F1 | Minardi «This is my F1» Happy New Year everyone

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Few more days, and we will leave another year behind. This sports season ended with the shocking news of the retirement of Nico Rosberg few hours after winning first World title and with Giovinazzi’s promotion – neo vice-champion GP2 – as a third Ferrari driver. In 2017, an Italian driver will be back in F1 via the Maranello’s pits.

A season slipped away with another Mercedes dominion. For the third year in a row it has conquered the titles constructors and drivers, collecting the beauty of 51 victories out of 59 grand prix. A Mercedes that has to face a big headache, having to chose a driver to place side by side with Lewis Hamilton maker of some announcement against his team. The Finnish driver Bottas is repeatedly indicated along with the flash return of Felipe Massa into Williams beside the rookie Lance Stroll.

A season that has been able to give us some moments rich in adrenalin during the grand prix in Monaco, Brazil, and Yas Marina.

A not easy season for all us Ferarri fans. Ferrari hasn’t gained any wins nor starts from the first row, it has been also surpassed by Red Bull protagonist of a great recovery pushed by a baby Verstappen. Ferrari ended just in the third place of the constructors’ standings.

Waiting for the new year

We are about to enter a 2017 that will give us important newness about regulations, with the return of large tires, design freedom, engines and cars with a more engaging aerodynamics.

It will be critical creating the basis to rebuilt F1 and to attract aficionados again. It will be a decisive year to understand Liberty Media projects. For this reason, I see many aspects on which we need to intervene, and I don’t see the budget-cut (it has been proposed again) as the most effective mean.

– I’d like to see again some days devoted to collective tests to attract the fans that have run away because their lack of interest and economic issues. We should come back into the track instead to spend for simulators.

– decreasing the number of the staff within the team. We should prohibit the remote-team, engineers’ teams on work at the general-headquarter simultaneously to the action on track, beyond having a score of engineers. On the other side, I would make free the development of engines and cars, without any limits.

– Pit-stops with just 8 mechanics. They would be more spectacular for the audience, televisionally speaking. The cars would be more visible as the sponsors that today disappear in a cloud of 28-30 people. It would be exciting from the strategies point of view, in addition to touching the costs entry.

In conclusion, a season rich in unknowns is awaiting us, with the hope that it could give us a greater fight for the first position and a competitive Ferrari capable to fight for the win.

Happy new year to everybody.

Minardi "A season rich in successes for ACI Team Italia"

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It has been a 2006 rich in success for the ACI Team Italia – a project strongly wanted by the Italian Automobile Club –, along with its four standard bearers, Antonio Giovinazzi, Raffaele Marciello, Luca Ghiotto, and Antonio Fuoco, it has raised our tricolor up in two of the most important international championships, GP3 and GP2 Series.

Their numbers

–  25 podia achieved within the season, among which 17 ones achieved in GP2 by its three “musketeers” Giovinazzi-Marciello-Ghiotto, and 8 ones signed in GP3 by Antonio Fuoco;

–  8 wins (6 in GP2 by its two rookies Giovinazzi-Ghiotto, and 2 in GP3);

–  5 successes by Antonio Giovinazzi (on the circuit of Baku, Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, and Malaysia);

–  2 successes by Antonio Giovinazzi in the same weekend (Baku). The standard bearer of the Prema Team has been the only one to sign a double-win.

– 1 victory for Luca Ghiotto with the Trident team on the circuit of Sepang in Malaysia, and three podia;

– 5 podia for Raffaele Marciello;

– 2 victories for Antonio Fuoco in GP3 (Silverstone and Hockenheim);

– 2 second places and 4 third places for Antonio Fuoco.

 The results

Such important numbers have consigned to Antonio Giovinazzi not just the title of GP2 vice-champion, but the promotion as a third driver at the Ferrari Stable. An important goal representing the beginning of a new path for a driver who has already proved to have the appropriate mental and technical features to emerge.

It has been an important year for other drivers as well. At his debut, Luca Ghiotto conquered a victory in Malaysia and his season ended in the top-10 thanks to his eight place. For Raffaele Marciello, instead, the door for GT competitions could open up soon.

At the starting grid of GP2 2017, we will also see Antonio Fuoco, promoted after a positive GP3 season that he ended in the third absolute place, in the row of the champion team Prema, beside Leclerc.

One more time, these results highlight how much talent is within our national borders. Our drivers have nothing to envy their colleagues. We know that reaching Formula 1 is not easy because there are just 22 cars, but in all these years the federation has played a crucial role in the growth these boys following them actively since karting.

