F1 | Monaco GP – Gian Carlo Minardi's Preview

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

 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?

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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.

F1 | Spanish GP – THE POINT

/in /by

A Spain Grand Prix that since first meters gave us an unpredictable emotion with the contact between Hamilton and Rosberg that put the both Mercedes offside. We can split the guilt almost in equal parts (51% to Lewis, and 49% to Rosberg) although it was absolutely to be avoid, considering their supremacy in qualifying.

The Management of Mercedes will be able to overcome this moment of tension as it already did in the past, also because they have no competitors on track. The contact increased the show on track with an amazing struggle between Red Bull and Ferrari played on strategy.

The different strategy used by Verstappen and Ricciardo is the proof that the commercial aspect was favored, anyway, the amazing victory of Max will remain in the annals. He drove magnificently without mistakes despite a determined and combative Kimi Raikkonen. The very young Dutch driver wasn’t overwhelmed by the events, despite a demanding week. Red Bull proved to be strongly growing. The tire puncture at the end of the race prevented Ricciardo from trying the final attack against Vettel.

Ferrari that had arrived here with the aim of winning, failed. It didn’t succeed in exploiting a golden opportunity despite a Kimi’s and Vettel’s podium. The Finnish grasps the second place in the world championship behind Rosberg who leads the standings, but in Maranello there is a lot of work. We had the first signals in Sochi.

Noteworthy is the sixth place of Carlos Sainz who was able to overcome a difficult moment. I wish him a bit more luck, he is a fast driver with his head on his shoulders

Let’s see what will happen in Monte Carlo.

                                                                                                                

CIK FIA | Karol Basz dominates the European OK at Zuera

/in /by

Great victory for Karol Basz in the first European CIK-FIA event at the Zuera circuit. A success built with great determination and intellect by the World Campion of Kosmic Racing who after achieving the second position in Pre-Final, signs the victory in Final at the end of an amazing struggle.

A crescendo weekend for the driver handled by the Minardi Management who proves to be a term of comparison for International karting. After ending the Heats in fifth, thanks to a tenth and third place (he signed the fastest lap), he managed to move up the standings without any mistakes, driving in a precise and accurate way and beating off a stiff competition. In Pre-Final, he achieves he second position and ends a tenth from the winner, before gaining the success in the first of the four scheduled events.

“It was a difficult race, but at the end we won. I am glad we won, this victory is very important. We did an excellent job and now we are optimist for the upcoming event. I must congratulate the whole team and my team mate Patrik Hajek on his first seasonal victory”, Karol Basz says enthusiastically.

“I must congratulate Karol. I saw a determined and very focused driver. In Final, he did a masterpiece. He struggled and gained the victory in the field as just the true champions can do. This is the best way to start this European Championship. After last season world victory, the CIK-FIA is surely one of ours goals. I can not deny this”, manager Alberto Tonti says.

Aci Team Italia plays its trump card. The start at Montmelò

/in /by

This weekend, from the Barcelona’s circuit, the new season of the ACI Team Italia starts with its rapresentatives, Raffaele Marciello, Luca Ghiotto, Antonio Govinazzi, and Antonio Fuoco.  After last season’s positive beginning with Marciello and Ghiotto engaged respectively in GP2 and GP3 with the Trident team, this year the program made by the Federation doubled the efforts so to call in its ranks also Fuoco and Giovinazzi.

Antonio Fuoco, class of 1996, will be protagonist of GP3 Series with the colors of the Trident team with the aim of achieving the title after signing his debut in the last season with the second place in Austria.

Regarding GP2 Series, the prelude of Formula 1, next year will have an important technical revolution, three rookies will represent Italy: Luca Ghiotto (Trident), class of 1995 and GP3 vice-champion, Antonio Giovinazzi (Prema), class of 1993 winner of Master F3 in Zandvoort and GP3 vice-champion, and Raffaele Marciello (Russian Time) at his third season.

“A new ACI Team adventure is starting with a group of boys that has been able to emerge in the most important championships. It is the result of an intense program strongly wanted by the Federation that has handled these boys since karting, before their passage to the single-seaters with the ACI-CSAI Formula Abarth, Formula 3 Italia, and Formula 4” Gian Carlo Minardi says. “We have great expectations for Marciello, Ghiotto, Fuoco and Giovinazzi and hope to show that Italy is second to none in drivers’ quality. In Barcelona we will have the first act of a long season, and I wish all these guys a great luck”, the manager from Faenza concludes.

F1 |Spanish GP – Preview

/in /by

Next weekend the Circus arrives in Spain. The circuit of Barcelona is very familiar to the teams and drivers, and they will put in place numerous technical newness coming from the experience in the first four GP.

It is going to be an important event where we can evaluate the technical level of each one. Once again, the comparison term will be Mercedes that, in spite of its disarming power, hasn’t still shown all its cards. Ferrari will have a double responsibility: getting closer to Aldo costa’s “creature” and protecting itself from Red Bull and a fast growing Williams.

Max Verstappen has reached Milton Keynes. He was promoted to Toro Rosso in place of Daniil Kvyat who comes back to Toro Rosso, a team he knows very well after his debut in Formula 1 where he had gained a promotion for the following year beside Daniel Ricciardo. As I have already stressed, I think it has been an impulsive decision. The Russian driver, as he has already demonstrated, is not a driver “to be set aside”

Regarding the tires, Pirelli will bring the Hard, Medium, and Soft compounds. In winter tests, Mercedes impressed us proving an excellent feeling with the “whites” medium tires. Hamilton and Rosberg will have at their disposal five sets of “whites” and seven of “yellows”, yellows, each. At Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen decisively bet on the softer compound with eight sets of soft tires and four sets of medium ones.

