F1 | McLaren sheds light on its reorganization. Minardi “I agree with the programme”

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A few days ago I told you about my conclusions on the situation within the McLaren Team after the departure of its C.E.O. Jost Capito and team manager David Redding (who will go to the Williams Team), together with the possible collaboration with BMW on the Formula 1 front with the supply of the next Power-Unit.

Following my considerations I was contacted from inside the Woking Factory who let me know through the words of Race Director Éric Boullier of how the Team’s reorganization is proceeding which left me favourably impressed.

These are Boullier’s words:
Dave Redding had been offered an opportunity with another team and we did not want to get in the way. Let’s not forget that Dave had been with McLaren for 17 years. His place will be taken by Paul James (who had already been the Team’s Chief mechanic).

The position that Paul James left free will be entrusted to Karu (Lammenranta) – the former number one mechanic of Alonso’s car who will be the new Chief mechanic.

Andrea Stella will carry on in his role as the supervisor of the track side engineers and his duties will be expanded to involve the sporting relations between the Team and FIA.

Éric Boullier when on by emphasizing “When we understood that Dave would leave we were able to enlist entirely from within the Team. Over a long period of time we had been encouraging people to study science, engineering, technology and mathematics at local schools and to support apprenticeships and university theses with the aim of introducing better prepared young talents into McLaren.

A programme with which I agree because it coincides with the Minardi mentality, in other words to mature people within the Team and, at the same time, collaborate with Universities to bring better prepared young people into the organization and at the same time encourage loyalty towards the Company. By so doing it is possible to create a hard core to the Team thus creating the conditions for another winning cycle.

With the exit of Ron Dennis, the new General Director Zak Brown, – an expert marketer –will have the task of reorganizing McLaren and in an interview released on the American site Roundandtrack had spoken about the possibility of success in 2017 “I do not believe we will win a Grand Prix this year”. Every reorganization takes time.

I thank the whole staff at the Factory to whom i wish the best of luck for the upcoming presentation of the car (February 24th) and the 2017 racing season.

 

F1, Jost Capito and David Redding leave Woking. Minardi “F1 cannot afford to lose McLaren as well”

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McLaren continues to lose important piece the day of the presentation relentlessly approaches as well as the first official tests on the track at Barcelona. After Ron Dennis’ estrangement at the end of last year C.E.O. Jost Capito and team manager David Redding also left the Woking factory.

These signals are synonymous with the internal collapse of a glorious team, a symbol of Formula 1, which is passing through an important phase of changes of management and ownership. Considering his past Jost Capito could have been an important figure. His departure, together with that of the team manager tells us of moments of tension within the team. Over the last few days we had hinted at the possibility of an agreement between McLaren and BMW on the Circus front as well, but it was denied by the team from Bavaria. A hint of hope had appeared which disappeared just when chaos ruled within the team.

At this moment Formula 1 cannot allow itself to lose a team such as McLaren. It was once an expert puppet master that controlled the strings very well. Now Liberty Media is called to undertake a sensitive task.

2017 is a delicate year for McLaren, but above all for Honda. The winter tests will give us the first answers, even though I do not have much faith in the Japanese constructor.

Kart | Karol Basz amongst the points in Adria in the first round of the WSK Super Master Series

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In the first weekend of the WSK Super Master Series on the track in Andria in a race strongly affected by the weather Karol Basz looked for the best results and finished on the podium, only to be penalized 10” by the stewards for a contact with Novalak ftom Great Britain and finished in sixth place overall.

For Kosmic Racing’s driver from Krakow it was the occasion to gain confidence in the new wets supplied by Bridgestone in anticipation of the next rounds.

As we await the next round of the WSK Super Master Series scheduled for Castelletto di Branduzzo on March 2nd, Karol will return to the track at Lonato for the 22nd edition of the Winter Cup on February 17th and 18th.

 “It was not an easy end of the week beginning under heavy rain and trying to find the best set up for the cart, but it ended on the podium. Unfortunately the stewards then decided to penalize me for a contact during the race. I am happy with the speeds obtained and now I will concentrate on the Winter Cup,” said Karol Basz, the Minardi Management driver.

 “The final penalty concluded a difficult weekend in which Karol was not as fast as usual. He had to fight to find the right set up and the best tyre pressure for the new mixes supplied by Bridgestone,” was the analysis by his Manager Alberto Toni.

