F1 | German GP – THE POINT

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Once again, Ferrari ended a Grand Prix 30” away from the first place, behind a Red Bull that placed both its drivers on the podium only behind Hamilton, the dominant figure. A Red Bull that managed to make a great recovery in the first part of the season, whereas the men at Maranello do not succeed. Unfortunately, the problems at Ferrari have been the same since the championship start.

In Germany, Ferrari proved to be the third power in the World Championship. We hope that Binotto’s reorganization gives good results. After the amazing pole position that he gained on Saturday, Nico Rosberg’s race was toned-down, and he was also picked on by Commissioners. I do not agree with this penalization. On the contrary, I would have agreed with a penalty for Verstappen, maker of a too aggressive start, who overtook Ricciardo by crossing the white strip with his car. The Mercedes staff did not help the German driver, stopping him 3”. In these three break weeks, Nico has to find again the mind of the first four events.

A sad time even for Williams, whose fourth place is jeopardized by Force India recovery. The same situation for Toro Rosso that will have to safeguard itself from McLaren. We can expect an interesting second season launched by two important events: Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.

In Germany, the hymn of Mameli played thanks to Antonio Fuoco who won Race 1 in GP3. It was a positive weekend even for GP2 with Ghiotto’s second place and the fourth one of Marciello. The blue patrol of the ACI Team Italy continues to give us important results and not betrays the expectations.

F1 | Green light to the team-radio. Arm wrestling for the track-limit. Minardi" Too complicated rules"

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While the weekend was in full swing, and in Hockenheim was preparing to live the qualifying before the summer break, the Team Principals gathered around a table to try resolving the set of problems emerged during the Hungarian weekend.

They made different proposals to make a step back respect the current regulations. As it had happened early in season with the new qualifying format that was annulled very quickly in favor of the current one.

The F1 Strategy Group decided to liberalize communications between drivers and pit again, except for the warm-up lap. They want to avoid any assistance to the drivers at the starting phase, instead drivers and engineers will have the possibility to talk freely during the race. They had also found a balance, especially between Mercedes-Ferrari-Red Bull Team Principals, on the track-limit as it is difficult to evaluate if the crossing of the white line gives or not an advantage to the driver.

Charlie Whiting started an arm wrestling and put on the scale “the responsibility” and “the rules”. So, we have consulted Gian Carlo Minardi. “The proposals of the F1 Strategy Group have to be approved and have to officially modify the current regulations for becoming operative. Otherwise, it is difficult to apply them, and Whiting relied on this very point. So, as we can read so far, even in Hockenheim drivers will be penalized if they cross the white line”, the manager from Faenza explains. “”, Gian Carlo Minardi continues.

Starting from 2017, the starts with the safety-car will be modified. If the start, due to track arduous conditions, will be done under the safety car, at the return of the safety car, all the cars will have to align on the grid for a “traditional” start, as it happens at the end of the classic warm-up lap. “I am absolutely favorable. Watching the start of a grand prix behind the safety car is not the best of the show. In Great Britain, as instance, we had a security excess. We are always talking about Formula 1, the ultimate expression of motorsport, where there are the best drivers racing”.

In Germany, it start the new path of Ferrari after James Allison’s greetings and the welcome to Mario Binotto as a Technical Director. “I think that Binotto is an excellent choice for Ferrari. He lived the golden age of Maranello beside Ross Brawn, Jea Todt&C. He will contribute for the renewal of this stable”, Gian Carlo Minardi concludes.

F1 | German GP– Preview

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After the cancellation in 2015, Formula 1 is back in Germany at the Hockenheim circuit. With the umpteenth success of Mercedes and the conquest of the pinnacle achieved by Hamilton at Rosberg’s detriment, Toto Wolff’s team has what it takes to end the first part of the season at its best with a new seal and find (why not) its leader.

All the attention will focus on Ferrari and Red Bull. Horner’s men are in a great growth and will try to prove to be the second power in the world championship, at the detriment of the Prancing Horse, that is also destabilized by Allison’s leaving. Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene’s announcements, released in the Hungarian weekend, have not been confirmed and have destabilized an environment already agitated. The changes could be in progress. We have to wait for president Marchionne’s decision.

