F1 | After-Rosberg. Possible scenarios

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Nico Rosberg’s retirement arrived like a bolt from the blue sky and involves not just Mercedes, but its paddock as well.

We are talking about of the best car in the last years that conquered three constructors’ and drivers’ world titles in as many seasons. We are talking about a team that has technically managed his drivers in an excellent way, letting them free to fight on the track.

As I have already said in the last days, I completely agree with Nico Rosberg’s choice, as I criticized Lewis Hamilton’s words and behavior.

Right now, we have understand what strategies the brand is going to follow. I see three possible scenarios:

Scenario 1 – Hamilton with a young driver: my DNA has always led me to cooperate with young drivers, and thus I would particularly agree with this path, especially because Mercedes has at home two young drivers like Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein. To date, the French driver has signed with Force India to take the place of Nico Hulkenberg passed to Renault.

Scenario 2 – Hamilton and a top driver: it is the solution strongly backed by Niki Lauda. A path that brought a lot of successes and world titles to Stuttgart. Just to name a few, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel – despite the statements of facts -.

Scenario 3 – Hamilton and a second driver: in Ferrari style with Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. In this case, the right name could be the standard bearer at William’s, Valtteri Bottas (managed by Toto Wolff).

Write a new book  

Considering the superpower of Mercedes, it is a no so impracticable path. I have never hidden it. I have not appreciated Lewis Hamilton’s expressions of opinion and behaviour, I found them detrimental toward the technical and sport image of his team. With Rosberg’s retirement, Toto Wolff &C. could decide to turn a blind eye on, anyway Hamilton’s layoff could open incredible scenarios. We are talking about a fictional drivers market, but in this moment Mercedes is the only team that could afford it.

F1 | Sensational, Nico Rosberg retires. Minardi "It will trigger World War III"

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Surprisingly, on his official Facebook page, Nico Rosberg has announced his immediate retirement from Formula 1.The World Champion has said enough.

“Since25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my “one thing” to become Formula One world champion.Through the hard work, pain, sacrifices, this has been my target. Now I have made it. I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak”.

Nico hangs up his overalls, gloves, and helmet to devote himself to his family. “This season was so damn tough. It has been a sacrifice for my whole family, everything was put aside for my goal. On Sunday morning, in Abu Dhabi, I knew it could be my last race, and and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life. I made my decision last Monday evening”, these are Nico Rosberg’s words.

We solicited the opinion of Gian Carlo Minardi committed to present the Motor Show in Bologna who has never hidden his support to the German driver at Mercedes in this long ride. “This is an unbelievable news, very hard to receive. We must to respect it and honor a champion like Nico Rosberg who has proved a great bond to the Mercedes brand. His decision will surely unleash an Apocalypse in the paddock. Who will be able to free himself contractually, will do it. Suddenly, the wheel and the seat of the best car in the Circus are freed, a car that this year has managed to conquer 19 wins on 21 grand prix”, the manager from Faenza observes. “Mercedes will have to make a careful evaluation to built its 2017 team along with a driver, Lewis Hamilton who hasn’t been so clear with the team”.

In a press release, Mercedes greets and thanks his champion through Toto Wolff’s words. “This is a brave decision by Nico and testament to the strength of his character.He has chosen to leave at the pinnacle of his career, as world champion. I accepted his decision straight away when he told me.For the team, this is an unexpected situation but also an exciting one. We are going into a new era of technical regulations and there is a free Mercedes cockpit for the seasons ahead.We will take the necessary time to evaluate our options and then find the right path for our future”.

F1 | 2017's calendar – Monza is there. Agreement extended for three more years

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The Italian Grand Prix stays in Monza and in the calendar till 2019. The president of the Automobile Club d’Italia, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, announced the extension of the agreement with Bernie Ecclestone for the next three years. After the “handshake” in Monza, the signature has also arrived.

“In spite of a lot of difficulties and with a great effort – ACI president Angelo Sticchi Damiani underlines – we reached the conclusive signature of the agreement for Monza. On behalf of all Italian sports fans, I thank premier Matteo Renzi and the president of CONI Malagò who, a year ago, believed in this goal and created the conditions to reach together this very important result. We must express a particular gratitude – Sticchi Damiani continues – to governor Maroni and to the whole government of Lombardy which backed this negotiation in a decisive way. Thus, we avoided the damned hypothesis that, after 70 years, Italy could lose one of the most prestigious, historical and fascinating car race in the world. Now let’s go ahead all together. With the aim to make the Monza Grand Prix an even more important event in the next years, an event capable of fascinate and increasingly attract fans around the world”.

