F1 | Austrian GP – THE POINT

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A fascinating grand prix with coups de théâtre up to the last lap. Rosberg managed to lead, from the sixth place, and tasted the win. At the last lap, he arrived a little bit late because of the fact that he had little oxygen in term of tires. Anyway, I found Hamilton’s maneuver quite aggressive. As we are writing, there is an ongoing investigation and I hope that no penalty will arrive. These are race accidents and normality in a race like this one.

If they want a penalty, they should distribute it equally between both Mercedes standard-bearers, giving the victory to a great Verstappen who, once again, gave us some amazing overtaking, setting himself in third, settling in third place and finishing the race in second place thanks to the contact that saw both Mercedes drivers as protagonists.

Still out of shape Ferrari that has definitely hazarded too much in trying to nullifying its stratospheric gap with Mercedes by keeping Vettel on track too long. This way, the German driver saw his rear tire exploding at the 27th lap. Nothing in particular came from a not very aggressive Raikkonen. In the Final, he failed to annoy Verstappen in trouble with his tires that had already covered 55 laps.

At Mercedes, Toto Wolff will struggle to calm everyone down. The relationship between Nico and Lewis is at a historical low. We can expect a boiling July with 4 grand prix in just 5 weekends.

On one side, it is good to come back on track immediately, even if there is no time to calm everyone down. A very different state of mind at McLaren, Haas and Manor that gain important points. Very good Jenson Button that managed to optimize his tires and his car, bringing them to the finish line in sixth.ahead of Grosjean and Sainz.  Manor gains his first world point thanks to Pascal Wehrlein outdoing  Sauber.

* At the end of the race, Nico Rosberg had a 10″ penalization that earn  that enarn him the fourth place at the finish line.

Historic Minardi Day | The movie

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Let’s live again, through images, the emotions of the Historic Minardi Day on stage at the “Dino and Enzo Ferrari Circuit” of Imola. Thank you Gian Carlo Minardi for this wonderful present.

F1 | Austrian GP– Preview

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We are back to talk about Formula 1, after the time travel with the Historic Minardy Day in Imola. I take the opportunity to thank again everybody for the numerous presence in the paddock and on the grandstands. It has been such exciting to find how much the passion for the Minardi Team is still alive.

We get to Austria, into a historic circuit that managed to adapt itself to the new standards by growing exponentially and by reaching an audience ready to crowd the fields with tents, to spend the weekend eating and drinking all together. With its 4326 m, it is a short but demanding circuit. Especially at its first bend that is very insidious. Historically speaking, it is animated by weather conditions and we can have some downpours in the upcoming Saturday and Sunday.

Mercedes is still unbeaten, with a Ferrari looking for its identity, a Red Bull that usually does not manage to capitalize his potential and a Williams that goes with some up and downs. The new asphalt could represent an unknown for tires. Pirelli will bring tires Soft, Super Soft, and Ultra Soft. If we analyze team’s choices, we can notice some differences. At Mercedes, Hamilton and Rosberg have chosen 8 Ultra Soft tire compounds against 9 at Ferrari. A different strategy for Ricciardo and Verstappen who will have at their disposal just 7 “violet” sets.

Regarding RB, the confirmation of both drivers for the next two seasons is a surprise to me. A choice that bars the way to the Toro Rosso standard-bearers, changing the line followed to date. An estrangement signal from the satellite stable? Given the difficulties of some teams, Sauber and Force India in the first place, Ecclestone would like to review the division of television royalties. Again many topics. We have just to sit and see what will happen.

Three thousand fans warm up the paddock on the Historic Minardi Day

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With the Historic Minardi Day, on stage at the “Dino and Enzo Ferrari Circuit”, Gian Carlo Minardi donated a 30 years long time-travel to more than three thousand fans, letting them feeling the tastes and the sounds of V8 and V12 used in the 80s, 90s and 2000.

Three thousand fans have crowded the paddock and pits of the Santerno’s circuit to embrace Formula 1 again, ten years after the last f1 Grand Prix to see more than 50 Formula 1 single-seaters, Grand Tourism, Formula 2, Formula 3, and F3000 cars closely. A collection of over 70 cars with the chance to meet the Team Principal Gian Carlo Minardi and the drivers who took part in the stable from Faenza.

