F1 | Malaysian GP – Preview

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Formula 1 gets to Malaysia that has hosted a World Championship event since 1999. Two straights that are the evident signs of Sepang in which Mercedes will have the chance to unleash the whole of its cavalry (1000 HP recorded, 980 HP declared by Toto Wolff), before others as much important detachments. Then, they reach the mixed part in which it is important to find the right balance between aerodynamics and fluidity in bends.

This will be a tactical and demanding Grand Prix due to the high temperatures, even if strong rains aren’t so sporadic in this period of the year. Once again, three top team have different tire strategies. Mercedes and Ferrari bring seven sets of Soft tires for each driver, even if Hamilton can also count on three Hard ones, like Raikkonen, against two “red” tire sets at disposal of Rosberg and Vettel. At Red Bull, Ricciardo and Verstappen have chosen a solution with 3 Hard tire sets, 4 Medium and 6 Soft.

This race could give us some extra clues about the fight for the title between Hamilton and Rosberg who are divided by just eight points after fifteen events. Strengthened by his success of fifteen days ago, the German driver overtook his teammate, while Ferrari, after its 2015 win with Sebastian Vettel (with which the seals of the “Princing Horse” in Malaysia become seven) will have to recover some points against Red Bull. The fight for the fourth place between Williams and Force India is also going to continue.

For the second time, we can see the new property of formula 1, after its debut in Singapore. As they have already declared, they bet on a Formula 1 linked to big events and oriented towards the great world capitals. In my opinion, we should review the regulations radically, so to make races more spectacular.

Karol Basz conquers the second place in the German DKM Championship

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At the Kerpen circuit, the last event of the German DKM Championship, Karol Basz achieves a peremptory second place in a Final that is worth the honorable positioning in the championship.

Surely, some regret for what happened in Pre-Final remains with the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing Team as a victim of a contact caused by Tonteri that then was penalized. A contact that forces him to end the race in eleventh and to spring from the sixth row in Final.With a great determination, the driver guided by the Mianrdi Management ascends the standings up to the second place, less than two seconds away from the winner.

“The pace and the speed were really good and we had a great chance to play for the final win. Unfortunately, the contact in race-1 conditioned the weekend, even if I am happy for the second place in race-2 and in the championship. Now I am going to defend the World Champion title in Bahrein”, Karol Basz says.

“Once again, I must congratulate Karol Basz for what he did in the whole weekend. Unfortunately, the only chance to play for the title was taken away in race-1. Surely, this kind of event should not happen in the major Ok category. Surely, in the final result, Oschersleben’s withdrawal has a role. Along with the Kosmic Racing Team, we will work to defend the World Champion title”, manager Alberto Tonti says.

Tomorrow's F1. Carey bets on "Big events". Minardi "We need shorter races"

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Step by step, Chase Carey, Formula 1 new face after the acquisition by Liberty Media, unveils the project for the Circus new era. Back from the weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, in an interview released to the official website of the world championship, Carey talks about “great events” that will affect the whole week before a grand prix.“Singapore is incredible. It is a week-long show. A F1 Grand Prix will have to be part of a greater event, in which cars and drivers will be the core. Cars are amazing, as their technology, but this is not enough”.

Speaking of the market, Liberty Media will bet a lot on Land of Stars and Stripes. “We believe that F1 must reach the great cities of the world like Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.

“Singapore is the first circuit that has transformed its Grand Prix into an event with shows and attractions throughout the week. Really a good idea that attracts a lot of people, but Formula 1 cannot detach from true and historic circuits like Monza, Silverstone, and Spa-Franchorchamps”,GianCarloMinardi tells us.“Some years ago, circuit fields were assaulted by fans and transformed into campsites with tents and barbecue. Today, unfortunately, this is impossible”. 

“Accessory events are absolutely ok, but we should have shorter and more spectacular races, a complete review of the regulations is indispensable. We need clear, fixed rules, accessible also for fans”, the manager from Faenza continues, calling attention on a highly current issue.

How many of us, watching a race, have risked to fall asleep? Singapore, except for the amazing fight between Kvyat-Verstappen, Raikkonen’s overtaking against Hamilton and the last laps with Ricciardo’s (failed) recovery against winner Rosberg, was endless, soporific.