The announcement about Antonio Giovinazzi’s promotion as a third driver in the Ferrari Stable is the summit of the Aci training that is meant to identify and promote the most promising stars of the Italian motor sports.

We are  working on a 2017 even more rich in successes. Happy New Year everyone.

ACI Sport | Gian Carlo Minardi, a prestigious sport director

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Gian Carlo Minardi has lived this 2016 as an illustrious sport director.The Italian motor sport can count on the expertise and professionalism of this F1 constructor, an appreciated Team Manager in the major leagues who has a particular penchant for discovering new talent. He is currently in charge of the Youth Project of the Italian Automobile Club devoted to our home drivers most talented.

In the just ended season, Minardi has had a key role in the success of some leading events that had the chance to count on his professional direction: the 100th Targa Florio Historic Speed, the Motor Show, and the Minardi Day.

For the 100th Targa Florio, in the 100th edition of the oldest car race in the world, he coordinated the Targa Florio Historic Speed by handling the relationships with all the big names in motor sport history, all the names that brought back onto the Mythical streets the rumble of the legendary cars that have been able to reawaken all the never extinguished emotions in what was the diamond point of the event organized by AC Palermo and ACI Sport. His contribution to the Motor Show has been critical. Minardi worked in first person for the return of the historical F1 cars among which a Minardi F1 as well. At the Area 48 Motul Arena, in the year of the 40th anniversary of the Bologna’s kermesse, worldwide famous, its 8 and 12 cylinders have roared again.

The Historic Minardi day, that took place at the Circuit of Imola in June, was exciting as well with its sequence of big emotions along with the great names of the drivers and of the cars coming from the history of F1, F2, and F3. An appointment not to be missed for thousands of fans.

Fundamental his contribution in the circuit during the races of the ACI Sport Italian Championship. He has always a good intuition for the most promising young drivers. He follows the talented drivers of the Italian F4 Championship Powered by Abarth closely along with the staff of the Aci Sport Federal School, with which he also followed the Federal Supercourse 2016 Speed Section, giving advices to 4 very young drivers and following their growth in the Vallelunga circuit, step by step.

Source: ACISportItalia.it

F1 | Giovinazzi goes to Ferrari. Minardi «Further developments are possible»

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Antonio Giovinazzi is a driver of the Ferrari Stable. His season ends with a bang.

This is a very important step that will give the opportunity to grow further to a driver who has already proved all his value. Giovinazzi has the mental and technical traits to stand out. He is the result of a long job developed along with ACI Sport President Sticchi Damiani.

This result demonstrates that we have some talented drivers in Italy as well. We have been fought for several years in the most important championships and next year we will have Fuoco and Ghiotto in GP2, Pulcini and Iorandi in GP3, Colombo and Mosca in F4.

These boys are the fruit of a long work that the Federal School has begun several years ago, by monitoring the boys from their first steps in kart and during their formative apprenticeships.

Reaching Formula 1 is not easy because there are just 22 cars, but from now till the end of the year there could be a further evolution. Games are open, even if everything will depend on the Mercedes choice and on the driver that will be chosen to replace Nico Rosberg. Being able to race a whole season with a minor team would be an enormous opportunity for a driver who has proven his value for so many years.

Some years ago, I had already introduced Giovinazzi to Ferrari, but this meeting has become a something concrete only today. Unfortunately, since I had not a team anymore, I couldn’t prove on track what I had saw in him. Thanks to this agreement an Italian driver is back on the track as a third driver.

There are many irons on the fire. Let’s see what will happen in the upcoming weeks.

 

Clay Ragazzoni, Gian Carlo Minardi's memory

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10 years after his death,  Gian Carlo Minardi remember his friend Clay Regazzoni.

F1 | Mercedes-Williams: an exchange Lowe-Bottas?

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These are red-hot days in Formula 1, but especially at Mercedes which has to find a replacement not just for Nico Rosberg, but also for a winning technician like Paddy Lowe who, as we heard, has taken his way towards Grove.

We were aware that his contract was about to expire, but I didn’t expect a rift. Perhaps, some weeks ago a signal was sent by Toto Wolff when he declared that the team could count on a generational change to continue his positive result row.

Mercedes has exempted Lowe from the usual break of six-eight months. This could bring Bottas – a driver under Toto Wolff’s influence – alongside Hamilton and free an important place in Williams.

Do Alonso’s chances at Mercedes decrease?

