F1 | MONACO GP – SCORECARDS

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Lewis Hamilton  – 9 excellent and impeccable throughout the whole race, also taking some strategy risks.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8 after the outstanding time in qualifying that earned him an incredible pole position, he had to give up due to another mistake made by the pit.

Sergio Perez – 8,5 sensational race for the Mexican driver who has optimized Force India at its best , in spite of economic problems.

Sebastian Vettel – 7 a personal mark, not to be shared with Ferrari. He made too many mistakes, even if I don’t know if the fault is his. A Vettel that gets agitated and anxious for results that do not come.

Fernando Alonso – 8 a sensational lap after lap. The gap from the top is important, but he was able to attack with his tenacity and his driving skills improving himself after each step. He outclassed his teammate.

Nico Hulenberg – 7 aligned to what was done by his teammate. Some important points for Force India.

Nico Rosberg – 7 weakened, even if it was clear he had some problems. In qualifying he wasn’t the usual Nico, especially in a circuit that he dominated last years.

Carlos Sainz – 7 now he is the only landmark for Toro Rosso that is getting calmness after the agreement with Renault for engine supply. The Spaniard is proving to be a top team driver.

Jenson Button – 7 even if he arrived behind his teammate, he gained important points for McLaren-Honda that sees daylight.

 Felipe Massa – 6 even if I don’t believe that his result in qualifying and in race is all his fault.

F4 | Unlucky weekend for Joao Vieira at Imola

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Weekend to forget quickly for Joao Vieira who greets the third event of the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth with just a point.

With 31 cars at the start, we are back to the original format, with three races for week-end instead of the qualifying rounds for reaching the Final. In two qualifying rounds, the driver at Antonelli Motorsport didn’t manage to go beyond nineteenth and sixteenth positions. Therefore, the aim was to get back on the top during Saturday and Sunday, exploiting the long straights of Imola and the particular feeling connecting the Brazilian driver to the Santerno. Unfortunately, numerous red flags and safety-cars, called onto the track for some accidents and for the rain, have drastically reduced the time of the recover, limiting the struggle in a single handful of laps.

“There is really few to say and to add. In qualifying, I didn’t make any mistakes, but I found myself in the second half of the group. I paid too much on the straights in terms of power.  During the race, on a wet track, I raced fast, but due to safety-cars and red flags, I did not have the chance to complete my recover. A real pity. Now I am waiting for Mugello where it would be great coming back to the format with rounds,” a disappointed Joao Vieira explains.

“It was definitively an unlucky weekend. We came here with important projects and we leave the circuit with none point. Surely, qualifying have been disappointing, but we would had the chance recover during the race. This has been impossible because in all three races, we raced less than 10 true laps of race. The red flags and the safety-cars have limited the action on track. We should come back to the first seasonal format with qualifying rounds to limit the impetuosity of young drivers, beyond to reprimand them. Otherwise, even in the next appointments we will live a similar scenario“,  Giovanni Minardi explains.

F1 | Monaco GP – The POINT "Strike Hamilton. Ferrari even behind Force India"

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This Monaco GP could had been more animated considering the weather conditions, anyway, offered us some mistakes, on track and at pits, with overtakings and fights. Excellent Lewis Hamilton who brought home the first seasonal win, nibbling away important points at Nico Rosberg, also helped by the mistake made by Red Bull at the pits during Daniel Ricciardo’s pit-stop.

Within Milton Keynes’s team, they will have to review something because it is not the first time that they have fallen into this kind of situations, even if they are strongly proving to be the second powerful team of the world championship at the expense of Ferrari. The Australian strengthens his position in overall standings and makes this season enlivened. What a pity Max Verstappen’s mistake, very nervous during the whole weekend.

Certainly, it was disappointing the performance of Ferrari that greets the principality with only a fourth place behind of Force India. Definitely too little. We had already realized that something was going wrong due to the state of mind and to declarations made by the German driver. His displeasure is clear, and he begins to feel these placings too tight. The boy starts to paw the ground. His declarations about his team are changing.