McLaren and BWM together again, waiting for Apple

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It is back in vogue the marriage that made millions of fans dream in the 90s. McLaren and the BMW group will be again together, even if not in the world motorsport for the moment.

The goal of the new partnership between McLaren Automotive and the Bavarian group, whose cooperation also comprises a number of other partners, is linked to the development of new technologies for the inner combustion that will make us reach new power levels and reduce CO2 emissions.

Contextually, Zak Brown is working to bring new sponsors to Woking to give some oxygen to the stable. The wind would carry to Cupertino, Apple destination. Last year, the name of the company created by Steve Jobs had already been associated with McLaren, but then denied. According to rumors, any Apple landing in F1 would open the doors for the return of BMW in the world championship as a propellers supplier.

As in many other operations, and despite the estrangement from Liberty Media, I am sure that behind this there is, once again, Bernie Ecclestone’s hand. No one else knows this environment as him, and he is still the reference point for companies.

Kart | Andrea Antonelli Kimi at the start of the Super WSK Master Series under the Tony Kart colors

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Andrea Antonelli’s 2017 season goes live this weekend. The young driver from Bologna, at his first year with the Tony Kart official colors is ready to face the inaugural event of the WSK Super Master Series scheduled at the Adria International Raceway on 2 to 5 February.

After a 2016 apprenticeship, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will go on track in 60 Mini category whose enrolled are 89. For the driver from Emilia, who put himself already in the spotlight at the same circuit last weekend bringing home a useful sixth placement in the WSK Champions Cup, after achieving two seconds and three thirds placements, it starts a new challenge.

There are four events in the championship, it successively will arrive in Castelletto di Branduzzo (2/5 March), Muro Leccese (16/19 March) and Sarno (6/9 April).

Engines turned on next weekend, starting from Thursday with the first free practice. On Friday, the timed sessions will take place along with the qualifying-heats that will end on Sunday when are also scheduled two pre-finals and the final, with the green light at 15.35 and the “live streaming” in the official website wsk.it.

Karting, WSK Champions Cup | Only a contact stops Karol Basz at Adria

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At his first seasonal event valid for the WSK Champions Cup in the Adria circuit, Karol Basz has immediately found the champion’s pace, achieving the first place at the end of the qualify-heats, thanks to three absolute successes.

His hard job has been frustrated by a contact in Pre-Final and another in Final that forced the standardbearer of the Kosmic Racing to leave the circuit in tenth place. A prompt revenge can already arrive this weekend at the same Adria International Raceway in the first of four events of the WSK Super Master Series.

“We are really sorry for how Karol’s weekend ended at Adria. His excellent work, transformed into the Pre-final first raw, thanks to three successes, has been frustrated by some contacts. Once again, Karol has proven to be a great expert and to be able to find again the competition pace very quickly. Next weekend, we will already have the chance for a prompt payback”, Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti say. 

F1 | Minardi "Studying the past to plan the future"

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Day after day, Liberty Media, the new owner of Formula 1, discloses its cards aimed at improving the show. Chase Carey confirms he wants to bring the Circus towards the US with events in Miami and New York, without forgetting the traditional destinations that have made this sport great.

The managing director Ross Brawn points the finger at the power-units and at the too high costs, especially for the little teams called to a basically unsustainable effort. The former engineer at Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes as well as founder of the 2009 world champion stable named after his name, would like to see a Leicester-style fairy tale. A small stable able to fight with the major teams. With regret I learn that the courtain will fall definitively on the Manor, defeated by debts. Unfortunately, no buyer has been found.

Surely, the discussion it will focus on the new Concord Agreement, which expires in 2020.

My advice, is to study the past, before releasing any statements. At this time, words are carried away by the wind and create just nervousness. It is sure that F1 will have to undergo a relevant transformation both on the sporting and technical front. The current Concord Agreement is the result of laborious negotiations. Liberty Media should study the previous agreements in order to understand the evolution of the faced difficulties.

As I have already said in my blog, I find it crazy the idea of having 4-5” faster cars than last year with the consequent increase in research and development costs. All this will not lead to a better show because the audience at the circuit or in front of the TV will not perceive all this. The introduction of the Power-Units was a risky step, the development of which was to be directed towards endurance races.

Surely, Formula 1 has to work on marketing to attract new companies, but has also to find technical solutions able to ensure the survival and the continuity to all its teams. Last years have been detrimental for small entities forced to raise the white flag.