“In the US, sports federations, from Basket to Nascar and Indy, are making a study about the indifference of young people for sports, who require faster events. In the next years, this crisis will also involve soccer. Ninety minutes are too many for a match”, Minardi concludes adding “The World is changing. In the last 10 years, the US, the percentage of new licensed people has passed from 73% to 45%. It is an important signal about what is attractive for today’s young people and about how their habits change”.

F1 | young grid in 2017. Sainz towards Renault?

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Next season could bring many changes on the starting grid of a Formula 1 grand prix. At Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull the crews have been validated, but in the remaining part of the grid there could be some changes.

As we know, during the Italian grand prix weekend, Felipe Massa (born in 1981) announced his retirement from races. At Williams, alongside Finnish driver Bottas it could arrive Canadian driver Lance Stroll, former FDA winner of the Italian Formula 4 championship, and current leader in the FIA F3 European.

At McLaren, Stoffel Vandoorne (born in 1992) has already been announced beside Fernado Alonso with Jenson Button (born in 1980) as a third and test driver for the English team.

In June, Red Bull renewed its agreement with the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. that could be lent to Renault. From next year, Toro Rosso abandons Ferrari engines to embrace again the French power-unit. Thus, the Spaniard could be part of this operation, since the constructor is working to rebuilt its 2017 team. So far, Magnussen and Palmer have not persuaded the top brass (due also to a car little performing).

Among the drivers currently under agreement with Renault there is also Esteban Ocon born in 1996, who from the Spa-Francorchamps appointment wears Manor colors alongside Pascal Wehrlein (driver born in 1994 and now under agreement with Mercedes). The French driver, winner of two titles in as many seasons (2014-FIA F3 European and 2015-GP3 Series) could be placed side by side with Sainz Jr (third F1 season in 2017).

It could be promoted into Toro Rosso, the French driver Pierre Gasly born in 1996 and current GP2 Series leader, ahead our standard bearers Antonio Giovinazzi and Raffaele Marciello who surely deserve a chance. Daniil Kvyat, after being substituted by Max Verstappen in Red Bull, is looking for confirmations. In Singapore, in the duel with the Dutch driver, he proved to be an excellent driver.

At Force India, team principal Vijay Mallya has confirmed both the drivers, but Sergio Perez leaves an open door. Claire Williams praised the Mexican driver who declared to be gratified in an interview released to the official website of the world championship, yet he is looking at Renault.

After the success in the Monza GP, Antonio Giovinazzi was called by Ferrari for a test day at the simulator. Sauber could open its door for him next to Swedish driver Eriksson.

F1 | Singapore GP – SCORECARDS

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Nico Rosberg – 10 very good in qualifying where he conquered the pole position. In particular, he managed to achieve a really important win in spite of a car with too many brake problems. He kept calmness during Ricciardo’s recovery.

Daniel Ricciardo – 9 excellent his first row in qualifying. In race he was always present, fighting till the end supported by a good strategy. With two extra laps, he would have bothered the leader.

Sebastian Vettel – 8,5 like Raikkonen, he optimized his Ferrari, becoming protagonist of an important recovery. Considering the same tire compounds used, the gap remains great.

Kimi Raikkonen – 8,5 I saw again an aggressive Finnish driver who made his best. His overtake on Hamilton was amazing. The fourth place was the maximum.

Fernando Alonso – 8 the Spanish driver raced very fast giving McLaren some important points in the fight against Toro Rosso.

Daniil Kvyat – 7,5 during his duel with Verstappen, he proved not to be “the burned one”. Two important points for Toro Rosso.

Kevin Magnussen – 7 for encouragement. Like his team mate he must gain the renewal for next season. An important point for Renault.

Max Verstappen – 6,5 he lost the challenge with his team mate in qualifying and during the race he appeared not in great shape to me, even if he accomplished some overtakings of his. Once again, unfortunately, he complained. It happens too often, really. He cannot expect the other drivers to step aside when he arrives.