Beginner’s mistake for Kimi Raikkonen that had never been efficient for all the weekend, probably he was not backed by his car. Surely, the gap with his teammate is substantial. A “zero” that costs important points also to Ferrari.

Very positive, instead, the performance of McLaren-Honda that marks the fifth position with Fernando Alonso and the points zone with Jenson Button. Sometimes, the Spaniard has also tried to cause problems for Vettel. They begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

                                                                     

 

Historic Minardi Day | Pierluigi Martini awaits you with his M189 at Imola

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Among the greater protagonists of the Historic Minardi Day, scheduled for next June 25 at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit of Imola, there will surely be Pierluigi Martini. He will speed along 4909 track meters driving his M189 with which he conquered the first raw in the US, the score zone at Silverstone, in Estoril, in Adelaide, and the head during the Portuguese GP.“The M189 was like a tailored suit. Those cars were smaller than today’s F1 cars, and it seemed to be in direct contact with the asphalt”.

Thanks to his past, he is the symbol of the Minardi F1 Team. He inaugurated the M185, the first F1 single-seater signed by the stable from Faenza. He conquered the first world point in 1988 at the US GP and raced 104 out of 120 Grand Prix by the side of Gian Carlo Minardi. In his prize list, it also excels the win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999. He continued the duo Minardi-Martini of the 70s when his uncle, Giancarlo, raced in Formula 2 with the Passatore and Everest Stable belonging to a very young Minardi.

“It will be a great party day in which all the keens and fans of the Minardi Team, and more, will have the chance to live again an important chapter of the Italian research in Motorsport. Gian Carlo Minardi, along with his Minardi Team, had the chance develop talented drivers, technicians, and engineers who distinguished themselves in F1 and offered us numerous excitements. Along with Gian Carlo I celebrated important goals like the debut in Brazil, the first world point in Detroit, the first raw in the US, the leading place during the GP in Estoril, and many points zones” , “Piero” Martini says. “Having the chance to recall everything in Imola, one of the most beautiful circuits, will be fabulous. We’ll have the chance to watch the cars on track, but also to look at them closely”.

The engines will turn on at 9.00 in the morning with the first laps on track made by the cars from Touring and Supercars, forerunners of the shows with F2, F3, and F1 cars. Already at 8:00 in the morning, the gates of the Paddock and of the garages will be open to show the single-seaters of the Minardi Team, of Toro Rosso Stable, and some unique and historical pieces. We will have the opportunity to look at the F3 Chevron-Toyota B38 with wich Elio De Angelis won the Monaco race and the Italian Championship in 1977, the March-Bmw Schnitzer 732 drived by Ernesto “Tino” Brambilla, the Formula 3000 with which Marini won in Imola, and many others.

Historic Minardi Day | Interview with Gian Carlo Minardi

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June 25 will be an important day in the history of the Minardi Team. At the “Dino e Enzo Ferrari” Circuit of Imola will go on stage the Historic Minardi Day, a whole day dedicated to the history of the stable from Faenza founded by Gian Carlo Minardi which went onto the world scene for more than twenty years.  The cars from Formula 2 and Formula 3 will also be on the track, along with the single-seaters from Faenza. The show, anyway, won’t take place just along the almost 5 kms of the track. All the fans will have the chance to meet the drivers and  enter into the Paddock and garage area  where 21 car models of the Minardi Team will be exhibited (from the M185 to the PS05),  ten Toro Rosso cars and some unique and historical pieces like the F3 Chevron-Toyota B38 of Elio De AngelisThere will be DJ music and good cuisine.

Thus, we have reached Gian Carlo Minardi and asked him what to expect in the historical Minardi Day.

Historic Minardi Day | The show on track and out in the paddock with F1, music, and street food

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The Historic Minardi Day, scheduled for Saturday June 25 at the Circuit of Imola, is only 30 days away. The Enzo and Dino Ferrari is going to embrace again Formula 1 and the single-seaters from Formula 2 and Formula 3 that contributed to write important pages of 35 years history of the Minardi Team, of the Circuit of Imola, and of Motorsport.