Meanwhile, with a note, the Fia has made official the calendar of the world championship for next F1 season. The curtain rises on March 26 in Melbourne and it falls 20 grand prix later, on November 26 in Abu Dhabi. It is confirmed the exit of the German Grand Prix. The Italian Grand Prix at the Monza Circuit is scheduled on 3 September, as thirteenth round. 

March 26 – Australia (Melbourne)

April 9 – China (Shanghai)

April 16 – Bahrain (Bahrain)

April 30 – Russia (Sochi)

May 14 – Spain (Barcelona)

May 28 – Monaco (Monte Carlo)

June 11 – Canada (Montreal)

June 25 – Azerbaijan (Baku)

July 9 – Austria (Spielberg)

July 16 – Great Britain (Silverstone)

July 30 – Hungary (Budapest)

August 27 – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)

September 3 – Italy (Monza)

September 17 – Singapore (Singapore)

October 1 – Malaysia (Sepang)

October 8 – Japan (Suzuka)

October 22 – USA (Austin)

October 29 – Mexico (Mexico City)

November 12 – Brazil (Sao Paulo)

November 26 – Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi)

F1 | 2016 final scorecard with the surprise Force India

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Mercedes – 10 with honors winning 19 of 21 scheduled grand prix race. It is the result of an absolute supremacy, irrefutable and unconditioned. Spain and Malaysia were lost because of two mistakes.

Red Bull – 9 despite a slow start, they managed to recover in the standings till the second position, becoming maker of a new move in the environment with the promotion of Vertappen at the detriment of Kwyat, an action repayed with the Dutch driver’s success in Spain. Max has also become the youngest driver to win a F1 race. A record difficult to beat. They also defeated Maranello concerning the drivers, with the third place of Ricciardo behind of Rosberg and Hamilton.

Ferrari – 6.5 after the second place last year, we expected more. No victory, no start from the first row, third place in the constructors’ world championship, behind of red Bull and a booty of 11 podia. Little for Ferrari. We hope the third place conquered by Vettel in Abu Dhabi can be a good auspice for a more intriguing show in 2017.

Force India – 9 it is surely the true surprise in this championship. Perez and Hulkenberg supported by a good car managed to reach an incredible result for a team with few economic resources. The fourth place (173 points) ahead of Williams, the first ones after the top teams. The seventh absolute place of Perez is the evidence of their excellent season. Year by year, they managed to grow till reaching this unexpected result, in spite of their great economic and managerial problems.

Williams – 6,5 it made its task, closing the season with the fifth place that guarantees a good economic return. Till the end, Massa made things difficult for Bottas who next year will have to face a rookie who imposed himself in every the championship that he raced. Now Stroll has to prove to deserve such an important seat.

McLaren – 6 compared to their disastrous 2015, they managed to make a good step ahead. After all the changes made within the team, next year will be crucial. We hope that the new regulations can contribute to bring back up both the team and Honda and remake an historic union that donated a lot of successes.

Toro Rosso – 6 they close the season with the seventh place, even if at the beginning their ambitions were different. They have surely paid the price of a dated power-unit. As we saw, especially in qualifying, in spite of a good shell. The team has the potential to fight for the fifth place.

Renault – 5 an uncolored season. It was a transient year waiting for a more strong 2017 thanks to the contribution that Nico Hulkenberg will be able to bring.

Sauber – with a kidney hit and thanks to the Brazilian adverse conditions, they managed to save the season by “tearing off” some points and important money from Manor which is about to do a new transfer of shares. New technicians and capitals will reach Hinwil. They could redeem a difficult year, also supported by the Ferrari 2016 power-unit.

F1 | Abu Dhabi GP – Minardi “Hamilton should be fired”

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Besides ignoring a team order, Lewis Hamilton used strong words against Mercedes both before the race and on the Abu Dhabi podium. A behavior noticed by Toto Wolff’s entourage.
“Lewis is putting himself ahead of the team. He ignored a clear order, and anarchy does not work in any environment” declared the Team Principal who recalls he left the drivers fighting each other all the season.
Words and behaviors that continue to divide the paddock.“I do not agree with, not accept, and not approve the words said by Lewis Hamilton in pre-race and on the podium in any way. A driver is not allowed to criticize and judge the work of his employer pointing his finger at the mistakes and reliability problems, especially when the team put the drivers in condition to fight openly – Gian Carlo Minardi remarks – If I were Toto Wolf, I would leave him at home.
Sports teaches us that there are always favorable and adverse events, which are also determined by the Fortune. Rosberg himself was victim of subjective, not objective, decisions made by commissioners who deprived him of important points. He has had an unbeatable car for all the season and little imperfections have made the difference. Lewis lost the world championship for just five points at the end of a 21 races long season. It is better for him to examine himself because he has some responsibilities. One should be more gentleman”, the manager from Faenza concludes. 