As we had written,  in the following days a friendly agreement was found between Ferrari and Allison who could go towards Enstone. Arrivabene’s position is also to be clarified. Unfortunately, this stalemate could affect 2017’s season heavily.

F1 | Hungarian GP – Scorecards

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Lewis Hamilton – 9 he responded brilliantly to the “detriment” he received from commissioners and handled the race very well, outdoing Nico Rosberg.

Nico Rosberg – 8 his pole position was special, even if he was helped by commissioners. Unfortunately, men always interpret the rules in a different way.

Sebastian Vettel – 8 he tried to attack Daniel Ricciardo as much as possible.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8 he is certainly reinvigorated. He conquered the first podium, defending himself very well from the German driver’s attacks.

Kimi Raikkonen – 8 even if he lost again the comparison with Verstappen, he was the maker of a great recovery, remedying a mistake that had relegated him in the fourteenth position. He recovered up to the sixth position in a race in which nothing was gave away.

Fernando Alonso – 7,5 throughout the weekend, he took his McLaren into the top ten. The time lap sequence was important.

Max Verstappen – 7 he would have deserved more without the “unfairness” towards Kimi. Once again, he proved all his grit and determination.

Carlos Sainz – 7 he continues not doing any mistakes, unlike the scarce Kvyat.

F1 | Hungarian GP – THE POINT

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We watched a Hungarian GP animated by strategy. A race built at the start with Hamilton immediately overtaking the pole man Nico Rosberg who did not manage to trouble his team-mate, in spite of a certain aggressiveness.

The negative aspect came from the Sports Commissioners who “ruined” the weekend with some unclear decisions. In Q1, the 107% rule was not satisfied, and then they validated the pole position of Rosberg who made a fabulous lap with the yellow flags.  I am a fan of his, but in my opinion, the rule went missed.  Some drivers were penalized too heavily for surpassing the white flag, meanwhile Verstappen was not even rebuked. With a too strong-arm tactics, once again he kept Kimi Raikkonen behind. If they had abided by the regulation to the letter, they would have penalized the Dutch driver.

Once again, we saw the excessive power of Mercedes that ended the race with a 27”advantage on Riccardo and Vettel. They handled the race with a great calm. Vettel and Raikkonen ended the GP behind Ricciardo and Verstappen respectively, even if the Finnish driver was maker of a great recovery, after his mistake in qualifying that had taken him up the 14th place. He handled his SuperSoft tires very well, achieving his best seasonal race. After Silversone, Ferrari is back on his standard, even if it is not enough for opposing the Silver Arrows, neither a Red Bull that is in a strong growth, just a point away from Maranello in the Constructors’ standings.

In Germany, we hope to see a more aggressive Ferrari able to stretch out on Red Bull.

Chaos in Ferrari, James Allison towards Renault

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While Ferrari has to respond tangibly to the last lackluster performances, the rumors about an agitated and doubtful milieu continue. In recent days, there was a meeting for trying to bring back Ross Brawn in Maranello, but the English technician declined the offer.“The feedback of the Technician from Manchester, who in a Ferrari-style says that he has not been contacted, leaves an open window”, says Gian Carlo Minardi consulted by www.minardi.it about the current situation in the Sports Management of Maranello. 35 years of experience in Motorsport make the entrepreneur from Faenza a reliable voice.“In this moment, Ferrari lacks a team spirit”. In the upcoming weeks, some important changes are expected within the Sports Management, regarding not only the technicians but also the Team Principal”.“The contract with James Alison is in a cordial conclusive phase trough a company agreement with which the Technician will avoid the gardening. In addition, they are also negotiating Maurizio Arrivabene’s exit. In this moment, we cannot see who the leader is”, continues the previous Team Principal, founder of the same name stable from Faenza.

Marchionne in command

“I don’t see how Marchionne can charge himself with the entire racing department, even if he has a lot experience as a manager. The management of a F1 team is a demanding job that requires 15-16 working hours a day. Living in contact with the racing department in first person, and not via rumors, is fundamental. Only this way, we can be aware of the true situation. I am sure that Ferrari has all the means (technical and economic) and the human resources to reborn. Anyway, they need to put the appropriate people in the right places”. Yet, in this moment, the valid alternatives lack.

