Archive for category: F1

We are at the door of the Singapore Grand Prix, the fifteenth round (of twenty one) of the world championship and a drivers transfer market surrounded by deep uncertainty. It has been some years since we last saw so many changes of teams (see the retirement of Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo’s passage from Red Bull to Renault or Force India’s change of ownership which saw the cancellation of its points at the Belgian GP) and, above all, there are still pieces that have to find their places.

At this time Ferrari is tipping the scales with the unknown factor tied to Kimi Raikonnen’s future. Despite many rumours, there has been no denial or official announcement from Maranello, even if what happened with the official account from Garage Italia that belongs to Lapo Elkann is striking when it announced the arrival of Charles Leclerc beside Vettel and which then modified the post’s text.

As long as this point has not been clarified it is difficult to see other movements since Ferrari conditions two teams (Haas enjoys greater autonomy compared to Sauber on the drivers’ front). Sadly Esteban Ocon could pay the price of this game of changes, especially since the arrival of Lawrence Stroll as head of the group that saved Force India (renamed Racing Point Force India) with the great probability of bringing his son Lance into the team (freeing a place at Williams).

The one paying the price for this would be the Frenchman. I hope that a skilled manager such as Toto Wolff would not allow such a mess to happen since, in my modest opinion, we are talking about one of the most interesting emerging drivers who deserves to stay in the Circus. It would be absurd if he were not one of the twenty drivers on the starting grid in 2019.

At the present time Ocon occupies tenth place in the drivers’’ ladder with 45 points, one less than Sergio Perez.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Ferrari’s test of strength at Spa-Francorchamps can be a good omen on a fast track such as that at Monza that this weekend will host the 89th edition of the Italian Grand Prix. We predict another exciting duel between the two pretenders to the throne, Ferrari and Mercedes but especially between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.

As we already saw last weekend in Belgium the weather will play an important role and probably shuffle the cards: with a dry track the Ferrari-Vettel duo has shown it is more competitive than its direct rivals, while under the rain Hamilton and Mercedes have shown they are superior. Storms are forecast for Friday as they are for Saturday as well, even if qualifying should be dry. On the other hand the race should be overcast.

We come to a track characterized by very long straights with only eleven bends where the engines run at full speed for 75% of the lap. It will be a great effort for the power-unit. After what happened at the start last week (the penalty inflicted on Hulkenberg seems correct even if the marshals continue not to use the same yardstick with all the drivers) care must be taken at the first chicane at about 700m from the starting line. They will come to it at speeds much higher than those at Spa.

Ferrari will start the real post Marchionne era and behind the curtains there will be many meetings that could open up a number of moves. Kimi Raikonnen’s future is still to be decided after an unlucky weekend at Spa that was conditioned by the contact at the start of the race that forced his retirement.

We predict that the weekend will not be easy for Red Bull due to the handicap of the Renault engine (Ricciardo will start in last place but will be equipped with the latest version of the PU). The duel between Renault and Haas for fourth place in the constructor’s ladder is to be followed, as well as the chase by Racing Point Force India that in Belgium was the team that achieved the third highest number of points (18) after Ferrari and Mercedes. The entry of the new consortium led by Lawrence Stroll will have given confidence back to the team (as well as new life).

Gian Carlo Minardi

Lewis Hamilton’s action in the final phases of the German Grand Prix when he came back onto the track after cutting through the grass after having taken the entrance to pit lane caused a lot of discussion after the race. Some hours after the chequered flag the Mercedes’ driver’s win was confirmed after having received only received a reprimand from the marshals. For Race director Charlie Whiting there was no correlation with the 5” penalty given to Kimi Raikonnen during the 2016 Baku Grand Prix.

We asked Gian Carlo Minardi, who gave us his point of view. “At this time in F1 there is no certainty in the penalties which are the basis for the regularity of world championship. In order to justify FIA’s position Charlie Whiting climbed up walls, hid behind very soft mitigating factors such as the presence of the Safety-car and not having created a risk situation due to the lack of other cars present,” commented the manager from Faenza.

