F1 | Gp Germany, THE POINT by Gian Carlo Minardi

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We saw a German grand prix full of twists and very interesting that rewarded who did not make the slightest mistake, such as Toro Rosso that celebrates an incredible third place with Kvyat to whom I extend my most sincere congratulations and Ferrari with a perfect Vettel. The German driver managed to straighten out a dark weekend for Maranello after the double debacle on Saturday during qualifying.

Sebastian took advantage of every occasion that presented itself without making a mistake and managing to not fall into the trap of the last bend that had famous victims, amongst which the Mercedes drivers and his team mate, as well Raikonnen (very skilled in the road holding) and Nico Hulkenberg.

Ferrari certainly showed that it is growing and very close to its first win. In Germany the team showed important competitiveness in both the heat and the rain. Unfortunately Leclerc made a youthful mistake and this can happen in these difficult conditions.

Verstappen deserved the win, the second in the season, and he must be recognized as the best driver in the GP, together with Vettel. The Dutch driver managed the race by constantly occupying the top places. Congratulations to Honda that won first and third places with two teams. With this result Toro Rosso forced out Renault for fifth place and places itself behind McLaren that is growing strongly.

This was a strong result for our flag bearer Antonio Giovinazzi who put four points on the board jumping over Grosjean on the ladder. Once again he respected team orders and I have a lot of faith for his end to the season. He must continue on this road, without making mistakes and the results will speak for him.

Congratulations also to Lance Stroll, fourth place that rewards him for all the criticism received up to now and that have been accompanying his in his career. Even with a risky strategy, he showed his has what it takes to stay in Formula 1.

Before making an appointment for the next grand prix in Hungary, it is right to highlight Kimi Raikonnen’s excellent work. Once again the Finn, at the wheel of a car in which he does not have to show he is a world champion, he gave the best of himself by achieving important results, just as he had already done with Lotus when he came back from the period in rally. His control during the exit in the curve was a text book move. In Hungary he and Antonio will be able to achieve another good result.

Gian Carlo Minardi

HISTORIC MINARDI DAY 2020: GIAN CARLO MINARDI REVEALS THE DATES FOR EDITION NUMBER 5

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After the success of the fourth edition with an attendance of more than 15,000 people on the Saturday and Sunday the organizational machine for edition number 5 is already in motion.

The first big news is that in 2020 the “trip” into the history of Motorsport will be told over three days. The gates of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit and the engines of the racing cars will be switched on starting at 9.00am on Friday April 24 and will be switched off only on Sunday April 26. Three days to keep in touch with the racing cars that made the motor world glorious, reaching up to Formula 1 passing through the training cars of F2, F3, F3000 and Gran Turismo.

Gian Carlo Minardi “For the 2020 edition, which will be number 5, we decided to meet the requests of many of our passionate friends, both Italian and foreign, who every year come to Imola with their fantastic cars. They have the pleasure of being able to run more around the track and so we decided to make them happy by also adding the Friday. Therefore we await all the enthusiasts and fans from Friday April 24 to Sunday April 26″

Antonelli Dominates Le Mans (OKJ) in the fourth round of the European FIA Karting Championship. Next Objective: World Championship in Finland.

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A new win this weekend for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young kart driver from Bologna in the team Rosberg Racing Academy, with Kart Republic material supplied directly by Mercedes and with the supervision of Giovanni Minardi of Minardi Management.

On the Le Mans circuit named after four times world champion Alain Prost that was conditioned by the rain and bad weather, Antonelli dominated the fourth round of the European FIA Karting Championship by winning the OKJ Final after starting from second place on the grid and crossing the finish line with a lead of 317 thousandths of a second over Spina.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli confirmed that he is a protagonist on the international karting scene with his first win in the European OKJ and setting the best lap in Qualifying-Practice with a time of 52.930 (fourth best time in absolute 47 thousandths of a second from pole position).

Placed in Group D Antonelli finished on the podium in all the HEATS with a win, three second places and a third place that gave him second place overall behind Stenshome from Norway in a field made up of 79 drivers.(34 qualified for the Final).

With his win in the Final Andrea Kimi Antonelli ended his first European championship in OKJ in second place and with the title of vice champion with a total of 63 points and the best placed of the Italian drivers.

