Archive for category: F1

These have been days rich in announcements within the F1 Circus, especially at Mercedes-Williams-Sauber which have completed the puzzle. All the pieces have found their place without any twists, respecting recent previsions and rumors. The editorial staff of www.minardi.it has met Gian Carlo Minardi for an interview.

One after the other, three official press releases have arrived. Valtteri Bottas is the new Mercedes driver.

With this choice, Mercedes has got more weak because it bets on a second driver. Bottas is surely a good driver, but he didn’t cause any trouble to an “old” driver like Felipe Massa. In my opinion, we cannot compare Rosberg’s and Bottas’s career because German driver’s Williams wasn’t as today. I expect a Bottas in trouble against a cannibal like Lewis Hamilton, especially if he won’t be distracted by extra-sports events like this year. With his choice, Rosberg has caused some problems to Mercedes that had to take remedial actions when the market was already closed. The one year agreement (with the option for a second one) is the proof that it is a repair choice. The Finnish driver risks a lot. If he fails, he will become unemployed at 28 year old.

Felipe Massa at Williams beside Stroll.

I have said it since the first moment. After his good career, he risks to jeopardize his reputation in a single season. I find it difficult to have the right incentives to face a demanding season like next year’s one beside a young boy, unfairly criticized, that has been able to impose himself in every championship.

Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber in Felipe Nasr’s place.

We must recognize Toto Wolff’s managerial ability. He managed to place both his drivers. Ocon at Force India and the German at Sauber motorized by Ferrari. Before promoting them to the first team, Wolff has tested them, and Wehrlein will have more difficulties. I consider them both good drivers.

Who would you like to see in the grid?

Antonio Giovinazzi without any doubt. Leaving him on the bench is a pity because the results in the last years speak in his favor. I would like to see him in action.

After last movings, which couple do you prefer?

Ricciardo-Verstappen. I see them more close-knit and strong. Now, Vettel-Raikkonen are an mystery. In 2016, Raikkonen managed to put in trouble his team-mate, while during last years he had fought to not deface. It will depend greatly on the kind of car that Ferrari will give them, but I see them weaker, especially regarding the Red Bull couple that will do its best, struggling one another to became the best one.

Ferrari and Mercedes have put eyes on Mick Schumacher.

Mick has undoubtedly a natural talent. Competition and velocity are in the Schumacher’s DNA. Anyway, it seems premature to make auctions to grab him. In my opinion, it is about respecting Michael for the two most important teams linked to his career. I hope this “game” goes in favor of the boy’s image.

 

Paddy Lowe’s arrival to Williams could intersect Bottas’ transfer from Grove to Brackley beside Lewis Hamilton, avoiding (or reducing) the gardening leave period of the technician.

The transition of the Finnish to Mercedes frees a place at Williams beside the young Lance Stroll. So, the British stable would have call back Felipe Massa, who would have broken his agreement with Formula E taking some time, till January 30, to make a decision.

Honestly, I don’t look kindly upon a potential step back, after announcing a retirement. In F1, he made an important career and gained a worldwide respect. He missed just the title, and went out with a standing ovation.2017 will be a demanding season and will require a great physical preparation, I would not risk to ruin my reputation. I find difficult to find some needed incentives to race an entire season.

This job is a “disease”. So, I would look for new incitements in other championship, like Formula E or GT.

Otherwise, I would see him well in the role of ambassador of a company like the FCA thanks to his past in Maranello.

With his switch from Mercedes to Williams, after three years full in success, Paddy Lowe is preparing himself not only to change his jacket, but also to assume the role as Team Principal in the stable founded by sir. Frank Williams in 1977.

An era ends. The last cornerstone of F1 (Founder, Team Principal, and Team Manager) is ready to abdicate. This could mean that the reins of the stable have passed into Lawrence Stroll’s hands, the father of Lance who is about to debut this year into the Circus at the Williams wheel, (probably) beside of the returning Felipe Massa.