Regarding Regulations, we are waiting important decisions that will have to define the future of Formula 1. As far as I know, there is at least a car manufacturer very interested to join the Circus as a manufacturer, but we need rules clear and accurate. Don’t forget that at the end of this year Red Bull will be again without an engine. In the last weeks, Renault  came  forward, putting aside the hatchet, to try an approach and a renewal of the supply contract. At Enstone they have realized that it will take some time to get back to being competitive, so Horner’s structure could be an important partner.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

F4 – Second place and points at Adria for Joao Vieira

/in /by

Returning from the points achieved in the opening race of the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth in Misano, at Adria he gained the second place in the first Qualifying Heats after having signing the third place in qualifying just 76 thousandths away from pole position.

Started from the second row, the driver of the Antonelli Motorsport puts Cunati under pressure overtaking him at the 15th lap and ends the race second, gaining the first seasonal podium. Thanks to the fourth place conquered in the second round, Joao entered into the Final and greeted the second event with the fourth place, after fighting a lot of time for the second position. Thanks to his 42 points, Joao gets to the fifth place in the overall  standings.

“It was certainly a positive weekend with the second place in race-1. We still have engine problems, so we lost a lot, despite the short straights. I will have to count on qualifying with the aim to start my race as forward as possible. So I will try to defend myself in the race, even if it will be more difficult in the fast circuits”, explains Joao Vieira who is going to come back on the track for a testing day in Imola in view of the upcoming event at the end of this month.

“The glass is half full because we come back with a podium  and 42 points. The potential of Joao and of the team is surely higher, but once again the engine didn’t support us. In the short straights at Adria Joao couldn’t close his attacks”, manager Giovanni Minardi explains. 

F1 | A stormy air?

/in /by

The third place achieved by Kimi Raikkonen at the Grand Prix in Sochi was not enough for Ferrari to see the glass half-full. The new Mercedes double win and the reliability problems of the SF16-H are creating some anxiety in the race department and president Marchionne, new CEO of the Prancing Horse, depicted himself as embittered. “It bothers me to see Ferrari suffering this way”.

After just four GP, Mercedes has put together 157 points and dubbed Ferrari that stops at 76 points. It is also due to the three withdrawals of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in Australia, Bahrain, and Russia (because of the double pileup caused by Kvyat that from the Grand Prix of Spain will be downgraded to Toro Rosso and will replace Verstappen who is promoted alongside Daniel Ricciardo).Only in Shanghai both the Ferrari cars saw the checkered flag gaining the second and fifth positions.

Since the winter tests, Mercedes had showed a disarming superpower which was proved by the first four Nico Rosberg’s wins and by two double wins. “We have had signals of a new superpower since the test days that showed a situation different respect the announcements. Recovering during the season is not easy, especially without any tests. Despite some reliability problems also at Mercedes, the best time made by Rosberg at the second to last lap is another signal of their potential. It is the proof that he had managed the race until that moment”, Gian Carlo Minardi explains. “The problems accused by Hamilton could also be children of developments projected towards the future”, continues the Manager from Faenza engaged in the organization of the 100th edition of the Targa Florio scheduled this weekend.

Once finished the Russian grand prix, Maurizio Arrivabene, managing director and team principal of the Prancing Horse, offered his mea culpa. “When things don’t work there, someone is always responsible. The reliability can suffer when you are obliged to run after someone and have to pull out the best from any single component. Thus, also the development of the cars is slowed”, Minardi adds. “Unfortunately, in some circumstances, they lacked the referent man who can smooth 3-4 tenths of seconds”.

As usual, with the arrival in Spain, the teams will bring numerous newness obtained through the experience and data acquired during the non-European events.The Circus will prolong his stay in Barcelona for two testing days scheduled in May, 17 and 18. With a tweet, Sauber (in a strong economic difficulty) said that it will not present, having no new solutions to be tested and no young driver available according to the rules which asks each team to try a young driver in at least one of the two days.

F1 | Verstappen replaces Kvyat at Red Bull. Minardi "An impulsive decision"

/in /by

Red Bull noticed the both last mistakes made by Daniil Kvyat. Helmut Marko, in the post-GP, made us sense that something could have changed, and now we have the official announcement by Milton Keyne’s team.

Starting from the Spanish Grand Prix it will take place the cockpit reversion between the Russian driver and Max Verstappen who greets Toro Rosso and goes in Red Bull next to Daniel Ricciardo. Thus, they demoted Kvyat who is back into Toro Rosso where he had attracted attention at his debut gaining a quick promotion into a top-team, after just a season in Formula 1.

“I get the impression that at Toro Rosso they have acted too impulsively in rejecting a driver that did so well at his F1 debut with Toro Rosso and the following year in Red Bull (Ed. He ended the season ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the standings). Moreover, in these first four GP he also gained a podium”, Gian Carlo Mianrdi says speaking about the third place achieved by Kvyat in China. “On the other side, we are moving too quickly with Max Verstappen who would need to grow and mature without too many pressures”, the Manager from Faenza continues. “The risk is to ruin, in one shot, two young drivers.