenth place, after suffering a rupture in the clutch. It was important to race so many laps, collecting useful information in this category, which includes drivers with great experience worldwide“, Gianni Vigorito says.

“Gianni is proving to have a good base on which work. He signed his passage in KZ2 and La Conca and Sarno’s appointment was an opportunity to continue its improvement with new material. We speak of a category in which there are “legends” of karting, with worldwide experience. Together with his team, we will try to program future commitments, considering also the graduation. Gianni is certainly a driver who would need to run constantly to show his value“, Alberto Tonti analyses.

Photo: Alex Racebox

Kart – Second placement for Karol Basz in WSK Master in view of FIA-CIK

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After the triumph in the WSK Gold Cup and the successes in the first two appointments of the WSK Super Master Series at Adria and Castelletto, Karol Basz ended the fourth, and final, round of the championship with second overall place. A victory escaped only at the last race, after leading the standings since the first day.

A result that will give to the Polish driver of Kosmic Racing Team the right grit and determination for next event in Portimao – Portugal – in the first racing weekend of the European Championship.

On the international circuit of Sarno, Karol was on track among the favourites, bringing the material of Kosmic in the top positions, winning the third, second and fifth place in Qualifying Heat. “It’s been a difficult weekend for us, perhaps the most difficult since the beginning of the season. In the first two days I have been very fast. Unfortunately, we were not able to repeat. I do not understand why. We hope to solve our problems in preparation for the first round of the European Championship”, Karol Basz, the Minardi driver Management, says.

“It’s certainly not the ending we had in mind, but I’m glad for the work done in these first months of the year. The victory in the Gold Cup and the second place in Master Series are a great business card for the European and World Championships. It’s certainly a lesson of maturity that will let Karol grow even more. The Final was a good race, raced with determination. But we were not very happy with the 10″ of penalty inflicted to Karol, but races means also this and we accept the verdict“, Alberto Tonti says.

“I’m disappointed for the second place of Karol, since he deserved the victory. I’m very pleased with his work. I am sure that both in the European and World Championships we will be among the protagonists”, Giovanni Minardi comments.

Karol is now back at the wheel of his kart for two days of testing on Sarno’s track with Bridgestone, before flying to Portugal to test the material in view of the first test of the European Championship, planned for the weekend of May 10th.

Photo: Alex Racebox

F.1 – Minardi: “Simplest cars and battles and not 1000 hp”

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From the analysis of the first four races of the season, a huge mix of the forces on track emerged, compared to only twelve months ago: + 55 points at Ferrari – from fourth to second force of the World Championship, +19 Sauber and +12 Lotus balanced out the negative signs at McLaren (-43 points), Red Bull (-34) and Force India (-43), due to the technical crisis of two manufacturers Renault and Honda, but not only as in case of team of Vijay Mallya.

Despite the confirmation of the line-up and power-unit supplier (Mercedes) they get to eighth place, with only eleven points. The fault lies in the economic crisis, which is touching most of the grid. “Today, only five teams can save themselves financially and this can not and should not go unnoticed. It’s definitely useless and ridiculous to talk about engines with 1,000 hp or reintroduce supplies of gasoline, which can only complicate the studying of races as well as increasing costs again. To get out of this crisis, there’s need of well-defined programs, intervening on technical and sporting regulations”, Gian Carlo Minardi analyses at the microphones of www.minardi.it.

“I agree, although I do not share, the use of these complicated and expensive power-units in Formula 1, because I think the most correct scene is the WEC World Endurance Championship. Take a step back, towards the aspirated engines, in my opinion is complicated, because from 2020 the future of  mass-production cars will be facing the hybrid, the energy recovery and less polluting turbo engines. The high costs that the private teams have to consider do not work. A PU absorbs almost one/third of the entire budget for the majority of the teams. A truly unsustainable system, that today we are touching with hand“, the manager from Faenza continues. He suggests introducing cars with an easier aerodynamics that highlights the quality of the driver, without too much help.

“The DRS is useless, because it is a technology that will never find a place in mass-production cars. Would we like to about how wings have become complicated and burdensome? More than 100,000 € for a single front wing is not an enormous cost? It would be better to have simpler aerodynamics that allow overtakings on track, and not only through box’ strategies or the mandatory use of two compounds. If we now reintroduce also the supply element, we are really okay … Today we are looking at cars that “suffer” getting too close to those that are in front. It is not normal“.