In US, the Federations are investing $ 50 million dollar in studies to make the sport more competitive in the future. A signal that shows how much this area and the needs of enthusiasts and spectators are changing quickly. We are going towards shorter and faster events.

F1 | The curtain falls on the Manor. Minardi "It's a defeat for the whole system"

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The starting grid of 2017 Formula 1 will be constituted by only 10 teams. The curtain falls on the Manor. When you loose a team it is a defeat for the whole system. Perhaps it is the first real signal of the exit of the orchestra leader Mr. Ecclestone. It seems almost impossible that they didn’t find a new investor.

The engineers and the technicians of Manor have wanted to make a last step ahead with the 1/50 scale model that will never see the track. This image brings me back quickly to November 2005 when the Minardi PS06 (in the picture) had been created under the skillful design of the engineer Gabriele Tredozi and his working group. A car that had produced excellent results on paper but that unfortunately has never see the light because the new ownership had decided to line up the RB1 clone.

The regret for the abortion of that project was cancelled by the confirmation of the whole Minardi staff by the new Toro Rosso ownership. Today, after eleven years, they still have an important role within the structure.

My best “good luck” goes to the more than 200 employees of the Manor, can they find peace soon.

F1 | 2017's grid among new-names, confirmations and changes of team

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Starting from the Grand Prix of Australia in Melbourne, but even before the official tests, we will see a grid with numerous newness at the wheel of the single-seaters.

Among the top teams, only Ferrari and Red Bull will present themselves with the usual line-up. Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will have the task to erase a disappointing 2016 that ended winless. After the second place among manufacturers, Red Bull will go on track with one of the strongest couples formed by Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. At Toro Rosso, the Russian driver Kvyat and Spaniard Sainz jr have been confirmed as well. There is an uncertain future, instead, for Manor which is without drivers so far.

Change of team

Nico Rosberg’s retirement has created a little turmoil in the the market. Mercedes will place side by side Lewis Hamilton and the Finn Valtteri Bottas who comes from Williams, whose place was taken by the returning of Felipe Massa.

Force India, the revelation of last season with fourth place among manufacturers, has asked the French Esteban Ocon (from the Manor) to fill the departure of Nico Hulkenberg, passed under Renault colors.

In his second F1 world championship season, Haas has bet on Kevin Magnussen who comes from Renault and takes the place of Esteban Gutiérrez (moved into Formula E after he missed renewal).

The Swiss team Sauber has torpedoed Felipe Nasr even if he is author of the two only points scored last season. Points that have been worth the tenth place among manufacturers. The place of the Brazilian was assigned to Pascal Wehrlein.

New names

Williams and McLaren are the two teams bringing two new faces (or almost new) on the grid : Lance Stroll and Stoffel Vandoorne.

Lance Stroll (born in 1998) will wear the colors of the Williams alongside Felipe Massa. Despite his young age in his prize list stand out titles in the Italian Formula 4 (2014), in the Toyota Racing Series (2015), and in the European Formula 3 (2016).

Stoffel Vandoorne (born in 1992) will be alongside Fernando Alonso in McLaren, replacing the former 2009 world champion Jenson Button. It will not be a real debut in the World of Formula 1, having already replaced the Spaniard during last season at the Grand Prix of Bahrain. An important debut that gave McLaren the first seasonal point thanks to the tenth place. After the successes won in F4 Eurocup 1.6 (2010), the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2012) and the second place in Formula Renault 3.5 (2013) in 2014 he joined the team from Woking. The next year he prevailed in the GP2 Series.

2017 F1 Team/Drivers 

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton
Valtteri Bottas

Red Bull Racing

Daniel Ricciardo
Max Verstappen

Ferrari

Sebastain Vettel
Kimi Raikkonen

Force India

Sergio Perez
Esteban Ocon

Williams

Felipe Massa
Lance Stroll

McLaren

Fernando Alonso
Stoffel Vandoorne

Toro Rosso

Carlos Sainz jr
Daniil Kvyat

Haas

Romain Grosjean
Kevin Magnussen

Renault

Nico Hulkenberg
Jolyon Palmer

Haas

Romain Grosjean
Kevin Magnussen

Sauber

Pascal Wehrlein
Marcus Ericsson
 

F1 | New technical cycle. Minardi "A wrong direction has been taken"

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2017 represents a new Formula 1 era. Not just due to the arrival of the new owner Liberty Media, but also regarding the technical regulations. For the first time since 1994, the new sport season will have started with a reviewed regulation that will give us decisively more fast and performing cars compared to last year’s end.