From the Argentinian driver Miguel Angel Guerra, the first driver who has raced under the colors of the Minardi Team in Formula 2 up to the Italian Paolo Barilla, Giancarlo Fisichella, Giovanni Lavaggi, Pier Luigi Martini, Gianni Morbidelli, Alessandro Nannini, Jarno Trulli. The Brazilian Tarso Marques, the Spaniards Adrian Campos and Sala Luis Perez and the Portuguese Pedro Lamy, along with engineers Gabriele Tredozi and Aldo Costa willing to sign autographs and photos, and to go onto track with the Minardi cars brought by collectors.

A lot of emotions for almost five thousand aficionados in the central grandstand who watched the single-seaters from the Scuderia from Fanza hurtling along with cars from Ferrari, williams , Tecno, March-BMW Schitzer, Chevron-Toyota, and many others. A lot of emotions in the pits where fans had the chance to closely watch mechanics at works on the single seaters, the ignition of engines and the entrance into the pit-lane , but also the exhibition “From Minardi to Toro Rosso”. More than 30 cars lined up for a “walk” into the Motorsport world “made in Faenza” : from the first Formula 2 cars built by Gian Carlo Minardi up to the M185, the first Minardi F1 that debuted in 1985, April, 5th in Brazil, up to the Minardi PS05 and the STR 10.

Gian Carlo Minardi: “I am satisfied and touched. A day devoted to sport and to fans where I had the pleasure to see again many drivers who have wrote, with me, important pages of the Minardi Team history. The strong feedback of the audience with a great participation both in grandstand and in the paddock is the most beautiful side. I was glad to see the paddock animated by many young people. I got moved when, along with all the drivers, I greeted the people in the central grandstand. The Hystoric Minardi Day has been the occasion to retrace 30 years of passion, making a time travel, also with technic. It is surely an experience to repeat. I must thank everybody for their warm welcome”.

Pier Giovanni Ricci (General Manager of the Circuit):  “A wonderful day made up by emotions that appear strongly when we talk about Formula 1 in Imola. The duo Circuit-Minardi was the trump card of this event. They are both symbols of two close lands that were able to express these two peaks. A come back to a recent past in which Gian Carlo Minardi’s stable as got a prestigious place in F1 history with “his” drivers that were present at this great party. I want to thank the so many fans that did not miss this event and challenged such a scorching temperature: probably the passion was even more fiery”.

 

Historic Minardi Day | Seven good reasons to come to Imola

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Are you bored of usual F1 entrenched in its super-armored and unattainable mega-motorhomes? Are you bored of a F1 not engaging and too silent? The answer is the Historic Minardi Day that is getting ready to crowd the “Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit” in Imola next Saturday June, 25th at 9.00, for a whole day devoted to all fans. More than 70 cars will animate a unique show, with a lot of action on track, and even more in the paddock with exhibitions, simulators, and much more. We have found 7 good reasons…

1) The sound of F1 golden years
Formula 1 coming from the era of the Turbo and of the V10 and V12 engines roars again in Imola. We will have 17 single-seaters from the World Championship that will go around in Imola. Along with the Tecno 1972, the Williams FW07 1980’s World Champion, Alain Prost’s Ferrari, Jean Alesi’s Ferari, and Ivan Capelli’s Ferrari. Ten single-seaters from the Minardi Team will do the honors, starting from the Minardi M186 Motori Moderni up to 2005’s Minardi, retracing this way more than 30 years in Formula 1.
The engines will turn on at 9.00 am with the first laps on track performed by Grand Touring cars, forerunners for the single-seaters from Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, and formula 3000 for a show that will finish only at 18.30 pm.