F1 | Singapore GP – THE POINT

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In the weekend of his 200th Grand prix, Nico Rosberg wins the grand Prix in Singapore, in the sprint ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton. With this success, now the German driver at Mercedes is on top of the overall standings.

A Mercedes that has also proven to win and dominate a weekend bothered by some brake complications. To Rosberg it has been a more suffered win than usually.

In comparison with last season, Red Bull has made great strides, improving of 1″8 in qualifying. Ricciardo attempted the feat till the end. With two extra laps we would have attended to another interesting fight. Conversely, Ferrari from its success in 2015 has passed in the fourth and fifth place. Both the drivers collected the maximum. After some reliability complications in qualifying, Vettel became protagonist of a great recovery, with Raikkonen maker of one of his best races with the Prancing Horse. The Finnish driver could not do anything against Hamilton, even if has been very good in half race when he managed to overtake him, before his pause. A Ferrari that had to use the softer tire compounds (SuperSoft and UltraSoft) to try to halve its gap with the competitors.

Singapore gave us a race with some duels. The driver at Toro Rosso, kvyat has tryed to take revenge on Verstappen, keeping behind himself the Dutch driver at Red Bull. He has surrendered only in the end, but on equal tires he proved not to be a “burned” driver. With the eight place of Perez, Force India returns in the fourth place of the world championship, ahead of Williams. It is still a very open championship and in fifteen days we will go to Sepag, another hot circuit.

Amazing and perfect, once again, the choreography and the lighting of the track that is all made in Italy thanks to the DZ company; a grand prix that is in  every fan’s heart.

F1 | Drivers'market. Minardi "Stroll towards Williams, but there are also our drivers"

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“If one of our standard-bearer, Giovinazzi, Fuoco, or Ghiotto does not make his debut into Formula 1, then it will be useless to work”. These hard words belong to Gian Carlo Minardi interviewed by www.minardi.it about the drivers’ market for 2017.

The manager from Faenza does not use any turn of phrase to stress the quality of our drivers who are protagonists in their respective championships: GP3 and GP2 Series. “In Gp2, Antonio Giovinazzi and Raffaele Marciello are in the second and third position, fighting for the title. Further away, there is Luca Ghiotto, maker of a positive debut season. With two remaining GP3 events, Antonio Fuoco is in the second place.

During the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Felipe Massa announced his retirement from   racing, whereas McLaren welcomed Softel Vandoome that will race beside Fernando Alonso, with Jenson Button relegated as a third/test driver. “It could be Lance Stroll the substitute of Felipe Massa, beside Bottas. Now, the Canadian driver is committed to win the European FIA F3 Championship to gain the Super Licence, and for the first time in his short career he does not make any announcements”, the ex Team Principal continues.

 The Canadian driver,born in 1998,  signed his debut with the single seaters in the first edition of the Italian Formula 4 championship powered by Abarth and inaugurated its golden book, then  the following year he passed to the FIA F3 European Championship. With still two scheduled races (Imola and Hockenaim) Stroll leads the standings of the European Formula 3. “We have to see what Sauber, Manor and Renault are going to do. The French team is working in the backstage to build its 2017 team. Important movements are also expected at Sauber after the change in ownership. Hypothetically speaking, there are still six/seven recommendable drivers, and Antonio Giovinazzi could be the market man. He has proved his talent in all these years, not only in GP”.

The Minardi family, thanks to the intuition of Gian Carlo and Giovanni, has proved his great feeling with young drivers, following the first phases in their career. “In 2010, along with my son Giovanni, I gave Giovinazzi the possibility to prove his value in a test day at Varano with a Formula Abarth, opening his path this way. Then, he found the important Indonesian endorsement. In GP2, he is showing his talent decisively, as he did in Formula 3”.

The games are open, and we wish to quickly see the tricolor flag in the top series.

F1 | Gian Carlo Minardi "Singapore, last call for Ferrari"

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This weekend, Formula 1 goes to Singapore, one of the last Grand Prix for dreaming about a Ferrari win that will have to guard itself tenaciously from an aggressive Red Bull. Last year, Vettel managed to achieve the win after studying the problems at Mercedes that next Sunday will try to debunk the myth of a circuit where it has never made a double win in the last 8 editions. Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will try to achieve also this record, playing an important card from the point of view of the world championship.