It’s time to take remedial actions with serious and fast solutions. You have to attract fans with races full of overtakings and battles without any new-fangled technologies. We must find new trademarks. Today, everyone regret the duels of Villeneuve-Arnoux or, going further in time, to duel between Schumacher and Hakkinen at Spa-Francorchamps. F.1 must once again become the racing car of dreams, perhaps through wider tyres, aerodynamics that allows exploiting the wake, and why not, even using less mechanics during the pit-stop. One person for tyre could create more suspense.

Instead of just hearing about strategies and tires, it would be better to tell the duels with more suspense? “We have to take remedial actions. Do not forget that the problems at Renault are touching two teams that are financially solid, such as Red Bull and Toro Rosso. I hate to think how the future will be for those teams that already are out of breath ..” And we left behind only four of the nineteen appointments … An atmosphere almost like that of Alfred Hitchcock!

Kart – Positive start of Riccardo Negro in the FIA-CIK KZ2

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Removed the rust with the appointment in the opening round of WSK Super Master Series at Adria International Raceway in March, after a year of stop, for Riccardo Negro the doors of the CIK-FIA KZ2 European Championship are now opened, waiting for completing the programs for the 2015 season.

On the international circuit of Sarno and at the wheel of a semi-official material of CRG developed by Renda Motorsport team of Antonio Renda, Riccardo completed the first of three events that colour the European championship, before moving to Spain and later in Belgium. Despite the difficulties, in the rows of the Qualifying Heat, he won consistently the top-seven, out of the top-10 only in the third round and closing with the twenty-first position in standings, among 60 participants. In the final, he brought on track all his tenacity, managing to replace more than ten positions, moving in just 16 laps from the 24th position to the final twelfth, winning the first points, leaving behind official drivers.

“It was an important weekend because it gave me the chance to return to lead in a European event, after the opening round of the WSK at Adria. It was a weekend characterized by some difficulties, but nevertheless I managed to recover several positions, especially in the Final. Unfortunately, when you start behind, recovering is more difficult, especially when your pace is virtually identical to that of the former driver. In addition, Sarno track does not facilitate much overtakings, being a fast track“, the driver of Minardi Management, Riccardo Negro, comments.

“I am satisfied with Riccardo’s work, who is back to lead after more than a month of stop. He’s a guy with great quality that brings out also for his technical expertise. He managed to best interpret the combination chassis-LeCont tyres. In Finale won an important twelfth proving to par, if not superior, to many factory riders. Despite the inactivity, I am also impressed by his physical training. The results come out race to race and in Spain he will already make the leap in quality“, Alberto Tonti analyses.

Next appointment in the weekend of May 24th at Zuera, with the second round of the FIA-CIK KZ2 European championship.

Kart – Debut with podium for Matteo Nannini in KFJ

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There could not be a better debut for the young Matteo Nannini in class KFJ. Busy at the International Circuit 7 Laghi in Castelletto di Branduzzo, the driver from Forlì signed with an excellent third place its first week-end with 125 Energy, prepared by the New Energy Technology of Fabio Urgnani.

After ending the Rok 60 with the second place of Nizza Monferrato in March, Matteo is not intimidated by the new drivers of the championship, scoring two spectacular overtaking on curves and signing the fastest time in the Final 50″444 with a average speed just below 83 km/h, showing also good athletic training. In the final he started from the sixth position and he closed his first appearance in KFJ in the North Rok Championship with an important third place, at the end of 18 laps. “I’m really happy with this first podium. I adapted quickly to the new kart and I also did not suffer physically. The KFJ is a much fought and challenging category. I enjoyed it a lot, especially in the two overtakings in the final, scoring the fastest lap of the race”, the driver of Minardi Management, Matteo Nannini, says.

“I am very happy with the onset of Matteo in KF, although this third podium is not a surprise. I was sure he would be immediately competitive and the podium is a confirmation. The most important aspect is how he achieved this result, with a double overtake on a circuit where overtaking is not granted. Bravo Matteo!” the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

The weekend of May 10th, Matteo will come back again in action in Pavia for the fifth appointment, the second in KFJ championship.