2) Formula 1 cars “at your fingertips” for a unique time travel
From 9.00 am, the Paddock gates will be opened to all the fans and aficionados (entrance fee 10 euro, free for aged under 12), to closely see the cars of the Minardi Team and of the Toro Rosso Stable. Alongside the 31 single-seaters from Faenza (starting from the Minardi M185 that made its debut into F1 World Championship in the Brazilian Gran Prix with Piero Martini, up to Verstappen-Sainz jr.’s STR10). We will find exhibited the little FIAT 500 of 1972 with which Gian Carlo Minardi won the first Italian Championship as a Sport Director of the Scuderia del Passatore, the Minardi F2 of 1982, and the Ferrari F201, Constructors’ World Champion with Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.

3) “Face to face” with the drivers
Walking in the paddock, we will encounter the team principal Gian Carlo Minardi and his “boys” that took part in the stable from Faenza in its 35 years history. From Argentinian Miguel Angel Guerra, the first driver who has raced under the colors of the Minardi Team in Formula 2 up to the Italian Paolo Barilla, Giancarlo Fisichella, Giovanni Lavaggi, Pier Luigi Martini, Gianni Morbidelli, Alessandro Nannini, Jarno Trulli. The Brazilian Tarso Marques, the Spaniard Adrian Campos and Sala Luis Perez. The Portuguese Pedro Lamy, and test-drivers that alternated on Gian Carlo Minardi’s cars, among the others Davide Rigon, Gabriele Lancieri, Matteo Bobbi, and Thomas Biagi.

4) Challenge your friends
Do you feel yourself as a real World Champion? You must challenge your friends at the wheel of GT Challenge and F1 simulators. The more capable driver will have the emotion to go on Imola’s track inside a real Lamborghini Huracan beside a professional driver.

5) Lots of music and Street-food
We all know Emilia Romagna is the land of motors but also of good cuisine. Thus, we have set an area devoted to Street-food where we will have the chance to taste different flavors, drinking a good beer. We will have also a lot of music, the dj-set in pure Red Bull style fun.

6) A space for technology
There will also be room for the new technologies “made in Emilia Romagna” and for motorbike fans thanks to the participation of “Energica Motor Company”. The company from Modena will exhibit its electrical motorbikes models Ego and Eva. The last, an electrical streetfighter that reaches 200 km/h, has just been presented publicly and will be at disposal for programmed test drive.

7) The comfort in getting to Imola
Reaching the “Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit” of Imola is not like to climb Mount Everest! It is very comfortable by train (the station is 3,5 km away from the entrance) and by car (A14 Exit Imola). A circuit that is part of the history of Motorsport, a day not to be missed.

You are ALL invited!

ACI Team Italy – Giovinazzi triumphs in Baku. Minardi "F1 Boy"

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Along with Formula 1, also GP2 Series signed its debut in the new circuit, among the little roads of Baku. A weekend that will remain in the history of the second tier Championship, thanks to an Italian boy that managed to make playing the Mameli’s hymn twice. Thanks to an extraordinary weekend, Antonio Giovinazzi at his debut in GP2 dominated both the races, bringing the first successes to ACI Team Italia 2016. Six km track that showed the qualities of the boy from Martina Franca, 22 years old, also maker of the pole position and of the fastest lap in race. “I must absolutely congratulate Antonio Giovinazzi, he has been the uncontested protagonist in such a demanding and selective circuit like Baku. A 360° success with two wins, pole position and fastest lap. Fabulous what he showed us, expecially in race-2”, Gian Carlo Minardi observes.

At the end of the first lap of the race scheduled on Sunday, the standard-bearer of Prema slips at the bottom of the overall standing, but he recovers up to the top in the  last round also supported by safety-cars, with an overtaking at the expense of his team mate. “I have said that he is one of the best Italian drivers for years. He managed to fight with Max Verstappen on equal terms, bringing home two important wins. He is one of the boys that I suggested to FDA, but he wasn’t taken into consideration for different choices”, the manager from Faenza continues, also stressing the third place achieved by Raffaele Marciello in race-1. One swallow does not make a summer, and now he has to prove himself. Giovinazzi is a driver that can race for the title moreover is ready for 