Never say never. In this moment, Mercedes keeps all its doors open, in other words: the choice of a young like Wehrlein (who has taken part to Pirelli tests), the choice of a top driver or of a second driver (Bottas). Coming from an absolutely positive series, they are facing a not easy choice. Before of Rosberg’s flash announcement, Mercedes was evaluating some significant sport and technical decisions regarding Lewis Hamilton who pronounced strong words and assumed a behavior above the lines. Everything, anyway, has been overturned by Nico’s decision. As I have already said some time ago, if it was up to me, I would have no hesitations in turning the page and starting to write a new book along with a top driver. They have all what it takes for continuing to be leaders.

Williams – Who will be alongside Lance Stroll?

Wherever Lance Stroll has raced has won, we have to recognize it. His father has been very good at building a competitive team around him, and he hasn’t disappointed expectations. Many drivers, despite their economic support, have not reached certain results. Stroll has won Formula 4 in New Zealand and the International Formula 3. In this moment, Williams can count on a good economic return due to its good placement in the last years and with Lowe’s coming could venture in a middle term project for coming back to the glories of the past, by betting on a couple of young drivers. It could also become the Mercedes B-team at the detriment of a Force India hit by economic problems. We still have a Wehrlein on the market.

 

F1 | Mercedes loses another pawn. Minardi «Alonso badly managed»

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After Nico Rosberg’s retirement, Mercedes could lose another bigwig. According to the English parlors, the technical manager at Mercedes, Paddy Lowe would have done his luggage, ready to greet Brackley, because it hasn’t been found an economical agreement for the contract extension.

Arrived at Mercedes in July 2013 after being torn off from McLaren, the Technician from Cambridge could go back to Woking after three seasons rich in triumphs from both the point of view of Drivers and Constructors. These weeks, McLaren has been subject of an internal reorganization with Ron Dennis’ exit and Zak Brown’s arrival. In my opinion Lowe can’t accept the challenge just to try to revive the fortune of the stable. This action makes me think that a great engine constructor is accruing behind the curtains for 2018. As all the technicians, Lowe will have to face a gardening period (about 6-7 months) before being operative on the new front. This would bring him to work on the project for 2018.

It is the proof that the bond to the flag doesn’t exist anymore. The money god always governs. As history teaches us, after a winning period, there is a boarding towards the team to gain the best technician and his know-how with him. This is part of Formula 1 history.

In these very days, through Autosport website, Mercedes has published a job advertisement looking for a new driver. In this moment they have three different choice. Betting on a young driver placed side by side with Lewis Hamilton (see Ocon or Wherlein), or on a second driver like Bottas, the Finnish at William’s, or on a top driver.

Regarding this last option, I see Fernando Alonso in pole position, in spite of his manager’s denial. The Spanish driver, that I continue to consider the best driver in the Circus, in my opinion is paying a wrong management of his career where the economic aspect has been favored rather than the technical one. To date, Nando has just two world championship titles and is left out from the fight to reach those records reached by his colleagues. I don’t see a McLaren-Honda capable to win in the short run and at the end of 2017 Alonso could think to retire. Mercedes is his last chance to fight again for the title.

F1 | After-Rosberg. Possible scenarios

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Nico Rosberg’s retirement arrived like a bolt from the blue sky and involves not just Mercedes, but its paddock as well.

We are talking about of the best car in the last years that conquered three constructors’ and drivers’ world titles in as many seasons. We are talking about a team that has technically managed his drivers in an excellent way, letting them free to fight on the track.

As I have already said in the last days, I completely agree with Nico Rosberg’s choice, as I criticized Lewis Hamilton’s words and behavior.

Right now, we have understand what strategies the brand is going to follow. I see three possible scenarios:

Scenario 1 – Hamilton with a young driver: my DNA has always led me to cooperate with young drivers, and thus I would particularly agree with this path, especially because Mercedes has at home two young drivers like Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein. To date, the French driver has signed with Force India to take the place of Nico Hulkenberg passed to Renault.

Scenario 2 – Hamilton and a top driver: it is the solution strongly backed by Niki Lauda. A path that brought a lot of successes and world titles to Stuttgart. Just to name a few, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel – despite the statements of facts -.

Scenario 3 – Hamilton and a second driver: in Ferrari style with Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. In this case, the right name could be the standard bearer at William’s, Valtteri Bottas (managed by Toto Wolff).

Write a new book  

Considering the superpower of Mercedes, it is a no so impracticable path. I have never hidden it. I have not appreciated Lewis Hamilton’s expressions of opinion and behaviour, I found them detrimental toward the technical and sport image of his team. With Rosberg’s retirement, Toto Wolff &C. could decide to turn a blind eye on, anyway Hamilton’s layoff could open incredible scenarios. We are talking about a fictional drivers market, but in this moment Mercedes is the only team that could afford it.