The engines will turn on starting from 9.00 in the morning with the first laps on track performed by the cars from Gran Tourism and Supercars categories that will act as forerunners before the shows with F2, F3, and F1.The highlight of the event will be at 12:30 when, thanks to the helpfulness of numerous collectors, all the spotlights will be turned to the single-seaters signed by Gian Carlo Minardi, which went onto the world scene from 1985’s Brazilian GP to the Chinese GP in 2005.

The show, anyway, won’t take place only along the almost 4909 meters of the track. From 8:00 in the morning, the gates to the Paddock will open for all the fans and keens who will have the chance to see the single-seaters from the Minardi F1 Team and from Toro Rosso, beyond some unique historical pieces from F1 closely. They will also have the chance to meet Gian Carlo Minardi and the drivers who contributed to write important pages of the Team from Faenza in its career within F1 Circus. We will also have the chance to test our skills through virtual challenges thanks to professional simulators, we’ll enjoy the music corner with the Red Bull Event-car, and the Street Food with a variety of specialities offered by numerous stands.

“There is great anticipation and excitement for this day and this can only make me happy. The Historic Minardi Day was meant to be a sports day to live together with the whole family, an opportunity to embrace the F1 world, too often closed. We wanted to create an event completely dedicated to fans by opening the grandstands as well as the Paddock and box area. We’ll have the opportunity to meet the members from the “Minardi Fans Club of Lauria and San Francisco,” which have already signed up to the event, and I am particularly pleased by the presence of Miguel Angel Guerra, the first driver who raced under the colors of the Minardi team in Formula 2“, Gian Carlo Minardi explains.

The show will go on along the track and in the Paddock area untill 18:30 before the greetings in front of the principal grandstand.

An official portal has been inaugurated, www.MinardiDay.it, where you can find the complete program and details about this day at the Circuit of Imola. You can also follow the updates via Facebook and Twitter social networks, using the hashtag #HistoricMinardiDay and #MinardiDay, and www.Minardi.it.

The ticket price is 10 € (free for children under 12 years), you can purchase them directly at the Circuit or on the Vivaticket portal (click here).

F4 | At Imola Joao Vieira plays for the win

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Strengthened by the podium and by the many points gained at Adria, Joao Vieira is about to live the third round in the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth at the “home” circuit of Imola.

The demanding “Enzo and Dino Ferrari” circuit, that will host again Formula 1 during the Historic Minardi Day on June 25, will be a great testbed for the Brazilian standard-bearer under the Antonelli Motorsport who is intent on getting the high step of the podium missed in the first two weekend because of some engine complications.

With five events still scheduled, Joao is in the fifth position of the general standings, 23 points away from top three.

“Beyond being the “home” race, it is also my favorite circuit on calendar. Thus, I’d like to get a good result. It is a very fast and technical track where the engine is an important component. During the first two events, in this respect, we had some problems.At Adria, thanks to its layout, I managed to limit damages getting a good second place and 42 points. At Imola, instead, the engine will have more importance both in the long straights and in the output in the variants. During the first free practice session, next Friday morning, we will have the first response“, said Joao Vieira.

“We are at the third round and at the first true circuit on calendar. On this track, Joao has always raced fast, backed by a good car made by the staff of Marco Antonelli. I wish for a weekend free from engine complications so to have the chance to play for winning. I hope to greet Imola with a smile and, hopefully, with the cup of the winner” manager Giovanni Minardi says.

F1 | Monaco GP – Gian Carlo Minardi's Preview

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We can expect an interesting Monaco Grand Prix due to many factors. From both the point of view of spectators that will experience the most glamour event of the season, and from the technical point of view, expecially after such a dynamic Spanish GP livened up by the accident in Mercedes and by the challenge between Red Bull and Ferrari. Red Bull starts favoured (respect to Ferrari), thanks to his excellent chassis. In spite of a power-unit inferior than that used by Maranello, they prevailed in Spain. Anyway, since they renewed the supply for the next two seasons with Renault, have the chance to work comfortably for 2017. I don’t expect, instead, any surprise in the lead. The real challenge is for the third step of the podium.

