F1 | GP JAPAN, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “PEREZ RED BULL’S ONLY PROBLEM”

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Max Verstappen went from words to deeds. After the difficult weekend in Singapore, he declared that they would have been ahead in Suzuka and that there was no problem. And so it was.

In Japan Red Bull returned to dominating with the usual tranquillity, relegating the first of the rivals, Lando Norris on a good McLaren, to more than 19 seconds behind. Seconds that rose (and went back to being so) to forty-five seconds in the case of Ferrari, fourth across the finish line with Leclerc.

After fourteen laps Verstappen’s lead on Norris was already ten seconds. At that point the Dutchman only had to administer the race, lapping more than 1” slower compared to his fastest lap (1:34.183 against 1:35.247 Lando Norris – 1:35.611 Lewis Hamilton – 1:36.187 Carlos Sainz). Without overdoing it, he won easily with a 19” second lead, also safeguarding the car.

It would be interesting knowing what happened in Singapore because such a problem cannot be resolved in so little time. Red Bull’s only real problem at the present time is Sergio Perez. The Mexican suffers fearfully the personality and competitiveness of Max Verstappen who confirms he is a “driver killer”. Today Perez again made a series of mistakes which are unacceptable from a Formula 1 driver, especially one as experienced as he is.

It was only a question of time, as it will be for Verstappen. Red Bull mathematically won the constructor’s title in Honda’s home. An important result also from the marketing point of view for both Honda and Red Bull itself.

Ferrari finished in fourth place and the result confirms its current potential, behind McLaren in outstanding form which can count on two young drivers, one of which is an excellent rookie: Oscar Piastri celebrated his first podium finish. He suffered a 17” gap from his teammate, but the strategy also intervened. From this emerges a positive image of a cohesive team that respects team orders. They are strongly on the rise and can still become a troublesome antagonist with six rounds remaining. They currently occupy fifth place, only 49 points from Aston Martin which did not go beyond eighth place with an anonymous Alonso. It was another race to forget for Stroll.

With 4th and 6th place Ferrari gained four points on the ladder at Mercedes’ expense taking the gap to only twenty points, but with this McLaren nothing can be taken for granted.

Also noteworthy was Liam Lawson’s good performance, finishing his third grand prix in eleventh place ahead of his teammate Tsunoda. Eleventh and twelfth place which gave no points to Alpha Tauri, but which highlights the Australian’s technical value. Despite Ricciardo’s and Tsunoda’s renewals Lawson earnt conformation as the reserve driver for Red Bull and Alpha Tauri. An important sign for the starting drivers.

The next round is in two weeks with the Qatar Grand Prix.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | GP SINGAPORE, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “A FERRARI WORTHY OF THE BEST YEARS”

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On a weekend conditioned by a less than perfect Red Bull, we saw a very tight grand prix with four cars in full battle for the win. It was a very tactical race such as could be expected considering the characteristics of the Singapore track and during which there was no lack of turn arounds.

Ferrari surprised everybody by taking pole position and a win worthy of the best years. Carlos Sainz was the protagonist of a fantastic race in which he did not let up not even a millimetre to the competition despite a risky strategy.

There is a wonderful friendship between Sainz and Norris and they know each other very well., considering their past in McLaren, but I do not believe that in the final laps he willingly slowed down to give Lando the possibility of having the DRS to defend himself from the very aggressive Russell. At that moment he did not have complete control of the tyres having already raced more than 40 laps on the hards.

Mercedes attempted an aggressive strategy to try and overtake Ferrari and to aim at the win. Unfortunately, Russell made a serious mistake. In that moment in which he was marked by Lewis Hamilton he was determined to overtake him, and at the same time was trying to overtake Norris. At the 59th and 60th laps he was the protagonist of two fantastic laps putting pressure on his rival, and he approached too long and ended the race against the barriers leaving the podium in Lewis Hamilton’s hands. A serious mistake, which is part of racing, especially in such a tight race.

What happened in Red Bull remains to be understood. It inexplicably suffered a blow on a track which, on paper, was favourable to it. It remains to be understood is whether the cause is to be found in the introduction of the TD018 – the latest change in progress – or if there were technical reasons.

Once again, the pre-race predictions did not occur and this is certainly a positive aspect for the show.

Well done Lawson who with ninth place gave important points to Alpha Tauri and Kevin Magnussen which reached the top ten thanks to Russell’s exit. To be noted is also the good performance by Alpine with Gasly in sixth place behind Max Verstappen and ahead of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren. From Ocon’s retirement to the introduction of the VSC Mercedes’ decision to bring its two drivers back onto the track which giving us such a heart gripping finale.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | ITALIAN GP, THE POINT BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI “QUALIFYING FORMAT APPROVED. HAMILTON’S PENLATY WAS TOO SOFT”

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Let us take a step back to Saturday, the setting for the second experiment connected to the new qualifying format. After Budapest the Monza track was the stage for the second “Alternative Tyre Allocation” test.

I have to say that it is an interesting format which does not distort the values in the field. Just like Budapest, even in Monza we had a very hard-fought qualifying with an intense tussle between the first three. It was the second test, on a track completely different from Budapest. I am convinced it is a way to go once again before its definitive introduction in 2024.

On the grand prix front, apart from the illusion of the result from qualifying, free practice already showed that Verstappen and Red Bull had a better race pace. Once again, when it involved getting serious the Dutchman lapped a constant 5-6 tenths of a second faster than his direct rivals, to then stabilize his race pace to a tenth of a second from the pursuer. Once having gained a secure margin, he administered. Red Bull’s real advantage has not yet been quantifiable and perhaps never will be.

Having said this of Max Verstappen’s first laps, he studied his rival before striking the final blow, surging towards his tenth consecutive win. Sergio Perez’s race was also good after his fifth place in qualifying. Having a Red Bull at his disposal, he managed to recover placing himself behind his teammate.

Ferrari’s performance was discrete. Since Monza is a track favourable for them, they managed to take the podium (and fourth place with Leclerc) in front of a fantastic audience, recovering important points over its directs rivals Mercedes, also in view to the world championship, consolidating third place to the advantage of an underperforming Aston Martin.

Going to less “friendly” tracks, it will be interesting to see if they will end up with Zandvoor or Monza style results.

After his second place in Holland, Fernando Alonso had to settle for ninth place. Counting on only one driver, it is not easy for Aston Martin to fight on an equal footing with the direct rivals Mercedes and Ferrari amongst the Constructors.

With pleasure, behind the top three teams, we once again saw Williams in strong growth, with an excellent Albon taking home a positive seventh place. He made few mistakes and with constancy managed to take out Q3 and the points zone. Sargeant’s thirteenth place confirms the growth of the team. Amongst other things, he managed to put up one of his best times in qualifying.

I thought the 5” penalty inflicted on Lewis Hamilton too soft, considering he ruined the race for Oscar Piastri, who was forced into an additional pitstop to change the wing with the result that he dropped out of the points zone. But he can be consoled with the fastest lap of the race. Up to that moment however, he had been the protagonist of a more than positive performance, as we all as having qualified his McLaren ahead of his teammate.

The European rounds ended with Monza and the uncertainty of the performances behind the leader continues.

Gian Carlo Minardi