F1 | Sensational, Nico Rosberg retires. Minardi "It will trigger World War III"

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Surprisingly, on his official Facebook page, Nico Rosberg has announced his immediate retirement from Formula 1.The World Champion has said enough.

“Since25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my “one thing” to become Formula One world champion.Through the hard work, pain, sacrifices, this has been my target. Now I have made it. I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak”.

Nico hangs up his overalls, gloves, and helmet to devote himself to his family. “This season was so damn tough. It has been a sacrifice for my whole family, everything was put aside for my goal. On Sunday morning, in Abu Dhabi, I knew it could be my last race, and and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life. I made my decision last Monday evening”, these are Nico Rosberg’s words.

We solicited the opinion of Gian Carlo Minardi committed to present the Motor Show in Bologna who has never hidden his support to the German driver at Mercedes in this long ride. “This is an unbelievable news, very hard to receive. We must to respect it and honor a champion like Nico Rosberg who has proved a great bond to the Mercedes brand. His decision will surely unleash an Apocalypse in the paddock. Who will be able to free himself contractually, will do it. Suddenly, the wheel and the seat of the best car in the Circus are freed, a car that this year has managed to conquer 19 wins on 21 grand prix”, the manager from Faenza observes. “Mercedes will have to make a careful evaluation to built its 2017 team along with a driver, Lewis Hamilton who hasn’t been so clear with the team”.

In a press release, Mercedes greets and thanks his champion through Toto Wolff’s words. “This is a brave decision by Nico and testament to the strength of his character.He has chosen to leave at the pinnacle of his career, as world champion. I accepted his decision straight away when he told me.For the team, this is an unexpected situation but also an exciting one. We are going into a new era of technical regulations and there is a free Mercedes cockpit for the seasons ahead.We will take the necessary time to evaluate our options and then find the right path for our future”.

F1 | 2017's calendar – Monza is there. Agreement extended for three more years

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The Italian Grand Prix stays in Monza and in the calendar till 2019. The president of the Automobile Club d’Italia, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, announced the extension of the agreement with Bernie Ecclestone for the next three years. After the “handshake” in Monza, the signature has also arrived.

“In spite of a lot of difficulties and with a great effort – ACI president Angelo Sticchi Damiani underlines – we reached the conclusive signature of the agreement for Monza. On behalf of all Italian sports fans, I thank premier Matteo Renzi and the president of CONI Malagò who, a year ago, believed in this goal and created the conditions to reach together this very important result. We must express a particular gratitude – Sticchi Damiani continues – to governor Maroni and to the whole government of Lombardy which backed this negotiation in a decisive way. Thus, we avoided the damned hypothesis that, after 70 years, Italy could lose one of the most prestigious, historical and fascinating car race in the world. Now let’s go ahead all together. With the aim to make the Monza Grand Prix an even more important event in the next years, an event capable of fascinate and increasingly attract fans around the world”.

Meanwhile, with a note, the Fia has made official the calendar of the world championship for next F1 season. The curtain rises on March 26 in Melbourne and it falls 20 grand prix later, on November 26 in Abu Dhabi. It is confirmed the exit of the German Grand Prix. The Italian Grand Prix at the Monza Circuit is scheduled on 3 September, as thirteenth round. 

March 26 – Australia (Melbourne)

April 9 – China (Shanghai)

April 16 – Bahrain (Bahrain)

April 30 – Russia (Sochi)

May 14 – Spain (Barcelona)

May 28 – Monaco (Monte Carlo)

June 11 – Canada (Montreal)

June 25 – Azerbaijan (Baku)

July 9 – Austria (Spielberg)

July 16 – Great Britain (Silverstone)

July 30 – Hungary (Budapest)

August 27 – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)

September 3 – Italy (Monza)

September 17 – Singapore (Singapore)

October 1 – Malaysia (Sepang)

October 8 – Japan (Suzuka)

October 22 – USA (Austin)

October 29 – Mexico (Mexico City)

November 12 – Brazil (Sao Paulo)

November 26 – Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi)

F1 | 2016 final scorecard with the surprise Force India

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Mercedes – 10 with honors winning 19 of 21 scheduled grand prix race. It is the result of an absolute supremacy, irrefutable and unconditioned. Spain and Malaysia were lost because of two mistakes.

Red Bull – 9 despite a slow start, they managed to recover in the standings till the second position, becoming maker of a new move in the environment with the promotion of Vertappen at the detriment of Kwyat, an action repayed with the Dutch driver’s success in Spain. Max has also become the youngest driver to win a F1 race. A record difficult to beat. They also defeated Maranello concerning the drivers, with the third place of Ricciardo behind of Rosberg and Hamilton.