Pirelli will launch its new Ultra-Soft tire compound, that could make the difference in a scarcely abrasive circuit.

Mercedes will take 10 Ultra-Soft sets out of 13 while Vettel and Raikkonen will have at their disposal “just” 9. Little differences. In winter testing, the teams had a taste, but on a city circuit something could change.  The other big variable will be the safety cars that can distort what carefully is been devised. It is the shortest race of the year, but the most challenging in all respects. At any time the studied plans may stop working and until the checkered flag nobody is certain of having done 100%.

At Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton has not digested the decision of the management, which is getting tired of his behavior. Interestings solution could open up towards the future.

 

WSK | Karol Basz , king of Andria

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Toughened up after the success in the German championship at Wackersdorf and in the inaugural event of the European CIK-FIA at Zuera, Karol Basz has played the three of a kind and dominated the scene at the circuit of Adria that hosted the last event of the WSK Super Master Series.

The Minardi Management’s coached Polish driver has gifted the color of the Kosmic Racing a clear success gaining not only the Final but also the first position in Pre-Final, after ending three rounds of Heat qualifying with a second place and two wins.It is an important accomplishment for the World Champion in view of the next European Ok event that will take place exactly at the Adria International Raceway.

“An extraordinary result and three wins in a month. It was a great weekend. We kept an excellent pace ending an important work and our program in view of the next European event here at Adria”, Karol Basz says enthusiastically.

“A clear success that started in the first rounds and ended with two victories in Pre-Final and Final. A great way to end the WSK Super Master Series in view of continuing, in two weeks, our path in the European Championship in which we’ll be at the top of the overall standings. Last weekend, Karol had the chance to make some tests, and I saw a very focused and determined driver. Congratulation to Oliver Marechal and all the Kosmic Kart for their great job”, manager Alberto Tonti comments on.

Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox

F1 | Ferrari, be careful. Red Bull took wing

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 The Spanish Gran Prix, fifth event of the World Championship, gave strong and clear signals about the powers on the field. On the one hand, we had the demonstration of the astonishing power of Mercedes (if we needed it), on the other hand, Ferrari did not manage to exploit the golden occasion, and Red Bull, in a strong growth, got the better of it.

In the first four events, the Silver Arrows tried to minimize the gap, but the incredible time achieved by Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona’s qualifying showed all its supremacy.Since it became a testing room for F1, Montmelò represents a good testbed for sensing the trend of the season, and Red Bull has confirmed its positive moment, proving to have a clear program that was built on paying choices, also relating to commercial aspects, thanks to Verstappen’s first seal.

Ferrari, instead, is living a hard time and the second place in the world championship could be not so sure. Now, we are getting closer to Monte Carlo with many unknowns.

F1 | Red Bull towards a biennial renewal with Renault?

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After its first seasonal win with the young Max Verstappen at the Spanish Circuit of Barcelona, Red Bull would have closed an agreement with Renault for the Power-Unit supply for the next two years.

After last year’s soap-opera, and after risking to have no power unit for 2016 due to the Frenchs’ marching orders with the refusal of Mercedes and Ferrari (a circumstance that ended into a renewal with Renault under the TAG Heuer brand for a single season), Milton Keynes’s team had started a negotiation with BMW that was deeply interested in a comeback into Formula1.

The uncertainty that still today lingers around to 2017’s regulations has brought the cooperation to an impasse, shifting the balance towards a continuity in the relationship with the French brand for the next two seasons. “BMW would have decided to give up its comeback into the Circus, given the uncertainty on the next regulations. Thus, Red Bull would have already renewed its cooperation with Renault for 2017’s and 2018’s seasons, also due to the good results obtained and to the new team policy”, Gian Carlo Minardi says.“The question on the future remains at Toro Rosso: they have to decide if continue with Ferrari, move to Renault, or, if regulation gets clear, aim for something more resounding” the manager from Faenza concludes.