“I’m very happy with this win. I waited for it and it finally came. It was an excellent weekend in which I enjoyed myself. The Final was not easy. In the first laps Stenshome defended very well and after I managed to overtake him I dictated the rhythm despite a very slippery track. Second place in the championship is a very important result even if there is still the regret for the points lost in the beginning. We are now thinking about the world championship in Finland,” commented a satisfied Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

“I am very happy that the first win in the CIK FIA European Championship finally came. This was a deserved win, even if it does not wipe out the regret of a difficult start. This title was also easily within his reach. We will now start working for the next objective, the world championship in Finland,” commented manager Giovanni Minardi.

After the summer break Andrea Kimi Antonelli will fly to Finland and the Alahärmä track for the FIA Karting World Championship scheduled for September 6-8.

Foto: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency

F1 | Gp Britain, THE POINT by Gian Carlo MINARDI “Leclerc extraordinary on Gasly but these tyres are an unknown factor”

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Silverstone entered by rights as one of the hardest fought grands prix of the season, although unfortunately there are still too many unknown factors tied to the tyres.

The mixes change but not the lap times, just as we saw with the best time set by Hamilton in the 52nd lap with the Hards when he beat his team mate’s time who had just mounted the Softs. Mercedes confirmed that it is the uncontested queen of the season but I am astounded by this situation. All the teams (with the exception of Ricciardo, Racing Point and Kubica) had only brought Hard sets, a symptom that was not part of the strategy and instead proved that they were decisive in the final result. Hamilton even indulged himself by setting the race’s best lap time.

We file away a race full of duels starting with the struggle between team mates Hamilton and Bottas in the first laps, but the masterpiece, in both the preparation and the execution, was when Leclerc overtook Gasly. I am pleased in the revival from the driver from beyond the Alps and I hope he finds consistency in his results.

After Austria Verstappen and Leclerc gave us another incredible chapter in their personal duel. Luckily they let them continue racing. Ferrari’s driver from Monaco is winning supremacy within the team although they still make mistakes in the strategies in his regards, even if the final result would not have changed. Mercedes is decidedly superior.

Silverstone will also be remembered for Vettel’s latest absolutely incomprehensible mistake.

Despite the final result, it was a positive weekend for Antonio Giovinazzi. The dynamic of his exit from the track makes me think he was betrayed by a technical problem. After the point gained in Austria in qualifying he managed to stay in front of his team mate. I think he has found the right path.

Silverstone will file away its weekend with 351,000 spectators. This important number represents a great ad for all Motorsport. The public was a stupendous setting for a beautiful sunny afternoon. I hope that the income is in the black because last year, just like Monza, they finished in the red.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp British, MINARDI “A fast track, Ferrari and Mercedes say they fear it”

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The British grand prix at Silverstone is the 10th round of the season. I am pleased to learn that the circuit has extended its contract with Liberty Media for the next five years as well. Ferrari is going into the “wolf’s den” where it won with Sebastian Vettel a year ago in front of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikonnen. We are talking about a historic circuit that is particular and demanding and which will put the drivers and cars to the test.

One the one hand Ferrari’s Mattia Binotto fears the English track, defining it “…one of the season’s hardest tracks, a track where the car is put to the test in set up and balance, just as the tyres are strongly stressed”
On the other hand Toto Wolff is hoping for rain and milder weather for “his” engines after being forced to “survive in Austria” and he hopes for weather of about 28 degrees.

There is no doubt that Hamilton and Bottas are the rivals to beat. Ferrari showed signs of revival which unfortunately were not fully exploited. We are talking about a fast track with particular bends in which the safety-car and tyre wear will have an important role. Last year the gaps were in fact wiped out twice by the entry of the safety car. Therefore it will be an important variable to consider in the strategies. Hamilton will be looking for a comeback, also after the disappointing grand prix in Austria but he will have to be careful with the wear on the tyres that last year slowed the Finn. Ferrari and Mercedes will show up at Silverstone with different strategies, at least on paper: 4 Mediums and 8 Softs for Mercedes against the 3 “yellow” sets and the 9 “reds” for Ferrari.

The third factor will be Max Verstappen with the Red Bull Honda who will be energized by his first win for the season which put him into third place in the drivers’ ladder in front of Vettel. We hope that we will see an exciting weekend without controversy.

After its excellent start to the season McLaren comes to Great Britain after having confirmed its drivers after having shown once more that it has one of the best pair of drivers with 52 points to its credit and fourth place, twenty more than Renault which supplies its engines. The mood is high in Alfa Romeo as well after Antonio Giovinazzi’s first point at the “Ring” in Austria, together with the two by the Finn that launched the Swiss team into sixth place.