F1 | European GP, Baku – SCORECARDS

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Baku surprised me in a positive way. This atypical city circuit. The second seasonal race track by length, after Spa-Francorchamps, very fast, with a straight where engines go at full speed for 20”. It also received positive feedbacks by drivers and team principals.
Nico Rosberg – 9 on Saturday, he achieved an excellent pole position, after playing hide and seek with Hamilton putting him under pressure. Impeccable in race. A win that worth him heavy points for the World Championship.
Sebastian Vettel – 8,5 he is fighting with an undoubtedly inferior car than competitors, and I can hardly find out where is the main problem of this SF16-H. Compared with his team-mate, anyway, he manages the best.
Sergio Perez – 8,5 he is optimizing his Force India, darkening Hulkenberg out. Maker of an extraordinary season so far. A podium that becomes heavy points for a team in economic troubles.
Kimi Raikkonen – 8 commissioners used a too heavy hand. Against a Perez like this, I think he would have gained the third place anyway.
Lewis Hamilton – 6 scarcely a passing grade. Too many mistakes in qualifying that affected the race.
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen – 7,5 same grade for both Red Bull drivers, protagonists of different strategies. Once again, the Dutch driver gave us amazing overtaking.
Nico Hulkenberg – 6 he brings to Force India precious points, but lost the comparison with his team-mate.
Felipe Massa – 6 a score  achieved thanks to his experience, not  more.

F1 | European GP, Baku – THE POINT

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Critics and insiders have prized the circuit in Baku and its first Grand Prix. Surely, compared to what we watched in GP2 with the double win, pole-position, and fastest lap accomplished by an excellent Antonio Giovinazzi, we would have expected a more animated race. Contrary to predictions, all the drivers have been very capable because Baku has proved to be a demanding and atypical track, considering its length of six km and the very high speed reached (more than 375 km/h at the end of the long straight).

An impeccable Nico Rosberg signs the pole position and the win, managing to keep far away his competitors. Red Bull payed its technical choice betting everything on qualifying and went missing. Well Ferrari that after sacrificing Saturday’s free practice, made its best in race with the excellent second place of Sebastian Vettel. Another amazing race for Sergio Perez that completed the podium, in spite of an economically troubled Force India, he exploited at his best both his Mercedes engine and the shell, blacking Nico Hulkenberg out. The German car company has placed six cars in the first ten positions.

Weekend out of shape, instead, for Lewis Hamilton. Protagonist of numerous mistakes in qualifying that have also jeopardized the result in race. He did not match up with his prize list, but brought home important points for the Championship.

As I have stressed in the first part, I must congratulate Antonio Giovinazzi for his two wins in GP2. In race 2 he was protagonist of an exemplar recover, performing an extraordinary overtaking in the final that worth him the second success in the weekend. Surely, he is ready for Formula 1.

I want just to invite you next Saturday at the Circuit of Imola for the Minardi Day, a sport day devoted to all aficionados and fans. In this day, we will have the chance to watch a lot of Formula 1 cars on track and more than 50 cars from the World Championship thanks to the exhibition “From Minardi to Toro Rosso” that retraces over 30 years of passion. Everyone is invited.

F1 | European GP – Preview

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Formula 1 is getting ready to come in Baku, onto an anomalous circuit, 6000 meters length that make it one of the longest in the World Championship and a straight of over 2 kms where incredible speeds will be reached , more than 340 km/h, to face then hard braking. The old city’s segment is also marked out with a very tight street, 7 meters without any space for mistakes.

These are all the unknowns that lead to a grand prix rich in surprises and to a variety of possible results in which the safety car could work overtime. Doing any predictions is difficult, or impossible, because we have no reference points. Surely, a well-performing car as Mercedes gives an advantage to its drivers who will have to focus mainly on the track. As usual, the attention will focus on Ferrari that comes from a not easy moment, excluding its second place in Montreal. They will have to keep working to get close to Hamilton and Rosberg, paying attention to a growing Red Bull. Matching up to Nico Rosberg in Canada, Verstappen proved all his worth once again. Unfortunately, in this moment, at Ferrari there is only Sebastian Vettel.

The other unknowns are the tires. Even in this case, Mercedes and Ferrari have chosen two different strategies. Pirelli will bring Medium, Soft, and Super Soft tire compounds. Vettel and Raikkonen will have at their disposal 7 sets of SuperSoft, 5 of Soft, and 1 set of Medium, instead Hamilton and Rosberg played a card with 8 sets of SuperSoft.