At the end of two days of testing at Montmelò, the drivers of Red Bull and of Renault were positively affected by the new power-unit brought to the track by by Trans-alpines.

Save the date – 25.06.2016, the Historic Minardi Day gets to Imola

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On the occasion of the Historic Minardi Day on Saturday, June 25, Formula 1 will roar again at the Circuit of Imola. A day dedicated to motors and to sport to retrace the 35-year history of the Minardi Team and of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit, to savour 340 Grand Prix of the stable founded by Gian Carlo Minardi, and much more.

We will see on track the single-seaters of the Minardi F1 Team that trod the world scene from its debut in 1985 during the Brazilian Grand Prix with Pierluigi Martini up to the Chinese Grand Prix in 2005 with Friesacher/Doornbos/Albers. We will go through the seasons of Alessandro Nannini, Michele Alboreto, Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli, Alessandro Zanardi, Mark Webber, Luca Badoer, and Gianni Morbidelli. Propelled by aspirated turbo V12 and V10 engines with more than 800 hp, the cars from Formula 2 and Formula 3, categories in which Gian Carlo Minardi succeded early in his path in Motorport, will be on track too. Moreover, during the day we will have some moments dedicated to the fans of Sport and Road GT.

On display, the single-seaters of the Minardi F1 Team and of the Stable of Toro Rosso including the STR03 with which Sebastian Vettel won his first Grand Prix in Monza in 2008, and some unique and historic pieces of Formula 1, in addition to some meetings with the drivers who contributed to writing important pages of the Minardi F1 Team path.

“This day is dedicated to all the enthusiasts and fans of the Minardi Team who still today continue to demonstrate their fondness to me. During the Targa Florio, I saw with my own eyes their warmth and they moved me. Honestly, I did not expect it. The Historic Minardi Day will be the occasion for living again 340 F1 GP and 35 years of the Minardi Team, along with the drivers who contributed in writing this history. A sport day to live all together. The more the merrier “, Gian Carlo Minardi explains.

An official portal has been inaugurated for the event, www.MinardiDay.it , where you can find the complete program and all the details about this day at the Circuit of Imola. You can also follow the updates via Facebook and Twitter social networks, using the hashtag #HistoricMinardiDay and #MinardiDay.

The ticket price is 10 € (free for children under 12 years), you can purchase them directly at the Circuit or on the Vivaticket portal (click here).

 

F1 | Spanish GP – SCORECARDS

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The highest Sunday’s grade can only be his:

Max Verstappen – 10 a perfect race. In spite of Kimi Raikkonen’s pressure, he showed cold blood and drove well without the slightest imperfection. He managed to react very well to the change of team. Red Bull backed him with a different strategy compared to that of Ricciardo, favoring the commercial aspect.

Daniel Ricciardo – 9 he deserve this mark considering the misfortune of a tire puncture during the last laps. They used a different strategy trying to confuse Ferrari.

Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel – 8 they ended a difficult race in which all the complications of Maranello appeared.

Carlos Sainz – 8 the driver at Toro Rosso was protagonist of a very admirable race that ended with an important sixth place. In the first laps, he was behind his Red Bull relatives. He wasn’t intimidated by the choice of the mother house and responded very well.

Daniil Kvyat – 7 for encouragement. He must absolutely recover from the shock that could definitely jeopardize his career. In Toro Rosso, he will have the chance to find again tranquility and show his qualities.

Jenson Button – 7 despite a McLaren-Honda problematic in race, he gained important points.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton 4 – with a so embarrassing technical supremacy, they cannot take the liberty of throwing away everything at the third bend. In my opinion, Nico has the 49% of the guilt. Hamilton, a three times world champion should have waited. Mercedes Management will have to sort out its two just reconfirmed drivers.