With Paddy Lowe, an important technician gets to the top brass of the stable. He can create the basis to rebuilt a winning course. A scenario already seen with Ross Brawn when he launched his namesake stable, and the following year sold it it to Mercedes with the world constructors’ and drivers’ 2016 titles in the pocket.

I wish this handover is an auspice for the English team that will count on Stroll’s substantial financial and managerial capabilities.

The displacement of the ex executive technical director of Mercedes is the last example of how Formula 1 has been changing. A Formula 1 that is increasingly in the hands of managers who now lead a team and then change their jacket.

It remains to guess the gardening leave period that Lowe will have to face before entering in action at Grove. That operation will trigger a sequence of procedures linked to the drivers’ market that we will face next days.

Antonio Giovinazzi is a driver of the Ferrari Stable. His season ends with a bang.

This is a very important step that will give the opportunity to grow further to a driver who has already proved all his value. Giovinazzi has the mental and technical traits to stand out. He is the result of a long job developed along with ACI Sport President Sticchi Damiani.

This result demonstrates that we have some talented drivers in Italy as well. We have been fought for several years in the most important championships and next year we will have Fuoco and Ghiotto in GP2, Pulcini and Iorandi in GP3, Colombo and Mosca in F4.

These boys are the fruit of a long work that the Federal School has begun several years ago, by monitoring the boys from their first steps in kart and during their formative apprenticeships.

Reaching Formula 1 is not easy because there are just 22 cars, but from now till the end of the year there could be a further evolution. Games are open, even if everything will depend on the Mercedes choice and on the driver that will be chosen to replace Nico Rosberg. Being able to race a whole season with a minor team would be an enormous opportunity for a driver who has proven his value for so many years.

Some years ago, I had already introduced Giovinazzi to Ferrari, but this meeting has become a something concrete only today. Unfortunately, since I had not a team anymore, I couldn’t prove on track what I had saw in him. Thanks to this agreement an Italian driver is back on the track as a third driver.

There are many irons on the fire. Let’s see what will happen in the upcoming weeks.

 

These are red-hot days in Formula 1, but especially at Mercedes which has to find a replacement not just for Nico Rosberg, but also for a winning technician like Paddy Lowe who, as we heard, has taken his way towards Grove.

We were aware that his contract was about to expire, but I didn’t expect a rift. Perhaps, some weeks ago a signal was sent by Toto Wolff when he declared that the team could count on a generational change to continue his positive result row.

Mercedes has exempted Lowe from the usual break of six-eight months. This could bring Bottas – a driver under Toto Wolff’s influence – alongside Hamilton and free an important place in Williams.

Do Alonso’s chances at Mercedes decrease?

Never say never. In this moment, Mercedes keeps all its doors open, in other words: the choice of a young like Wehrlein (who has taken part to Pirelli tests), the choice of a top driver or of a second driver (Bottas). Coming from an absolutely positive series, they are facing a not easy choice. Before of Rosberg’s flash announcement, Mercedes was evaluating some significant sport and technical decisions regarding Lewis Hamilton who pronounced strong words and assumed a behavior above the lines. Everything, anyway, has been overturned by Nico’s decision. As I have already said some time ago, if it was up to me, I would have no hesitations in turning the page and starting to write a new book along with a top driver. They have all what it takes for continuing to be leaders.

Williams – Who will be alongside Lance Stroll?

Wherever Lance Stroll has raced has won, we have to recognize it. His father has been very good at building a competitive team around him, and he hasn’t disappointed expectations. Many drivers, despite their economic support, have not reached certain results. Stroll has won Formula 4 in New Zealand and the International Formula 3. In this moment, Williams can count on a good economic return due to its good placement in the last years and with Lowe’s coming could venture in a middle term project for coming back to the glories of the past, by betting on a couple of young drivers. It could also become the Mercedes B-team at the detriment of a Force India hit by economic problems. We still have a Wehrlein on the market.