Ferrari, the third power in the World Championship

Early in season, the staff of Maranello announced firmly to have reached Mercedes. Reality, instead, speaks about a Ferrari even behind Red Bull. “They need to give back some reliability to the Ferrari project. Once, Maranello was the arrival point for mechanics, engineers, and drivers. Nowadays, instead, the wind is changed. Vettel himself has had some contact with the top brass of Mercedes. I am the first one who wants to hear the Mameli’s hymn played at high volume, but in this moment, I see this as improbable. Today, the difficulties that had emerged since the first races, hidden by placings and declarations, are coming out. Actually, in that moment, the results were the outcomes of the lacks of their competitors who have been able to grow in the last months, like Red Bull that has inserted itself between Maranello and Mercedes.

An already damaged 2017?

The stalemate could jeopardize season 2017, even before it starts. The project about a new car has already started. “2017 will be characterized by important technical changes. Therefore, it will be important to make a good project, but with this uncertainty, it is difficult to understand to who it will be assigned and who will manage it.

kart | Riccardo Negro joins the Energy Corse factory

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Starting from the Swedish date of the KZ World Championship, Riccardo Negro will wear the official colors of the Energy Corse. After careful appraisals from Mick Panigada’s staff, Riccardo Negro becomes one of the official drivers, making available his know how and his experience to the factory from Seriate for the development of the frame and TM engine.

The first official race at the wheel of the Energy/TM will happen on the track of Kristianstand on next September, 4th. An event valid for the CIK-FIA International KZ2 Super Cup. An essential appointment for Riccardo, a driver with a great experience and a prize-list in which, among the others, it stands out the World Cup 2012 and the WSK Euro series victory in the following year.

“I am very glad for this agreement because it allows Riccardo to race for an official team. We hope it is the beginning of long-lasting cooperation with Energy Corse. Riccardo has all the qualities for be again a winning driver and along with this team, he will have a lot of satisfactions. Moreover, he can put his knowledges at their disposal for developing all the material, including the TM engine, at the best. I must congratulate my associate, Alberto Tonti, for reaching this important goal. It wasn’t an easy negotiation, they rewarded Riccardo’s qualities“, manager Giovanni Minardi says.

“We are very pleased to announce the beginning of the cooperation between Riccardo Negro and energy Corse. It is the result of careful assessments. In the testing days, he demonstrated professionalism and impressed the patron, Mick Panigada, his technical collaborators, and Piero Rizzi. The first step will be the World Championship in Sveglia. For Riccardo it is going to open an interesting project alongside one of the most renowned manufacturers”, manager Alberto Tonti explains.

“I am glad to take part in a competitive factory like Energy Corse and I must to thank Alberto Tonti and Giovanni Minardi. The aim is to collect, all together, the best possible result from the first race”, Riccardo Negro says.

F1 | Hungarian GP – Preview

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The Hungaroring is more like a karting track than a real racetrack due to his numerous turns that put cars, drivers, and tires to a hard test.

Pirelli will take the Medium, Soft, and Supersoft tire compounds with different strategies at Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull regarding “the yellow” and “the red”.

In 2015, Sebastian Vettel won ahead both Red Bulls, also thanks to some technical problems that affected Hamilton’s and Rosberg’s Mercedes. This year, the scenario could be different because of a Red Bull in strong growth, as Max Verstappen stressed in Brisighella at the prize giving of the Bandini trophy.Ferrari is in a delicate moment with some diatribes, which will surely lead to important changes in the Sports Management in the upcoming weeks. The top brass in Maranello met Ross Brawn, but so far the smoke seems very “grey”. They need a strong personality that can return a certain reliability to the project. Even Sebastian Vettel begins to get agitated… I can already see a difficult 2017…

We are getting to the seasonal turning point. Now we go downhill toward the finish line and the points begin weighting twice. At Mercedes, they are starting again “from scratch” with two drivers divided by just a point. Ferrari will have to safeguard itself from a menacing Verstappen and from a Ricciardo looking for his redemption. The hot could be an ally for Maranello, but (so far) they forecast a variable weather.