Ferrari – 6.5 after the second place last year, we expected more. No victory, no start from the first row, third place in the constructors’ world championship, behind of red Bull and a booty of 11 podia. Little for Ferrari. We hope the third place conquered by Vettel in Abu Dhabi can be a good auspice for a more intriguing show in 2017.

Force India – 9 it is surely the true surprise in this championship. Perez and Hulkenberg supported by a good car managed to reach an incredible result for a team with few economic resources. The fourth place (173 points) ahead of Williams, the first ones after the top teams. The seventh absolute place of Perez is the evidence of their excellent season. Year by year, they managed to grow till reaching this unexpected result, in spite of their great economic and managerial problems.

Williams – 6,5 it made its task, closing the season with the fifth place that guarantees a good economic return. Till the end, Massa made things difficult for Bottas who next year will have to face a rookie who imposed himself in every the championship that he raced. Now Stroll has to prove to deserve such an important seat.

McLaren – 6 compared to their disastrous 2015, they managed to make a good step ahead. After all the changes made within the team, next year will be crucial. We hope that the new regulations can contribute to bring back up both the team and Honda and remake an historic union that donated a lot of successes.

Toro Rosso – 6 they close the season with the seventh place, even if at the beginning their ambitions were different. They have surely paid the price of a dated power-unit. As we saw, especially in qualifying, in spite of a good shell. The team has the potential to fight for the fifth place.

Renault – 5 an uncolored season. It was a transient year waiting for a more strong 2017 thanks to the contribution that Nico Hulkenberg will be able to bring.

Sauber – with a kidney hit and thanks to the Brazilian adverse conditions, they managed to save the season by “tearing off” some points and important money from Manor which is about to do a new transfer of shares. New technicians and capitals will reach Hinwil. They could redeem a difficult year, also supported by the Ferrari 2016 power-unit.

F1 | Abu Dhabi GP – Minardi “Hamilton should be fired”

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Besides ignoring a team order, Lewis Hamilton used strong words against Mercedes both before the race and on the Abu Dhabi podium. A behavior noticed by Toto Wolff’s entourage.
“Lewis is putting himself ahead of the team. He ignored a clear order, and anarchy does not work in any environment” declared the Team Principal who recalls he left the drivers fighting each other all the season.
Words and behaviors that continue to divide the paddock.“I do not agree with, not accept, and not approve the words said by Lewis Hamilton in pre-race and on the podium in any way. A driver is not allowed to criticize and judge the work of his employer pointing his finger at the mistakes and reliability problems, especially when the team put the drivers in condition to fight openly – Gian Carlo Minardi remarks – If I were Toto Wolf, I would leave him at home.
Sports teaches us that there are always favorable and adverse events, which are also determined by the Fortune. Rosberg himself was victim of subjective, not objective, decisions made by commissioners who deprived him of important points. He has had an unbeatable car for all the season and little imperfections have made the difference. Lewis lost the world championship for just five points at the end of a 21 races long season. It is better for him to examine himself because he has some responsibilities. One should be more gentleman”, the manager from Faenza concludes. 

F1 | Abu Dhabi GP – The scorecards

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Nico Rosberg – 10 he managed to defeat the anxiety created by Hamilton’s game remaining calm. It is the first time that four cars have crossed the finish line within a little less than 2”. An exciting final. The smallest error was enough to be out of the podium and lose the world championship.

Sebastian Vettel – 10 after a not exciting qualifying, ended behind his team mate, he became maker of a quintessential race which ended with a deserved podium, without any mistakes. A good Ferrari strategy and an excellent overtaking at the detriment of Verstappen.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8,5 once again I think he to be the victim of a strategy in favor of Verstappen.

Max Verstappen – 8 what a pity his mistake at the start, but once again, he amused us with a good recovery ended at the foot of the podium.

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 after a positive qualifying, he hasn’t been so aggressive as in other races. Very good at the start with the overtaking at the detriment of Ricciardo.

Felipe Massa and Jenson Button – 7 the Williams driver has conquered Q3 at the detriment of his team mate proving that, often, the age does not matter. Button would have deserved to close his F1 career by crossing the finish line. Before his retirement he was performing a race in attack.

Fernando Alonso – 7 he closes an hard season and gets an important point after conquering Q3 at the detriment of Bottas.

Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg – 7 both the drivers at Force India ended the season in the point zone, confirming their team in the fourth place among constructors, ahead of Williams. They are the surprise of 2016.

Lewis Hamilton – 6 just because he won his tenth grand prix, achieving a significant place in F1. Anyway, I do not appreciate his strong words used before and after the race. It is a lack of respect towards his employer.