With its 61 laps it is a demanding circuit that puts cars and tires under stress. Once again, Ferrari will bet decisively on soft tire compounds since it has brought 9 sets of extra-softs, Mercedes and Red Bull just seven. In Monza, the Silver Arrows have already proved to be at ease in any situation and unstoppable with any tire compound.

Ferrari will have to pay attention to Red Bull that is at ease in this kind of track thanks to an excellent aerodynamics and frame. They can also count on a Power-Unit decisively enhanced in comparison with that they had in 2015.

With Singapore, six events are missing to the checkered flag of the world championship, with different features that are critical for the achievement of the title by Mercedes.

Once again, there will be a lot of “Made in Italy” thanks to the DZ technology rewarded at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Dz, in fact, is ready to light up the night at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. From the point of view of the show, the lighting has a central role, but the action field of DZ also concern the audio-video system in the circuit, it is a support for the “Race Control Room” through its video-control system.

Kart | An engine problem stops Karol Basz at Oschersleben

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The second to last event of the German DKM Championship has a bitter taste for Karol Basz who was forced to retire in race-1 for an engine complication.

At the Oschersleben circuit, the fourth round of the  2016 Deutsche Kart Meisterschaft, the current World Champion, standard bearer of Kosmic Racing, had managed to be once again in good condition, had constantly held  the leading positions in free practice, signing the best time and the second place in qualifying of the Ok major category.

As it already happened in the conclusive race of the European championship in Genk, an engine problem prevented the Polish driver from fighting for the top positions, forcing him to retire in race-1 so to end the weekend with the eight position in race 2.

“These problems are a part of motorsport, unfortunately. The weekend has started very well for us, but an engine failure during the first race prevented us from fighting for the podium. Along with the whole Kosmic team, we are already focusing on the championship final in Kerpen”, Karol Basz says.

“The disappointment is strong, but there is the satisfaction for the work accomplished by Karol who once again proved to be in a great shape. In kerpen, we will try to play for the title”, Alberto Tonti from the Minardi Mangement says.

Karol Basz holds his second place in the championship with 146 points.  In 15 days (September 23th-25th), the final event in the circuit of Kerpen.

Gian Carlo Minardi receives the prize "Una vita per lo sport"

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In the set of Piazza del Popolo in Faenza,  Saturday 10th September, Gian Carlo Minardi received the Panathlon Club Faenza prize entitled “Una vita per lo sport”, a  prize created in 1990 dedicated to those citizens from Faenza who have distinguished themselves in sport.

“It is the second prize that I receive from the city of Faenza. I received the first one, “Faentino sotto la torre”, in 1987, after my entrance into Formula 1 World Championship with the Minardi team. These are the most important prizes that the municipal administration of Faenza gives to its citizens, and I am proud of both of them”, Gian Carlo Minardi says.

A recognition that does not come just for the results achieved in 21 F1 seasons. “I was chairman of the greco-Roman wrestling club and currently I am still  chairman of the Faenza Calcio”, the manager from Faenza continues.

“It was a great pleasure to receive the prize from Mauro Benericetti, chairman of the Panathlon Club Faenza and from Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Minissale, chairman of the agonistic department of the Army Sports Centre. It happened in the presence of its Olympic athletes:  Odette Giuffrida (silver medal in judo, in recent  Brazilian Olympic Games) Brazil Fabio Parisi (greco-Roman wrestling), John Sarchioto (boxing), Raffaele Di Serio (boxing), Licia Martignani (Taekwondo), Lara Mori and Erika Fasana (artistic gymnastics). As President of the Commission speed ACI Sport, I am working together with Lieutenant Colonel Minissale to activate a collaboration with the center“.

During the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Minissale, along with the medalists Basile and Chamizo, guided by Gian carlo Minardi, have touched the environment of Formula 1.

Bernie Ecclestone sells his Formula 1

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With the image of Scrooge McDuck happily swimming in his deposit, we wanted to joke, but it seems that  Bernie Ecclestone sold (or is going to sell) Formula 1 to the American group Liberty Media.