Gian Carlo Minardi

What’s happening in this Formula 1?

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The last three grands prix were characterized by as many incidents involving three different drivers (Vettel-Ricciardo-Leclerc) and created no small upheaval amongst the experts and the fans that pounced on the marshals. We met with Gian Carlo Minardi who is leaving for the Hungaroring, the stage for ACI’s appointments that are valid for Formula 4 Italia and Formula 3 Regional, to understand if this F1 has lost its desire for a scuffle.

“The episodes in Canada, France and Austria were very different from each other. Even if at times it is unpopular, the decisions and the penalties given to the drivers by the commissioners were dictated by rules and above all by precise guidelines written by Charlie Whiting and approved by everybody, drivers included. Let’s not forget that unlike what happened until a few years ago, the commissioners have real time telemetry of all the drivers available. Therefore they could analyze the behaviour of each driver in any situation and to understand what led to an error or any infraction,” analyzed the manager from Faenza.

“In Austria I appreciated the fact that the marshals decided to hear the versions of the two drivers before validating the final result. In Montreal it would have been proper to proceed in the same way, even if I am still convinced that the result would not have changed,” continued Minardi.

“I am still of the idea that Formula’s strength is the chance to fight on the track and the duel between Leclerc and Verstappen is a shining example. The two young men entertained and excited us and they gave us a very enjoyable race. I am convinced that we witnessed only the first chapter of an exciting challenge. Therefore it’s time to review and rewrite these rules completely, even following Whiting’s death”

Will Verstappen and Leclerc be the champions of the future?

We’re facing a very high level generational change. Both Leclerc and Verstappen showed they are two great drivers, both with the characteristics for becoming champions and with an all-round vision of the race and the rival. Three laps from the finish the driver from Monaco gave a very strong sign of his talent by responding very well to the Dutch driver’s assault. On the other hand, in the final lap he left too much space and Verstappen quickly took advantage of it. Thus I can give Max 10/10 for the race and 10-/10 to Charles. They will give us other important duels.

After nine grands prix which are the best drivers?

Se guardiamo alle spalle dei tre top team, ci sono i due piloti McLaren con Carlos Sainz jr. e Lando Norris supportati da una vettura in forte crescita, a cui aggiungerei il pilota della Toro Rosso Alexander Albon . In Austria Sainz, partito ultimo, è arrivato all’ottavo posto alle spalle di Norris, ottimo sesto, e Gasly.

If we look behind the top three teams there are the two McLaren drivers with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris supported by a car that is growing strongly and to whom I will add Alexander Albon, the Toro Rosso driver.

Amongst the top teams we have Hamilton who has been absolutely perfect, Leclerc who is growing from race to race and looking for blessing from the team and Verstappen whose talent has never been in doubt. This is the season for maturity. I also add Vettel, the four times world champion who is experiencing a difficult time, even if he has shown that he is suffering the rival’s pressure.

Staying with Ferrari, if the SF90 cannot win when Mercedes is in difficulty…

I see a revival by Ferrari, sadly not exploited fully. The recent results need to be analyzed, as well as the strategy adopted and the choice of tyres. If we look ahead to the English grand prix we notice that on paper Ferrari and Mercedes have opted for different strategies (4 Mediums and 8 Softs for Mercedes against the 3 sets of “yellows” and 9 “reds” for Ferrari). Silverstone is a very fast track with particular bends in which last year we twice had the safety-car and problems with the tyres for Bottas which gave Vettel the win.

F1 | Gp Austria, THE POINT by Gian Carlo Minardi “Verstappen-Leclerc, the rivals of the future”

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We are waiting for the marshal’s decision and I would not want to be them. We are faced with the latest interpretation of a rule that must absolutely be changed and rewritten. I am sorry for Leclerc, author of a fantastic grand prix in which he did everything well and putting on show all his determination in defense from Verstappen’s first assault but for me we are faced with a race contact that is not subject to a penalty. These scrimmages are F1’s DNA and if we eliminate them we might as well switch off the TV,

Max Verstappen won on the track to give Honda its first win since it came back to F1 and in the hybrid era after dark and difficult years. As well as interrupting Mercedes’ domination. After a poor start in which he slipped back he came back with determination completing the job when he overtook Leclerc in the end. Leclerc and Verstappen will be the rivals of the future and have just written the first chapter of an exciting battle between two great champions.