Cyclically, the FIA used to call the rules into question to have slower cars compared to the previous technical cycle. Thanks just to the specialists’ genius, the teams managed to carry new-performing single-seater into the track.

Today, instead, we are facing simulations speaking about cars that are 4-5 seconds faster than those at the end of 2016 with a 40 km/h cornering speed.

All this for the benefit of whom? The show?

I do not think so because who sits in the stands or in front of the TV does not realize if the cars are faster. We will have cars much more difficult to drive and dangerous. I dread to think about what will happen after the development of an entire season or after some years. In contrast, with a note, FIA informed the circuits that will have to adapt themselves to new security standards, as if it were a simple and immediate thing. I find it absurd.

Formula 1 must promote the show on track, with fights and duels. I am glad that Liberty Media, the new property, feels the same way. They will be called to a difficult task whose results will only be visible in some years. The arrival of Ross Brawn will have a crucial role in the drafting of technical regulations. We need to return to have 2 or 3 teams able to contrast each other and to fight for victory. 

It will also be fundamental the commissioners’ role. The working group must be the same for all the grand prix, avoiding subjective decisions.

(Photo source McLaren.com)

 

The new F1 faces. Minardi "A historic day"

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It is a historic day for the world of Formula 1. Liberty Media has completed its acquisition, and Chase Carey is the new F1 boss. He replaces Bernie Ecclestone (Honorary President) who is forced to leave the control of his “toy” after 40 years. Unfortunately, this moments are part of life, I lived the same experience in 2005 with the arrival of the new ownership in Faenza.

If Formula 1 exists today, it is thanks to the intuition and to capacity of Mr. E. that now has the chance to see the world championship with new eyes. For this very reason, he can still be very helpful to the cause.

With pleasure I read that on the agenda there are some topics that I have faced since some time, and Ross Brawn’s arrival is a positive signal. For some while, I have stated that F1 has to be managed by specialists with some experience on te field, but not involved with the teams. I agree with Brawn when he points it finger at the current power-units because I am sure it is a technology more suitable for prototypes and for endurance. The sprint races shall be the major expression of velocity and of competition with tyre-to-tyre struggle. Regarding this issue, FIA has required commissioners to be more permissive. To do this, it is important to have the same team in each circuit. Decisions must be objective and not subjective ( as it happened too many time in the last few years).

The new management will have a not easy task, the fruits of which will be visible in some years. It will be a slow process. Marketing will have to attract new sponsors and fire up the passion in every fan.

F1 | Along with Bottas, his sponsor joins Mercedes as well

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Few days after the announcement about the entrance of Valtteri Bottas into Mercedes with a yearly agreement ( with an option for 2018), the stable from Brackley has announced the coming of Wihuri, the Finnish company linked to the ex Williams driver.

It is a shiny example of what we said some weeks ago. Behind every driver there are economic movements. In this specific case, the company has agreed upon a contract with Mercedes that lasts as the agreement reached with Bottas, closing its cooperation with Williams.

Surely, the sponsor mustn’t have been decisive to close the negotiation because we are talking about a team with a great constructor behind, but the fact that Mercedes has acquired a new logo remains. At the same time , the company will have a return in term of image being on the World Champion car.

Behind every driver who enters F1 there is always a company that backs his career. We must consider, anyway, that the drivers on the grid, in 99% of cases, have the technical and fast capacities to take part in the World Championship.

Formula 1 needs to draw new resources. It is a costly sport that lives thanks to sponsoring. Thus it has to be able again to fill the chassis with logos through new commercial strategies, changing the way it approaches its supporters. These days, FIA gave its approval for the acquisition of F1 by Liberty Media.

Paolo Stanzani and Mario Poltronieri have passed away. Minardi "I lost two friends"

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It is a sad day. I do not know what to say. In a single day I lose two great friends, Paul Scanzani and Mario Poltronieri. Stanzani was one of my partners in F1 when the Scuderia Italia joined the Minardi team. Together, we shared many decisions. We met again in Imola during the Historic Minardi Day and exchanged greetings at Christmas. I especially embrace his daughter Chiara.

I am forced to also greet Mario Poltronieri, a RAI historical journalist and a great driver in the 60s and 70s with Abarth. We shared living rooms as pundits to remember our past, telling the present.

It is a sad day for our country that loses two historical characters related to the world of Motorsport.