 The Italian Grand Prix weekend in the temple of speed in Monza has been rich in announcements. From Felice Massa who will leave the Circus at the end of the season, closing his adventure with Williams, to Soffel Vandoome debutting in the world championship beside Fernando Alonso in 2017 with McClaren, and Jenson Button as a third/test driver.  The renewal of the agreement between F1 and the Circuit of Monza for other three years that, anyway, has still to be signed.

“From what we heard, Bernie Ecclestone would have found a buyer for F1, even if he will stay beside the new proprietor. A Formula 1 that in this moment has to  renew itself and be spectacular again because the fans that flocked to Monza deserve more, absolutely. We have to reconsider the rules and the format”, explains Gian Carlo Minardi interviewed by www.minardi.it.

“The decision made by Massa has to be respected. He has given a lot to this sport, as much as he has received, and today he does not want call himself into question again, and worsen the technical level. A decision that we must respect. In 2017, at McLaren we will have a World Champion as a test driver/third driver and a young driver as a regular. Softel Vandoorne has proved to have all the qualities to do well, but his adventure starts with a great pressure. This choice from the team makes me think that if the young boy do not respects their expectations, Button could replace him”.

F1 | Italian GP – SCORECARDS

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Audience – 10 the highest mark is up to the numerous fans who flocked to the circuit, answering in a masterly way to Formula 1, they created a unique choreography once again.
Nico Rosberg – 9.5 he did not give up after the amazing pole position of Lewis Hamilton. A perfect race, and he has been perfectly backed by his team.
Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen – 8 they optimized what Ferrari put at their disposal, reversing a negative trend. In Monza, they came back into the struggle for the second place in the world championship.
Daniel Ricciardo – 8 he fought with a car that has some difficulties in the long straight, giving us an amazing overtake at the detriment of Williams.
Felipe Massa Valtteri Bottas – 7.5 in the temple of the speed they achieved (at least for now) the fourth place ahead of a Force India that will fight tooth and nail.
Fernando Alonso – 7.5 in spite of the complications of Honda, he proved to fight tooth and nail. He did not gain points but proved to be a first choice driver, signing the fastest lap even if he was supported by the tires, with few petrol on board.
Sergio Perez – 7 along with Hulkenberg he contained damages in his confrontation with Williams. It will be a great fight till the end.
Max Verstappen – 6 it was not his best weekend. Probably he had been warned by commissioners and by his colleagues.
Lewis Hamilton – 6 at the start he frustrated his extraordinary pole position, but what I did not like is his behavior at the end of the race. You have to know how to loose.

The winning young Italy

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In Monza, there was a lot of Italy, not only Formula 1. If Ferrari achieved the third place behind both the Mercedes drivers, in the GP2 Series Antonio Giovinazzi gave us another exciting success with the third place in second race.

By a jerk from the last place, the standard bearer at Prema Power team managed to achieve his third seasonal success after the double win in Baku, in the same category that launched both the champions at Mercedes who are playing now  for the World Champion title 2016.

With 35 points gained in Monza, Giovanazzi has risen in the standings, reaching the second place, only 10 points away from the leader. In race-1 on the podium there were two tricolor waving flags, thanks to the second place achieved by Raffaele Marciello that strengthens the third position in the championship. The unbelievable weekend of the Italian standard-bearers belonging to the ACI Team Italia is completed by the sixth place of Luca Ghiotto, another GP3 Series debutant.

A podium for Antonio Fuoco in the GP3 Series event, with the third place, the standard-bearer at the Trident team consolidates the second place in the standings, 24 points away from the leader with two scheduled weekends.

The temple of Speed also hosted the event of Porsche Supercup with the home success of Matteo Cairoli who had conquered the pole position, and the unbelievable third place of Mattia Drudi.

“I must to congratulate all our guys. That in Monza was a sensational weekend among wins, podium and placings. As ACI Team Italy, we have three drivers fighting for the title in the GP2 and GP3 championships. A great result for the Italian colors that deserve more and more important stages“, Gian Carlo Minardi says.