“This championship will be won by who makes the least mistakes compared to his rival and seven points can make the difference at the end (with a 5” second penalty the Englishman would have finished in second place behind Bottas). In my opinion the regulation was distorted. Unfortunately these episodes also have consequences on the other introductory categories since very often F1 makes the law and is taken as an example by young drivers as well. It becomes very difficult teaching them,” continued.

“I do not want to take anything away from Hamilton who was the author of an extraordinary race, while Vettel make a very serious mistake that could cost him very dearly but there is a need for clear regulations that must be respected”.

The July tour-de-force continues. We move from Austria to the historic circuit of Silverstone in England and then continue our journey towards Germany and Hungary which will mark the beginning of the August summer holidays.

This is a very technical and demanding circuit, for the tyres as well with lateral forces of 5G. For this reason Pirelli has opted for the Hard, Medium and Soft mixes (with the tread lowered 0.4mm) to try and compensate for the excessive wear. After the race a lot was heard and said about the tyres and I do not understand the need to intervene for change by hiding behind the problem of safety. If the tyres wear too much then you stop and change them.

Silverstone promises to be an important round, above all for those who suffered from problems of reliability at the Red Bull Ring since there was really too little time to intervene.

The weather is still an unknown factor, even if for the time being the forecasts speak of a hot weekend and of the safety car as well. Last year Lewis Hamilton dictated the race in front of his public and this weekend Mercedes is still favoured to win. Ferrari comes to the race reinvigorated after having taken back the leadership of both ladders, even though it was not free of errors with the penalty that hit Vettel for having slowed down Carlos Sainz in qualifying (Q2). The championship confirms that it is characterized and conditioned by errors (drivers and teams) and who will know to make the fewest errors will, in all probability, take home the crown for 2018.

After Sunday’s retirement the British champion will take to the track psyched up and with a strong desire for a comeback. It will be a great struggle to be follow, beginning with the free practice.

Personally, I have wonderful memories tied to this circuit, especially the ’89 edition which ended with fifth and sixth placings for Martini and Sala. It was a decisive weekend for the survival of the team. The phantom of pre-qualifying was just around the corner, as was the loss of the television rights. We were obliged to take home two points. We said goodbye to the eighth round with three points. For us it was like winning the world championship. The M189 proved to be a good and constantly growing car that gave us a lot of satisfaction.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Renault and, naturally, Red Bull. Never has Daniel Ricciardo had been at the centre of the driver’s market as much as now.

He has given himself ten days to decide. Next year Red Bull will abandon the Renault engines to pass on to the Japanese supplier of its cousins at Toro Rosso. It is another unknown factor for the Australian, even if the Honda Power Unit has shown that, compared to the disastrous seasons with Honda, it has made gigantic strides in terms of reliability and performance.

The win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the lack of competiveness by McLaren may push Fernando Alonso to say goodbye to F1 as soon as this season to aim for new challenges and in fact freeing a seat at Woking. There could be a contract worth 20 million dollars a year for Ricciardo but Renault could have knocked on the Australian’s door as well. There could be a swap with Carlos Sainz who is still under contract with the team from Milton Keynes.

Sebastian Vettel may have opposed Daniel Ricciardo’s move to Ferrari and so closed the doors to Maranello to his former team mate despite Kimi Raikonnen having floated the idea of definitely finishing his adventure in F1 which leaves a very pleasing seat free that could be occupied by the Monegasque driver Leclerc.

“I have not yet won a world title and, despite McLaren and Renault not being my main choices, an eventual arrival there would not be a backward step in my career but an investment in the future. The aim is to have a car to aim for the maximum result but if this is not possible then other considerations will be made,” commented Daniel Ricciardo, “Honda’s arrival at Red Bull was not a shock, as I already knew about the possibility. Now I will try to understand what the developments will be. Honda made progress with Toro Rosso”.

Before taking any decision Ricciardo will also take a look at Brackley where Lewis Hamilton’s contract will end at the close of 2018.

