F.1 – When rain changes the results

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The checkered flag at the British Grand Prix marks two Mercedes, one Ferrari, two Williams in the top five positions, followed by Red Bull, two Force Indias (with the seventh place for Hulkenberg and the ninth for Perez), one Ferrari in the eighth place with Raikkonen and one McLaren, which closes the score zone.

To date, however, our view is very different, because the forces on track are dictated by the grid and by the positions before the arrival of the rain. We have one Mercedes that can rely on 8-9 dec of advantage on Williams, which rises to 1-1.2 sec against Ferrari. That’s to say: “ages”.

Talking about the race, without rain factor, the result would have been very different. Behind the two Mercedes there would be two Williams showing an intense battle between Vettel and Hulkenberg for the fifth place. Until then, the German driver of Force India was driving very well and he could trouble the compatriot of Maranello. The arrival of the rain and the ability of some drivers have changed the fate of the race. It must be expected that also drivers’ market can be influenced just by what we have seen on the track this weekend.

F.1 – Minardi: “Titles are not won by chance. Well done Hamilton and Vettel!”

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Leitmotif of the British Grand Prix that took place in the temple of Motorsport at Silverstone, is once again Mercedes, which wanted to play “cat and mouse” with opponents. With regard to starts, I am convinced that, in view of the problems accused by Hamilton in Austria and Rosberg during the test sessions, the men of Toto Wolff have used a more conservative mapping of the Power-unit (low speed) than the two Williams and Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India, authors of a flying start.

They left the two Williams “quiet” at the start, until the first stop. By then, Hamilton was perfect, as well as when he decided to open the dances. The icing on the cake came in the final stages, with the entrance to the pits to switch the intermediate compounds in the most propitious moment. In these circumstances, the drivers have the best view of the race and these are decisions that make the difference between a champion and a good driver. The same goes for Sebastian Vettel. The two most titled World Champions have guessed the exact moment to change their tyres; one won and the other gave a podium so far unexpected. This is the proof that the titles are not won by chance.

Two things left me puzzled: the lack of incisiveness of Nico Rosberg – an explanation could be found in Williams’ aerodynamics. Having a low downforce, perhaps it disturbs mainly those who follow it.

F.1 – British Gp: DRIVERS' SCORECARDS

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Let’s give votes to the protagonists of an exciting race thanks to the amazing start of Williams and Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg and rain, that has reshuffled the cards on the final.

Lewis Hamilton – 10 Despite having by his hands a spaceship, none can deny him full votes this weekend. He was flawless throughout the weekend, unlike his teammate.

Felipe Massa – 9 He was the protagonist of the British weekend. He was the only one to improve in the second stint of Q3 and the author of a stunning start that launched him straight in the lead. Unfortunately, the strategy and a car were not competitive on the wet, denying him the satisfaction of the podium.

Sebastian Vettel – 8.5 Thanks to the rain, he straightened a weekend that was closing far from the first positions, giving an unexpected podium at Red team. He was great to exploit the strategy and to sense the necessity of changing his tyres at the best time, unlike Raikkonen.

Daniil Kvyat – 8 He continues to drive constantly kilometers with a car that suffers, obscuring the star, Ricciardo. Good his final sixth position, for him and Red Bull.

Nico Hulkenberg – 8 Although his not competitive car, he proved to be a driver so far underestimated. Beautiful even his departure. Without the rain, he could also attack Vettel for the fifth place finish.

Carlos Sainz – 7 He was the author of a solid performance until the time of retirement. Once again, Red Bull was forced to give up the points because of the transalpine power-unit.

Nico Rosberg – 7 With the car he drives, he has to do more, especially for Qualifying and for the first part of the race. He grabbed a second place thanks to the strategy of his box and for the errors of Williams. I did not see him such “hunger” as he should be under these circumstances. In wet conditions he was recovering very well for Hamilton, who, however, has correctly predicted the exact moment to enter the pits.

Fernando Alonso – 7 of encouragement because he fought tooth and nail to grab this small point despite a dangerously uncompetitive car.

Valtteri Bottas – 6 He suffered throughout the weekend the “old man”. Whereas he is a possible candidate for Raikkonen’s place at Ferrari, this performance should make him reflect. Too compliant, also against Hamilton. That being the case, I do not see he as a Ferrari driver.

Now we have three weeks of relaxation, where everyone will be called to work overtime.