Ferrari calls Ross Brawn. "Grey smoke"

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After starting as a second power in the World Championship with the ambitious goal of equaling and surpassing Mercedes, at the middle of the championship Ferrari has to safeguard itself from Red Bull Racing that is growing fast. Max Verstappen, who was in Brisighella to receive the Bandini Trophy, spoke about a Red Bull ahead the Red. In few days, we will have the Hungarian GP, an important testbed for team principal Maurizio Arrivabene.

The situation in Maranello, unfortunately, does not seem serene and some rumors talk about a Sergio Marchionne ready for important changes (the latest of many) in the Sports Management. Some rumors, that are getting more and more persistent, tell of a meeting in Forte dei Marmi for convincing Ross Brawn to make a sensational return. “Ferrari lacks a reference point and since he is a strong and charismatic character, Brawn could play this role, although so far the smoke has been gray. They need to give again some reliability to a milieu animated by some diatribes.In the coming weeks there will certainly be fundamental changes, although I see a 2017 already compromised. Vettel himself starts pawing and could look to other shores”, Gian Carlo Minardi explains.

Last year, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari won the Hungarian GP ahead of both Red Bull cars. “An important result, but it was the outcome of some problems at Mercedes. Now, I see Red Bull in a great growth that has managed to exploit occasions at its best, as Verstappen himself stressed at the Bandini Trophy. I hope that this hot can give a hand to Ferrari in calming the spirits down.

DKM | Second place in a European perspective for Karol Basz in Genk

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With the second place gained in Genk valid for the third event of the German Kart Championship, Karol Basz proves to be a great protagonist in the “OK” category, remaining in the fight for the final title. With two more scheduled events, on the track of Oschersleben and Kerplen, the standard-bearer of the Kosmic Racing is just 21 points away from the top of the standings.

A testbed very useful for the next event in the European championship scheduled on the Belgian track at the end of the month during which Karol made different tests with the frame, ending race-1 with a fifth place and the Final in second behind of the current leader.

“It has been an important weekend that ended with the second place that left me in fight for the final win. Once again, I have to pay a compliment to all the Kosmic Racing Team. We made many different tests for the next European appointment. In free practice, I was very fast, instead I had some problems in setting during qualifying that I solved in time for the Final that ended with the second place”, Karol Basz says.

“After the test with the Lamborghini in Mugello, I wanted to see a Karol Basz focused on the kart and so he was. Once again, he did not save himself. He had also to defend his second place in the DKM Championship and had to prepare at his best the decisive appointment in the European CIK-FIA that takes place in Genk. He did his best exploiting the struggle between two drivers, inserting himself in the second place in race-2. Now, we’ll have a relaxing weekend in Poland during the 2nd Driver Summer Camp with Karol as an instructor and Giovanni Minardi and me as supervisors”, manager Alberto Tonti says.

 

Bandini Trophy. Minardi "Verstappen is mature and enjoyable"

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Max Verstappen received the Bandini Trophy in Brisighella. The prize, dedicated to the Ferrari driver from Romagna passed away for a car accident in 1967, since 1992 has rewarded emerging drivers. This year, the promoters wanted to award the talent of the very young Red Bull driver, winner in the Spanish GP. Thanks to that seal, with his debut at the wheel of the Red Bull Racing after a promotion from Toro Rosso, Max became the youngest driver to win a F1 GP at the age of 18 years, 7 months and 15 days.

“Max Verstappen is very pleasant and mature in his answers. We must applaud the committee that once again identified and rewarded a driver with a major F1 career in front of him. It was a wonderful evening with a great feedback from the public. A prize that has been growing for 20 years, attracting a lot of authorities and important people in the small municipality of Brisighella. There was a beautiful exhibition with ten Toro Rosso, the Porsche that won at Le Mans and two Lamborghini to remember the centenary of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s birth”, Gian Carlo Minardi says.

F4 | Big scare for Joao Vieira in Mugello

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He managed to get by with a burn of first level on his leg, but the consequences of the accident could have been more serious for Joao Vieira protagonist of the fourth round in the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth on the Mugello circuit.