“As of today Lewis Hamilton has still not signed an extension to his contract with Mercedes and Ricciardo will wait to see what happens at Mercedes before making any decisions. Should Hamilton not renew this will set off a chain reaction in the paddock with a round of important seats. If I were Ferrari in an imaginary market, I would not let the British driver get away to build a Dream-Team with Vettel despite the German driver’s veto of the Australian driver,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi.

“It would be a big coup for Maranello having two great drivers for aiming at both the drivers and the constructors’ titles by taking the main actor and adversary away from the competition. As an alternative, I really like the idea of the young Leclerc which in turn would free a place for Giovinazzi at Sauber,” continued the manager from Faenza who says that he is increasingly convinced that the recent winner of the 24 Hours of Le mans, Fernando Alonso will retire from F1. “McLaren will need another top driver, as well Renault. It could be an explosive market but a lot will depend on Hamilton,” concluded Minardi.

This weekend Formula 1 will stop at Monte Carlo for the sixth round of the world championship. As per tradition, the motors will again light up one day early – Thursday for free practice – and stop on Friday. After Mercedes’ last two wins Ferrari is called to give a solid reply by trying to repeat its 2017 result which ended with a Vettel-Raikonnen double in front of Ricciardo’s Red Bull.

It is indisputable that, based on the results of the first five grands prix (with two wins each for Leis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel), strategies and mistakes will make the difference. The current gap between the two drivers (17 points in favour of the British driver) is dictated by better placings. On paper Ferrari has favourable two rounds (Monte Carlo and Canada) in front of it and it will be vital to make the most of them.

In addition to the technical battle between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull this weekend in Monaco will be crucial for the beginning of the drivers’ market. The Principality has always been the stage for innumerable meetings, especially during the Friday break, which will draw up the 2019 starting grid and also because, with the arrival of June, the technical programmes tied to the new cars will start.

Leading the list will be Ferrari once more with Kimi Raikonnen whose contract will end this year. Maranello has an option on Daniel Ricciardo who could also arrive at Mercedes in place of Valtteri Bottas. On the other hand Sebastian Vettel does not like the arrival of the Australian (with whom he already shared the pits at Red Bull) and points on an extension of the Finn’s contract. It would be quite amazing if this should happen since, in order to come back and win the World Constructors’ title, Ferrari needs two top drivers and, above all, create a direct clash between the two drivers.

At the present time there are many knots to be undone:

– Red Bull’s contract for the Renault engines is about to end. The French have already let known that they could contiue with the adventure in Formula 1 even without supplying Red Bull with Power Units which, on the other hand, can gather information on the Honda front through Toro Rosso.

– The Brendon Hartley case holds the bench at Red Bull, he is the author of many mistakes and a negative start of the season, above all if compared to his partner Gasly. Pascal Wehrlein’s name has been mentioned (Mercedes driver), but a few hours ago Lando Norris also seems to have knocked on Franz Tost’s door, especially after the arrival of new Canadian capital from Mr. Latifi at McLaren. It would be an unusual scenario as, for the first time, Red Bull could find itself having to look from a driver from outside its own group. At the moment there is only the option with Carlos Sainz who could be called back to remedy Ricciardo’s eventual departure,

– We saw Robert Kubica at the wheel in free practice and the collective tests at Montmelò and he showed how much he is still an important driver for today’s Formula 1 driver. The Pole managed to give the team many indications for the development of the car which is relegating a historic and winning team such as Williams to last place. It is clear that the young choice related to business is not giving the desired results.

– On the other hand Alfa Romeo Sauber is paying the choice of Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver has already won 9 points (7 more than his teammate Ericcson). Going to the tracks he already knows has given him the essential peace he needs in order to concentrate on the development of the car, as well as for accumulating the mileage necessary for achieving the feeling between car and driver.

– At Spain we saw also Alberto Giovinazzi at the wheel of the Sauber and the Ferrari in which he was the author of some great work. It would be good to see him on the track regularly.

Gian Carlo Minardi