 

F.1 – British Gp: THE POINT… BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI

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The race started changing the cards on the table, with the two Williams who get immediately the lead in front of Hamilton and Rosberg, authors of a bad start, as well as at Ferrari and that was able to until to keep up with Mercedes right from the first pit-stop.

With tyres changing,Lewis cleared his supremacy up, going to lead the group. With the arrival of rain in the final stages of the race, Williams missed the podium, in favor of Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari. Ferrari guessed the strategy, even if the work to do is a lot, considering the gap accused in Qualifying. A third very important place them back on the podium, but they will have to beware of Williams, which is growing steadily.

Lewis Hamilton showed on track all his British experience, guessing the exact moment to switch to Intermediate compounds, while in this race Nico was not 100% perfect. Very good Felipe Massa, author of an excellent time lap in Qualifying and of a solid race, closed in front of Bottas. Until the pit-stop, he had led the race, and then “give up” to Mercedes and to the rain, in favor of Maranello. It was positive the sixth and seventh positions of Kvyat and Hulkenberg, who led the Red Bull (orphan Ricciardo forced to retire) and Force India to the top. Force India completed the Gran Prix with the ninth position of Perez, behind the SF-15T of Kimi Raikkonen. A small point went to Fernando Alonso, who ended the British weekend of McLaren with the tenth position, after a difficult start, because of Jenson Button’s difficult retirement.

Mercedes has, once again, proved its dominance in terms of Power-Unit, with six cars in the top-ten while Ferrari will have to watch its backs by Williams’ return.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – Gian Carlo Minardi: “I would like to see again Formula 1 at Imola circuit”

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The days pass and the rumours around the future of the Italian Grand Prix are becoming more insistent. The latest initiative is named after the President of Lombardy Region, Roberto Maroni, who through the signature collection – called “Get on track with Lombardy. Sign for the GP in Monza” – is attempting to convince Bernie Ecclestone.

As we know, the contract between Monza circuit and FOA expires in 2016. Meanwhile, in recent weeks Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit has stepped forward, through a delegation headed by the Mayor of Imola Daniele Manca, that have met Bernie Ecclestone. “It can be done. There are good intentions and foundations as well. Imola was a good experience that could revive since 2017. I want that Italy remains at all costs in the calendar of Formula 1. But while Imola contacted me, I don’t know anything about Monza since one month. There is the desire to save the Italian Grand Prix, but money lack“.

One possible alternation with Monza is not bad even for Gian Carlo Minardi, who has commented on the website www.minardi.it: “In these days I’ve read that Imola would usurp the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. My reading key is different and I don’t see it as a negative aspect. Thanks to a new and solid company, Imola has proposed to Ecclestone, so that Italy doesn’t lose its world stage. The Italian Grand Prix is Monza, but if there were any problems, Imola could take over for hosting the Circus. The turnover could also be a viable solution”, the manager from Faenza concluded, “but here discussions of a political nature which go out of my league will open“.

F.1 – Road to Silverstone

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We enter the second part of a championship that now has little to tell in terms of World Champions. Mercedes holds the absolute leadership. There’s just open the internal fight between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. In the latest appointments, we saw Nico being on perfect form than the teammate, who was distracted and nervous. Last year the German driver was very fast, signing the pole position and leaving the victory to the teammate only for the gearbox failure.

It will be a Grand Prix to follow carefully, especially for Williams, which at Silverstone “opened the dances” to a great second part of the season, which gave it the third position among Constructors. The British team will be kept under control in particular by Ferrari that is the second force in field at the moment.

Silverstone is particularly abrasive circuit and for 52 laps Pirelli will bring Medium and Hard compounds. Be careful to the rain that has always been an important feature. Right now, England is crossed by high pressure that could remove the uncertainty of a wet track.

Behind the scenes, the Circus will also talk about drivers-market and I hope it can be taken into account even our young drivers, who are standing out in the preparatory categories, such as Marciello, Fuoco (who made their debut in the post-Austria test sessions), Ghiotto, the winner of GP3 and Giovinazzo that is fighting in the International F.3. Just about young drivers, last weekend I was present at Imola circuit for the ACI Racing weekend. It was interesting both for numbers and also quality, with 40 GT cars and 27 Formula 4 open-wheels, with a grid composed by16 F.4 cars, all close in just 9 dec. Who was sitting in the stands has seen hard-fought races with the drivers of the future in action. The FIA will have to take another step forward since, to date, the jump from F.4 to International F.3 is very wide and we see too often spectacular and dangerous crashes.

Gian Carlo Minardi

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.