F1 | Abu Dhabi GP – The scorecards

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Nico Rosberg – 10 he managed to defeat the anxiety created by Hamilton’s game remaining calm. It is the first time that four cars have crossed the finish line within a little less than 2”. An exciting final. The smallest error was enough to be out of the podium and lose the world championship.

Sebastian Vettel – 10 after a not exciting qualifying, ended behind his team mate, he became maker of a quintessential race which ended with a deserved podium, without any mistakes. A good Ferrari strategy and an excellent overtaking at the detriment of Verstappen.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8,5 once again I think he to be the victim of a strategy in favor of Verstappen.

Max Verstappen – 8 what a pity his mistake at the start, but once again, he amused us with a good recovery ended at the foot of the podium.

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 after a positive qualifying, he hasn’t been so aggressive as in other races. Very good at the start with the overtaking at the detriment of Ricciardo.

Felipe Massa and Jenson Button – 7 the Williams driver has conquered Q3 at the detriment of his team mate proving that, often, the age does not matter. Button would have deserved to close his F1 career by crossing the finish line. Before his retirement he was performing a race in attack.

Fernando Alonso – 7 he closes an hard season and gets an important point after conquering Q3 at the detriment of Bottas.

Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg – 7 both the drivers at Force India ended the season in the point zone, confirming their team in the fourth place among constructors, ahead of Williams. They are the surprise of 2016.

Lewis Hamilton – 6 just because he won his tenth grand prix, achieving a significant place in F1. Anyway, I do not appreciate his strong words used before and after the race. It is a lack of respect towards his employer. 

F1 | Abu Dhabi GP – Rosberg World Champion. Ferrari on the podium

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In the night of Abu Dhabi, Nico Rosberg wins his first world title. A German driver at the wheel of a German car. It is the proper ending of a very long season characterized by 21 races. Rosberg had started in a great way, showing a downturn in July and then getting back the lead of the standings. He has fought against a three-time world champion who made things difficult for him, in this last grand prix as well. In spite of everything, he has maintained the coldness, proving to deserve the title. It has been an exciting race and ended with four cars in a space of 2”, thanks to the strategy of Hamilton who made an all-out attempt. A very technical and tactical race where drivers have given their 100%.

I didn’t appreciate the behavior of the English driver at Mercedes’, he will have to meditate and vent during the holidays. It is not fair to complain about team’s negative moments on the podium. It has been a long championship in which driver’s reliability and mistakes are part of the game. Till the end, Mercedes put both his drivers in condition to play for the title at par. He should show more sportsmanship. This is why I appreciate Nico’s style more. Even in hard times, he didn’t find any justifications. We must remember that in some occasions he has been victim of subjective (and not objective) decisions by the commissioners.

The overtaking at the detriment of Verstappen was beautiful. It has been a crucial action for defending the title. A calculated risk that was to be taken. With this success, he has equaled his father, who is always very attentive, and never intrusive. He reached the track when the titled had been already conquered. Congratulations to Rosberg’s whole family.

Ferrari ends the season in a great way with the third place of Vettel, maker of the fastest lap and of an amazing overtaking at the detriment of Max Verstappen, protagonist of a mistake at the start and of a beautiful recovery. A Red Bull that has something to complain regarding Daniel Ricciardo penalized again by the team strategy.

The curtain falls on a long season, but 2017 is coming. We will experience a demanding championship with cars certainly different and new regulations that could determine a mixing of the powers on the field or lead to a more fought championship and the hope to have more satisfactions with the Italian colors.

A significant year for ACI Team Italia is filed thanks to the second and third places in GP2 accomplished by Giovinazzi and Marciello respectively, and to Fuoco’s third place in GP3. I want to thank these boys because they made us hear the hymn of Mameli a lot of times, proving how much the work of the Federation is a successful. Italy can manifest itself at the highest levels along with its drivers. There are still some unoccupied places in F1, and we hope to have a nice surprise in the upcoming weeks.