Historic Minardi Day | Imola, more than 70 cars, 50 F1 single-seaters, 22 "Minardi" drivers, and a must-see exhibition

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A Historic Minardi Day internationally colored is getting ready to crowd the “Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari” of Imola on Saturday, June 25. Cars and drivers coming from Europe and South America will gather for a sport day devoted to fans, collectors, and to the stable from Faenza founded by Gian Carlo Minardi.

Ten years after the last F1 Grand Prix, the Santerno’s track is getting ready to host F1 again. On track and in the Paddock, there will be more than 70 cars and 50 different kind of single-seaters that wrote the most important pages of F1 World Championship. Along with cars coming from Formula 2, Formula 3, F.Italia, F300 and GT. There will be the possibility to meet the drivers of the Minardi Team and Gian Carlo Minardi.

FORMULA 1 ROARS AGAIN ON TRACK      

Starting from 9 am, we will turn the engines on. The first laps on track will be carry out by the cars coming from GT, Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche, to lead the way for the show with 17 Formula 1 cars. Fans will have the opportunity to watch in action 10 single-seaters of the Minardi F1 Team, starting with the Minardi M186 Motori Moderni up to the Minardi PS04/B.  The William WF07, World Champion in 1980, and the Ferrari cars with which Giancarlo Martini, Alain Prost, Jean Alesi and Ivan Capelli defended the color of the Prancing Horse and the Tecno in 1972.

Alongside the Dallara F3 cars, Renault F2000, and Ralt F3000, there will also be on track the Minardi M283B, pushed by BMW engine with which Gian Carlo Minardi faced the Championship of F2 in 1983, the March-BMW Schnitzer 732 and the Chevron-Toyota B38 with which Elio De Angelis won the race in Monaco and the Italian Championship in 1977.

So, there will be numerous single-seaters and Grand tourism cars that will animate the show on track up to 18.30 pm, before the greetings in front of the main grandstand. For the occasion, the access to the grandstands is free.

 
EXHIBITION: FROM MINARDI TO TORO ROSSO – the history of F1 in 30 years of passion

From 9,00 am, the gates into the Paddock area of the circuit of Imola will be open for all the fans and aficionados (entry fee 10€, free for aged under 12) to see the cars of the Minardi F1 Team and the cars of the Scuderia Toro Rosso closely, retracing more than 30 years of Motorsport. Alongside the 31 single-seaters from Faenza, you will also find  1982’s Minardi F2 and 1972’s FIAT 500, with which Gian Carlo Minardi won the first Italian Championship as a Sports Director of the Scuderia del Passatore, and the Ferrari F2001, F1 World Constructors’ Champion with Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.

We will have many occasions to greet and speak with Gian Carlo Minardi, and with the drivers that have been part of the stable from Faenza in its 35 years of history. The Argentinian Miguel Angel Guerra, first driver to race under the colors of the Minardi Team in Formula 2, up to Paolo Barilla, Giancarlo fisichella, Giovanni Lavaggi, Pier Luigi Martini, Gianni Morbidelli, Alessandro Nannini, and Jarno Trulli. There will be the Brazilian Tarso Marques, the Spaniards Adrian Campos and Sala Luis Perez, the Portuguese Pedro Lamy and the tests-drivers who alternated on Gian Carlo Minardi’s cars, among the others, Davide Rigon, Gabriele Lancieri, Matteo Bobbi, and Thomas Biagi.

ENTERTAINMENT

Within the Paddock, an area of pure entertainment will be set up in Red Bull style with music and dj-set, we will have the chance to test ourselves in pit-stop simulations and to challenge our friends using GT and F1 Challenge Simulators. The most skilled driver will have the emotion to go on the track of Imola inside a real Lamborghini beside a professional driver. There will also be a tasting corner with a vast food offer thanks to Street Food’s numerous stands.

There will also be room for new technologies “made in Emilia Romagna” and for the motorcycle enthusiasts thanks to “Energetica Motor Company” participation. The company from Modena, that chose Gian Carlo Minardi as an independent counselor, will exhibit its newest electrical motorcycles models.