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

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We have just experienced a Grand Prix that at the beginning of this year was almost unexpected, even if the forces involved are at the moment Mercedes-Ferrari-Williams with a German Power-Unit command, as shown by Vettel-Bottas battle. Sebastian proved, once again, to be among the fastest of the Circus in lap time under the wall of 1’33 in Qualifying only with Hamilton.

The first three rows of the grid reflected very well the current values on track. We are experiencing a Formula 1 where the slightest mistake is paid heavily. We saw this especially with Rosberg and Vettel. The match was played on strategies – excellent especially for Raikkonen –, on all mistakes that drivers could commit and on reliability. Mercedes in the last laps suffered of brake problems, as stated after the race by Nico himself. With one-two laps more, Kimi could attack Lewis. The Finn was extraordinary, managing masterfully both the Soft and Medium tyres. Vettel, instead, paid the two mistakes, passing from the 2nd to the 5th final placement.

Mercedes confirms itself on command, as proved by Hamilton’s third win (of four races) that takes full advantage of his potential. Behind him, however, we have Ferrari in recovery, which must continue to work trying to put pressure on the opponents. We saw some good battles, overtakings and the true potential of many cars, such as Lotus and Force India that despite the problems won important points. Engineers and technicians are making us see unthinkable things, overturning technical situations. Sportingly speaking, we feel again Red Bull missing; it had to face once again the problems of Renault. Ricciardo crossed the line with broken engine, risking to repeat what happened to Verstappen in China, who was forced to retirement just three laps from the end. It went worst for Toro Rosso, which saw its two drivers withdrawn for problems.

Besides Button’s bad impression, who was unable to start, because of problems since Friday, McLaren is making some progresses in every race. Positive race for Alonso, even if the road is still long. The work, however, begins to bear fruit.

Now we have three weeks of relaxing, waiting for the Spanish Grand Prix. As per tradition, the first European event coincides with the most important innovations, including tokens for the engines.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – Minardi: “Will Bernie manage to change course to this F.1?”

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I’ve read Pino Allievi’s interview to Bernie Ecclestone on the Gazzetta dello Sport. I’ve already talked about that issues several times, since this Formula 1 makes one think and worry. I agree with Bernie. It’s time to review the technical regulations and come back to “simpler” and cheaper engines, leaving the manufacturers participating in the WEC Championship carry the commitment to built of new generation cars. Is not sustainable a system in which the cost of a Power-Unit represents 1/3 or 1/4 of the entire budget of a team. But that’s not all. To manage and enter these Power Units on the car, there is a considerable increase in costs on the remaining items.

If there’s no remedy in the short term, the risk is throwback to the seventies, when there was only one engine – Ferrari – against all motorized Cosworth. Today, the risk is to have only one challenge: Ferrari vs Mercedes.

The economic difficulties of some teams, the skyrocketing costs and the need to revise the rules are not the only clouds on the horizon. After what happened in Shanghai at Renault, reliable sources anticipate us that before the Spanish Grand Prix an Extraordinary Board of Directors will be held directly by the Chairman and CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, being about the situation Renault in Formula 1. It is not certainly a good sign. A Board of Directors finalized may open in two scenarios: direct engagement with its own team (we have already talked about), or other more drastic “situations”. It’s true that there are agreements until 2016 with Red Bull and Toro Rosso, but it would not be the first time that a manufacturer takes bad roads for our sport, giving the perfect excuse to teams (the few solid and well-funded ones!) that get an engine to withdraw without incurring contractual penalties. A similar scenario would be definitely traumatic. What kind of starting grid would remain? I will not even think about it!

In Bahrain, a hot weekend starts under many points of view. Team Principals have to present new solutions and Mr. E has to evaluate new entries in the Circus on the engines front. There are companies that stand there watching – someone having already ready engines – stopped only by the lack of long-term strategies. One above all is BMW, which just in mid-May will have a new AD, Mr. Kruger, a man with professional experience in Motorsport. It’s time to use all the needed energies, in order to safeguard what for me, and not only, it is still the most amazing sports show in the world.