F1 | Ecclestone inclined to two races. Minardi «A correct choice»

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Formula 1 tries to look ahead, looking for new formats and solutions to attract a moving away audience.

It does this through Bernie Ecclestone who points his finger at too long races, proposing to split the Grand Prix into two races, 40 minutes each, with different starts.“90 minutes of race (if not more) are really too many for the current spectators’ needs. Other sports are considering shorter format, as well. Having two races on Sundays could be the right solution. Between a race and the other, the mechanics will have the chance to work on the cars and the drivers will make the interviews”, Mr. Eccletsone explains.

A solution backed by Gian Carlo Minardi who had already proposed the idea of making two separated events. “We have to promote spectators’ needs, who are changing faster than the show offered today does. I surely agree with the choise of two races. The audience would benefit from this choise, and the show as well because there would be two separated starts – the manager from Faenza tells us – . As it was Formula 2 in the 70s. I hope that the weekend in Abu Dhabi is the occasion to speak about the future. In 2017 there will be significant changes, around the calendar there is a lot of uncertainty. We know that Sepang will exit from 2019. Singapore is thinking of not renewing and Brazil is hanging the balance. Against the current, Montreal has renewed his agreement”.

 

F1 | Abu Dhabi GP – The final challenge

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After 20 grand prix, and such a long season, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will put the World Champion title on the line in Abu Dhabi, to the delight of Eccleston and of the Arabs. In fact, the agreement provides an extra payment if the world championship title is assigned in the last race. Both the Mercedes drivers are equal regarding victories – nine each- with an advantage of Rosberg if we take the second places into account, and with an advantage of Hamilton if we sum the fourth places. This means that if Rosberg pass the third position (and Hamilton wins), the points being equal, the title will go into the English driver’s hands.

For all these months, Nico has proved to deserve the win, due both to his perseverance and his education with which he swallowed some very questionable decisions made subjectively and not objectively by commissioners. Otherwise, we would already have the new winner.

After his beautiful presentation in Sao Paulo, the attention will also focus on Max verstappen that will have to prove to be mature for be a protagonist in 2017. We hope that the praises that he received the following days don’t distract him. The Dutch driver at Red Bull will try to oust Vettel, trying to tear off the fourth place in the drivers’ standings. For the German driver it would be surely a negative result. Ferrari will have trouble in opposing Red Bull that is going to close a growing season.

Abu Dhabi will also be the stage of the final challenge between Force India and Williams for the fourth position, with the advantage of the team from Silverstone. Toro Rosso and McLaren will fight each other for the sixth place. Sainz and Kvyat will try to hit at the detriment of Woking. Regarding the tires, teams and drivers will have at their disposal all the soft tire compounds, from the Softs to the UltraSofts. Mercedes and Ferrari will carry seven violet tire compounds, Red Bull six. Vettel, Ricciardo, and Verstappen will have five sets of “yellows” each, the couple Nico/Lewis and Raikkonen will have four. Only Seb will have at his disposal a set of red SuperSoft, his principal rivals will have two.

It will be a very hot paddock also due to the new regulations. These days, Bernie Ecclestone, proposed to divide the Gran Prix into two races. A solution that I had already proposed and with which I agree. Anyway, this is another story…

F1 | McLaren Earthquake Minardi "New scenarios in sight"

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Ron Dennis has resigned from the McLaren Group CEO and AD position after seeing his appeal to the High Court rejected. After 35 years, a significant era, tied to the world of Formula 1, finishes. The British manager, 69 year old, entered into McLaren in 1980, taking full control the following year. Under his guidance, the stable won seventeen world titles, 10 drivers’ titles (with Lauda, Prost, Senna, Hakkinen, Hamilton) and seven constructors’ titles. In 2015, a black year arrived in conjunction with the partnership with Honda.

From the Chairman’s headquarters, the already former McLaren shareholder, has announced that he wants to take a new challenge and undertake new projects.

“With the rejection by the High Court, at McLaren, ends a significant era started in 1980, surely rich in successes, but not immune to errors – Gian Carlo Minardi consulted by www.minardi.it says – this change at the top brass could reopen the doors to some scenarios already contradicted in the last months, with important economic and technical consequences in an immediate future. I will make a more in-depth analysis as soon as rumors become certainties”, the manager from Faenza concludes.