We witnessed a very tactical grand prix with a lot of overtaking and also dictated by problems with the tyres. Ferrari brought home precious second and fourth places but the team must ponder since up to the 9th lap, as we understood from the team radio, Leclerc had problems managing fuel consumption.

A swallow does not make a summer and Mercedes is still the car to beat. For all the weekend they were never competitive on a track that they feared. They never managed their tyres well and their drivers were not exempt from some errors. An off weekend is allowed.

Sainz’s excellent performance in a McLaren that is on the rise is to be highlighted. From last to eighth place with Norris who finished in sixth place ahead of Gasly’s Red Bull. With his tenth place Antonio Giovinazzi broke his fast and won his first world championship point behind Kimi Raikonnen. These were three very important points for Alfa Romeo Racing in terms of the Constructors’ ladder.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp Austria, MINARDI “The real challenge is behind the top three teams”

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Formula 1 is coming to Austria, a track that is as fast as it is short in which a lap is completed in little more than a minute. Last year Bottas’ record was 1’03” and this weekend it will almost certainly be adjusted downwards.

We are talking about a track in which traction and braking are important components, just as the tyres are particularly stressed. For the first time the three top teams have opted, at least on paper, for a different strategy with Mercedes bringing 9 sets of Soft against Red Bull’s 8 sets with Verstappen and Ferrari’s 7.

In light of the Ring’s technical characteristics we hope to see a more hard-fought grand prix and less boring than what we saw in France last weekend. Being at an altitude of 667 metres the atmospheric conditions, together with the entry of the safety car, could be important variables to be taken into consideration.

Everyone will certainly have to deal with this super Mercedes that is about to break every record. If the forecasts are not met, as we saw in Paul Ricard, Ferrari will have to be wary of Red Bull. Behind them however, there is an interesting tussle with the growing McLaren in the fight for fourth place between the Renault powered constructors. We hope that this weekend too will not be conditioned by penalties as happened in the last two grands prix. Just as with Vettel, the decisions concerning Ricciardo in France seemed too harsh to me.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Vettel-Hamilton, MINARDI “The decision was too hasty”

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Five days from the Canadian grand prix the penalty the marshals gave Vettel that gave Lewis Hamilton the win is still a hot theme. The marshals followed what the regulations say, but I am still of the idea that in that predicament Vettel could not have done anything else, just as nearly all his colleagues have confirmed, including Hamilton, the sole exception was Nico Rosberg.

In the light of what happened the regulations must be reviewed to protect safety without eliminating the melee which is this sport’s true DNA and also because I do not understand why the very dangerous episode between Ricciardo and Hulkenberg was not penalized.

Up to the 48th lap we had been watching a great battle between two champions who had created a void behind them and it is a pity that the second part of the grand prix was conditioned by a single very questionable episode. Rather than immediately giving Vettel a 5” penalty, the marshals could have postponed the decision to analyze the telemetry of the two cars once the engines had been turned off and to watch the video and then inflict a penalty on the Ferrari driver in the French Grand Prix.

The spectacle and credibility of F1 and Motorsport must be protected. Specifically, this episode tarnished an extremely competitive race and there is also an aspect that continues to leave me amazed. Faced with the pole position won by Vettel with the incredible time of 1’10”249, the fastest race lap by the German was 1’14”875 set in the 57th lap with Leclerc 1:14.356 (63rd lap), Verstappen 1:14.767 (67th lap) and Hamilton 1:14.813 (62nd lap).

Only Valtteri Bottas in the penultimate (69th) lap went below the barrier of 1’14, stopping the chronometer at 1’13”078.

This is an enormous difference between qualifying and the race that the teams and the tyre supplier should explain to us. We will try to gather some information and, in expectation of the French grand prix I will be waiting for you on Wednesday 19th at Turin on the occasion of the inauguration of the Salon of the Auto Parco Valentino and the parade of supercars and F1 cars that will begin at 8.00pm.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP Canada, THE POINT by Gian Carlo Minardi “These penalties are killing motorsport”

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I do not agree that a race as tight as the Canadian Gran Prix with three drivers within a bare 6” after 70 laps should be ruined by judge’s decision. These decisions are killing Motorsport.

We saw a hard fought race between two great drivers. Vettel certainly made a mistake by coming long into the bend, which in a race as frantic as this one could make sense, just like the struggle between drivers who are part of the history of this sport.

I am not worried about the points lost be the German in view of the world championship but about these decisions that compromise the credibility of Formula 1.