At the start of the second race, the Tatuus of the Brazilian driver remains on the starting grid due to a clutch problem and a competitor hits it in the rear. The carom involves two other single-seaters. In the terrible impact, the rear tire almost touches the driver’s head, and a break in the radiator lets the 80°C water to flow out. Joao taken to the hospital manages to get by with a fright and a burn of first level on his leg.

“Luckyly everything went fine, and I got by with only a burn on my leg. These cars are very safe, even if we have still to work to protect the head better. In the impact, the rear tire almost touched my head. The important thing is that I am fine. For sure I’ll be on track in Vallelunga”, Joao Vieira says.

Joao greets the fourth event of the Tricolore series with the fifth place gained in race-1.

The Bandini Trophy to Max Verstappen

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It is Max Verstappen the winner of the 23th edition of the Bandini Trophy. The award ceremony, that takes places as usual in Brisighella on Sunday June 17, will crown the young Red Bull driver, the youngest driver to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix in his eighteens in Barcelona. After last season focused on the win of Mercedes as Constructors’ World champion, the event focuses again on the drivers who have been in a great shape. Verstappen inherits a prize that in the last years went to drivers like Schumacher, Raikkonen, Alonso, Vettel, and Hamilton, great champions who with their brilliant career then have testified the foresight of the prize organizers capable of discovering and giving value to talents as nobody else in this field. “After last season with witch we celebrated the win accomplished by Mercedes 50 years later its last victory, this year we are back to our origins, rewarding an emerging driver that in a few time has gained notoriety. Last year, at seventeen years, he debuted in a F1 world championship. This year he was confirmed with flying colors trough a flash promotion into Red Bull, a promotion that he repaid with his win in Spain and two second places”, says Gian Carlo Minardi, who has been part of the Honor Committee for 23 years.“His win in Spain proves that the choice was right also because his promotion into Red Bull Racing came before his win. Verstappen has shown a certain improvement and maturation after each appointment”.

Verstappen is a model to follow for the drivers and for the stables

“It is a good signal for all the young, but also for the stables” the manager from Faenza continues and stresses the importance of giving an opportunity to young drivers. “Max was good at exploiting all the opportunities, from his debut into Toro Rosso up to his passage into Red Bull baptized with a win. There are other drivers that would deserve an opportunity, and it would be an incentive both for the teams and official drivers”. The arrival of the Dutch driver put some pressure on Ricciardo, creating a healthy and productive competition within the team, a competition that urges them to do always their best. “The project for the youth of Red Bull offered us a lot of satisfactions, but burned some drivers. They have an important economic power that allows them to have a turnover, moreover they can count on a Junior-Team”.

 Fuoco, Ghiotto, Marciello, and Giovinazzi

 Our mind flies fast to our standard-bearers Antonio Fuoco, Luca Ghiotto, Raffaele Marciello and Anthonio Giovinazzi, who are doing well in their respective GP3 and GP2 Series championships. At Silverstone, it was the turn of Antonio Fuoco for sounding the notes of the hymn of Mameli while in Baku Giovinazzi brought the tricolor onto the summit winning twice. “As a Federation, we are very pleased with the results, because these guys were selectioned and followed through internships. At Silverstone Fuoco he won his first GP3 race, while Giovinazzi and Ghiotto have occupied important positions in Gp2. Now, the resources of ACI Team Italia are limited and we cannot afford any mistakes. However, having the support of our Federation may open to new opportunities. At the moment, we lack a reference team with which boys can do their debut, making the most of our work”.

Ferrari Driver Academy

During the collective tests at Silverstone, Charles Leclerc, GP3 leader and FDA driver debuted with Ferrari SF-H16. “Massimo Rivola is doing a great job as a coordinator and Sporting Director of this reality dedicated to the youth that wants to re-launch itself after missed results. Unfortunately, Jules Bianchi, FDA reference driver, passed away. Despite his young age, the Monegasque is fighting for the GP3 title along with Fuoco, and during testing on the English track he alternated himself with Kimi Raikkonen at the wheel, after impressing the Haas team in free practice”.