F1 | Alonso criticize F1. Minardi “A difficult situation”

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“Watching this Formula 1 is impossible”, these are the strong words used by Fernando Alonso in the Interlagos weekend. The McLaren driver, who is accustomed to these kind of externalization (his team radios about the Honda engine and against his team are already famous) used fire words to describe the lack of show in the modern Circus. “I was away from the track for 30 minutes and I got asleep. We should pay spectators for getting them to come to the circuit.

Thus, we consulted Gian Carlo Minardi who is engaged to follow the boys selected for the ACI Supercourse on the Vallelunga track.“These are difficult days for Formula 1, due both to the unclear regulation and to the offered show, except few episodes like the Brazilian Grand Prix to which the weather conditions gave a determinant contribution. I believe that Nando refers also to the limits imposed by commissioners for the fights on track.

The other big issue is determined by the strong technical and economic gap among the teams. In the specific case, McLaren is facing a hard moment at a corporate level with Honda that is not able to retrace the path of Renault. It is a pity to see a driver like him staying away from top positions. Both in qualifying and in race, he did not give away nothing, fighting constantly”, the manager from Faenza explains.

F1 | Brazilian GP – Minardi “10 to Verstappen”

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Taking into account the harsh weather conditions with which the drivers had to fight,I just think that every driver is to be applauded, independently from the fact that he reached the finish line or was protagonist in some accidents. Visibility was low and the aquaplaning risk around the corner.

Anyway, I want to give a great 10 to Max Verstappen that amused us with significant overtakings, detachments, and countersteers with which he managed to recover to the third place in spite of the hazard strategy of the pit. Being equal the car, he defeated the competition of his team mate, his first rival.

10 to Felipe Massa who raced his last Brazilian grand prix and ends his career in fifteen days in Abu Dhabi. The fondness he received was touching. In these years, Felipe has proved to be an honest gregarious and an excellent worker. He made the Ferrari fans dream. They celebrated with him – even if for few seconds- the world title.

The Brazilian Grand Prix was also important for several other stables like Toro Rosso that conquered an important sixth place (for the constructors’ world championship title) with Carlos Sainz, and Sauber that achieved two points at the last minute, outdoing Manor (the eleventh with a point) in the standings. At some points during the race, Manor and Sauber were equal in the standings. It was a beautiful fight. Both their pits must have experienced moments of tensions.

F1 | Brazilian GP – Spectacular track, but at risk

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Two races to go. After a 19 events long path, Formula 1 is ready to land on Brazil – Saint Paul – for the second to last round of the season. We gets to a demanding track, with an insidious descending bend, stage of spectacular contacts and overtakings. This will be the principal concern for Nico Rosberg who will try to close the game with his team-mate here, where he usually goes fast.

The Brazilian Grand Prix will also be the last “home race” for Felipe Massa who will try to honor his fans with an important result, even if his Williams seems to slack off.A track that crowned him world champion for a few seconds, before definitely giving Lewis Hamilton the scepter.

Sao Paulo has also been land of conquer of the last world title of a Ferrari driver, thanks to Kimi Raikkonen. A Ferrari now called to face a confused situation. Once again, it will have to deal with the frame and with the aerodynamics of Red Bull.

Regarding the tire compounds, Pirelli will carry the Hards, Mediums and Softs. Differently from Ferrari and Red Bull that will carry seven sets of tire compounds for each driver, Hamilton and Rosberg will have eight sets of “yellows”, four of “white” mediums and just a set of two “reds” each.Differentiated solutions at Ferrari with five sets of mediums and an hard one for Vettel, against four sets of mediums and two hard ones for Raikkonen.

Sao Paulo is one of those circuits that could lose the Circus, renouncing to sign the renewal. I hope there will be a large number of fans because it deserve to stay on calendar due to his fascinating payout and the enthusiasm of its audience.

This circuit reminds me significative memories.With Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, in 2003 we were in the top positions when it started to rain, he rolled over and went out of the track at the Do Sol Bend. The same situation with Christian Fittipaldi.

We had the pleasure to cooperate with many Brazilians – Tarso Marques, Christian Fittipaldi, Moreno Roberto – in addition to make our debut into F1 World Championship in Brazil on 5 April, 1985 (in Rio). With Marques, in 2001, we achieved the top ten, ending in the ninth place, as with Piero Martini in 1990 (9°), and Gianni Morbidelli (8° in 1991 and 7° in 1992).