I had not seen such big gaps in a long time. Behind the first three drivers, Bottas paid with a gap of 51” which rose to 57” at Verstappen’s expense who finishing fifth over the line and in front of Ricciardo, the first of the lapped drivers and the second Renault driven by Hulkenberg. A point for Kvyat with Toro Rosso completed the top ten with Gasly (8th) and Stroll (9th).

Before closing I find Kevin Magnussen’s declarations to his team improper when he said that he had never driven such an ugly car. Pity that he was the one who destroyed it against the wall and that his mechanics had performed a miracle in rebuilding it to give him the chance race the GP.

This is all for this evening but I will give you an appointment in the next few days to go deeper into the episodes of this seventh round of the world championship in Montreal.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP Canada, MINARDI “The haemorrhage must be stemmed”

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Formula 1 flew overseas and reached Canada on a track which, for its technical characteristics, should favour cars with medium-low down force, such as Ferrari.

Montreal is a very demanding track with long straights and noteworthy braking where the traction has a major role with important changes of direction and many chicanes with the possible entry of the safety-car, the weather and the tyres with Pirelli bringing a solution very similar to that of 2018.

With these characteristics Vettel and Leclerc should suffer less compared to the recent weekends, also because the moment has come to stem this haemorrhage by trying to take points away from Mercedes which will bring the second evolution of its engine.

In the light of the results achieved to date Hamilton and Bottas are still the favourites for the win even here in Montreal. On the power-unit front this will also be an important test for a growing Honda and Red Bull.

The challenge for fifth place just behind McLaren – fourth with 30 points – is heating up with Racing Point, Haas, Toro Rosso, Renault and Alfa Romeo Racing enclosed in a bare four points. In Montecarlo Scuderia TR made a great leap forward by scoring ten points with its drivers Kvyat and Albon and Canada could once again be fertile ground.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp Montecarlo, THE POINT by Gian Carlo Minardi “Hamilton perfect. Ferrari, how many mistakes”

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Lewis Hamilton won one of the most exciting Montecarlo grands prix with four drivers within barely 4 seconds. The Mercedes driver confirmed he is a very great champion since, despite his problems with the tyres, he brought home an important win in front of Max Verstappen who never have him a moment of respite. On the other hand, faced with the difficulties with his car Vettel made a number of errors in qualifying and crashed with the FP3.

Verstappen committed a moment of carelessness without which he could have come back in fourth place. Maybe he took away Mercedes’ chance for a sixth consecutive double, even if I saw Bottas under subdued. I thought the 5” second penalty was right.

With the second place Vettel and Ferrari saved a weekend in which they committed unjustifiable mistakes, even if during the race they kept pace with the leaders. What happened on Saturday during qualifying was inexplicable. A team such as Ferrari cannot make such mistakes and, above all, I find it unacceptable that they appealed to the luck of others, especially if these words come from their CEO.

There is no justification ruining a grand prix for your driver that had shown he had an extra gear on the others by giving us two masterly overtakes in the race, as well as a mistake that will surely help him for the future. At that moment Leclerc was unloading all his frustration. In qualifying he had made a serious mistake in assessment which is synonymous with anxiety and nervousness.

Gian Carlo Minard

F1 | MINARDI “NIKI leaves us as a Champion, as a great test driver, manager and charismatic man”

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Ciao NIKI. Last night we lost not only a Champion and a piece of world automobile history but a great test driver who knew how to make difference in setting up a car when telemetry did not exist, a charismatic man and a successful manager who knew how to make Mercedes great with Toto Wolff.

My memories of Niki are tied especially to his past with Ferrari. I saw him often on the track at the wheel of an F1 car whenever I went to Fiorano.

The Montecarlo Grand Prix now fails into the background but surely Mercedes will want to continue its positive trend by trying to set a new record. Last year’s defeat still hurts and they will want to find quick payback against the menacing Red Bull. Ferrari must deal with the Milton Keynes’ excellent chassis and a determined Verstappen who for a year has not made any mistakes. It will certainly not be easy for Vettel and Leclerc. The mistake in qualifying in Baku by the driver from Monaco will be useful for him in the light of this demanding weekend. I saw him in great form even during the post Barcelona tests and I hope that Ferrari will be able to give him a car to put him into the fight for the top.

We are already in the sixth round. We need positive signs. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will be ready to fight it out once again without leaving anything to anyone else.

Gian Carlo Minardi