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

We take the opportunity to remind you that the documents concerning the request of PRESS REGISTRATION for Saturday June 25 should be sent by e-mail to Marcello Pollini (marcello.pollini@autodromoimola.it) by June 20. All information is available on the website of the Autodromo of Imola at http://www.autodromoimola.it/accredito-stampa/historic-minardi-day/ and on the event page.

 

F1 | Canadian GP– SCORECARDS

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Lewis Hamilton – 9 he got the umpteenth start wrong. He has to work for eliminate this handicap.

Sebastian Vettel – 9 he definitely optimized what Ferrari put at his disposal, as a 59″ advantage “on Kimi Raikkonen proves. Excellent his start and his resolution in race. Up to the last lap, he tried to bother Hamilton in any way.

Valtteri Bottas – 8 the third place is worth a precious booty for his Williams.

Max Verstappen – 8,5 excellent start without forgetting the amazing duel with Nico Rosberg that he won in spite of an inferior PU.

Nico Rosberg – 7 he did his homework. Good at the start, even if, in my opinion, he seemed awed by what happened in Spain. He made a race in comeback, but along his way he found a great Verstappen.

Kimi Raikkonen – 6 with his sixth place he took some precious points to Ferrari, but his gap from Vettel is disarming and it strongly calls into question his stay in “red”, and even in the Circus.

Daniel Riciardo – 6 Out of form during all the weekend and under his teammate’s level. In spite of his confirmation up to 2018 by the team, the irritability that you can sense in his announcements also reflects itself on track.

Nico Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz, and Sergio Perez – 6 they end a demanding weekend in point zone. Montreal is a difficult track where you have to manage your car, fuel consumptions and tires.

Kart – Karol Basz on the podium even at Ampfing

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From the success in the inaugural event of the German DKM Championship in Wackersdorf up to the podium gained at the second round in Ampfing. Besides leading the overall standings of the European Championship, Karol Basz goes on in his row of positive results proving to be one of the great protagonists in the major category OK.

Certainly an important result for the standard-bearer of the Kosmic Racing. A result built meticulously during the whole weekend along with Olivier Marechal’s staff, in spite of an uncertain weather with an alternation of sun and rain. In the Final, Karol made himself protagonist of a good recovery, ending the race in third, after closing the Pre-Final just in seventh.

“I am glad for the podium, but in spite of a good speed, we made some mistakes. Anyway, I am in the second position, a step away from the first one and there are still three races. Anything can happen”, Karol Basz says.

“I am glad for the new positive result gained by Karol. After his win at the inaugural event, this podium is the demonstration of his tenacity. He has thought a lot from a championship point of view and carried out a good recovery in Final, that ended with a third place. A starting season very promising. Karol, beyond being fast and dedicated, is proving to be a very cold driver, a driver capable of keeping calm even in the most difficult situations”, manager Alberto Tonti observes.

F1 | Canadian GP – THE POINT

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Surely, Sebastian Vettel’s start is one of the few positive signals in this grand prix, along with Max Verstappen’s good defense against Nico Rosberg, and the high-level struggle between Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari man, going chastely at 1.16. Once again, the World Champion was not perfect at the start and was off guard,  but he definitely reopens the world championship with this win.

Strengthened the second place, the Ferrari pit tried the utmost with a risky strategy. In my view, it was the only move to do in that moment to try to tear the win off to a Mercedes still superior as lap-times prove. Only in the final, Vettel, thanks to the few fuel on board, managed to reach the times of Hamilton and Rosberg, the maker of the fastest lap of the race. Unfortunately, then Nico found on his path a great Verstappen that forced him to a mistake in the final. Anyway, very good the German driver that optimized his Ferrari, as his vantage of 59″ (definitely too much) on Kimi Raikkonen, that ends in sixth, demonstrates. Is it perhaps time to look around?

Williams handled very well the race with Bottas in third place, taking full advantage of other’s mistakes. In a week, we will arrive in Baku, a new and extremely fast track with little space for mistakes.