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).

F1 | Mexican GP – SCORECARDS

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The winner of the weekend is the audience that deserves 10 because of its cheerfulness and its large presence.

Lewis Hamilton – 8.5 pole-position and win, but the small imperfection of the first bend remains. A mistake capable to  prevent him from winning the world championship without these modern escape routes.

Sebastian Vettel – 8 with an illegible car and a Ferrari in regression compared to 2015 that abandoned its dream of grasping the vice-champion title among the constructors in favor of Red Bull, was protagonist of a strong race. I didn’t appreciate his comments on the team-radio.

Nico Hulkenberg – 8 a good race that stresses how much it is strong Force India despite its problems. He has almost achieved the fourth place in the world championship against a giant like Williams.

Nico Rosberg – 8 someone says that he didn’t make his best, I would say that he managed the race at the best, optimizing the result. In Brazil, he could attempt the success since the track suits him. It is good to spare the car.

Williams drivers – 7 a good race for Bottas. It is nice to see that Massa still desires to fight in spite of the fact that there are just two race to the end of his career and that he hasn’t a top car.

Daniel Ricciardo – 7 he showed good actions in race, even if the first pit-stop didn’t bring great results.

Kimi Raikkonen- 6.5 he made an anonymous race unlike what he usual does on Sundays.

Max Verstappen – 5 he cannot continue to race against everybody, and they should reprimanded. Unfortunately, his team defends him, without helping his growth. His strategy is wrong. Excepting the Dutch, his fans are going away.

Sports commissioners – 5 I haven’t agreed with their decisions since a long time. Ecclestone should make self-critics.

Focus on the Mexican GP – Minardi "They used double standards. The escapes routes are also guilty"

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The fabulous spectators that painted the whole weekend of the Mexican GP don’t deserve a show like that of last Sunday. Within a few hours, three drivers have changed in the third step of the podium. From Verstappen to Vettel and in the evening, some hours later after celebrations, Ricciardo was in third position and the Ferrari driver at the fifth place (penalized with 10”).

What we experienced is the last proof of unclear regulations, and it proves the use of double standards.

The fault belongs especially to these modern escape routes, paved and grassy, that transmit an excessive confidence to drivers. We saw the first example of this fact at few meters from the start.

Lewis Hamilton, after his long-lasting braking, cut the bend, he was aware to find a “clear” path. In the presence of the usual gravel, he would almost surely run aground. Definitely, he wouldn’t have been back on track with a so significant advantage on the group. Probably, he wouldn’t even attempted the crossing.

The same for Max Verstappen. At the start, he leant against Rosberg – fortunately without any damages for both of them-,  he then didn’t find anybody to ram and went straight (without losing time), like Daniel Ricciardo. Under the new regulations – modified at five races from the end (and this is another nonsense) – Sebastian Vettel couldn’t change direction once surpassed the brake point, but, at the same time, the Red Bull driver – without the presence of the Ferrari driver – would have gone straight to the bend. He arrived with burning tires. Vettel had left the space to Ricciardo, as required by regulation.

Once again, they used two different evaluation standards since I don’t see many difference between the episode of Hamilton, Verstappen, and Vettel.  This  suggested me that they want reach the last race with the title still to be assigned at all costs, or that Vettel’s team-radio had a role in the final decision.

I disagree absolutely with Vettel’s behavior, because he insulted his colleagues and commissioners for the whole weekend. In my opinion, the radio is to be used just to manage the car and the race. Every other expression of opinion should be inhibited.

I am regretful by Horner’s behavior who defends his young driver energetically. It is a Team Principal’s task to teach calmness to his drivers, especially when you have a boy of 19 years old.

Formula 1 must decide to change direction. The audience is free falling as the reliability of this sport…

F1 | The best result in Mexico belongs to Morbidelli

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It’s with Gianni Morbidelli that the Minardi Team achieved the best result at the Hermanos Rodrìguez Circuit. On 16 June 1991, the Circus was in Mexico City for the sixth event of the World Championship.

That year, the stable founded by Gian Carlo Minardi deployed Pierluigi Martini at his fifth season with the team from Faenza, and Gianni Morbidelli, 23 years old, at the wheel of the Minardi M191 motorized by Ferrari. For the first time in its history, the Prancing Horse Stable had supplied another team with its engine.

On a bunch made out of thirty-four single-seater, twenty-six of them took part in the grand prix, surpassing the pre-qualifications and qualifying.

The Minardi car, at its seventh season in the world championship, places “Piero” Martini in the fifteenth place and Gianni Morbidelli in the twenty-third, respectively at 2.5 and 3.6 seconds from the pole position of Ricciardo Pratese’s Williams.

If the race of Martini – maker of a spinning –  lasts just four sessions, Gianni Morbidelli was protagonist of an important recovery that ended at the seventh place, almost touching the points zone (in those years, F1 gave some points only to the first six classified), a lap away from Riccardo Pratese (Williams-Renault), Nigel Mansell (Williams-Renault) and Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda). With the retirement of both Ferrari drivers, Alesi and Prost, Maranello crosses the finish line thanks to Minardi.

With the current scoring system, Minardi would have already hit the point zone in 1986 Mexican Grand Prix – at its second F1 season – thanks to its eight place signed by Andrea De Cesaris (who started from the 22th place in the grid) at the wheel of the Minardi M186 motorized by Motori Moderni.

Those were the years of the turbo engines, and the Minardi Team fought against giants like BMW, Renault, Honda, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, with a private engine. Alessandro Nannini closed in the fourteenth position.

In 1988, the Spaniard Luis Perez-Sala, paired with his compatriot Adrìan Campos, carried the M188 into the eleventh position.

F1 | Circus comes to Mexico, while Sepang thinks to give up

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Seven days after last double win of Mercedes at the US GP, F1 Circus is back at the Autòdromo Hermanos Rodrìgues, in its second edition after the restyle and his return into the world championship.

We go into a Motorsport friendly Country that twelve months ago hosted the comeback of the world championship in a great way, filling the stands. I hope that this trend can last long time because, unfortunately, we hear the death knell around F1. Last alarm bell comes from Malaysia, Sepang Circuit, whose promoters are thinking not renew the agreement.

It is a worrying signal because we are talking about an event backed by the State and not by the paying audience. In this moment, they don’t see the media feedback of the TV audience as a good investment for the development of their Country.

Being at 2300 meters above the sea level, the teams should work on the car balance because the thin air affects the aerodynamics, the setup of the control unit, and the carburation negatively. Moreover, the circuit has an initial long straight line, and a mixed part that also stimulates the mechanics with more than 5500 gearshifts during the grand prix. Last year, Nico Rosberg started a victories row. Despite the title was already attributed to Hamilton, the row keeps this season.  Twenty-six points separates Hamilton from the German driver with just three appointments to the end. To become a champion, Rosberg just needs, so to speak, a second place three times. There is going to be an amazing fight between the standard-bearers of a Mercedes that wants to break any records.

In spite of its announcements, I don’t believe that Ferrari can recover fifty-three points that divide it from Red Bull in the pursuit of the second place in the constructors’ world championship, and Daniel Ricciardo will start to celebrate his third place among the drivers.

As it happened in Austin, tires and strategies will have a crucial role. Pirelli will bring the SuperSofts for the first time along with the Softs and Mediums. Once again, Ferrari decided to bet on the softer tire compounds, bringing six sets of SuperSofts like Red Bull, one more than Mercedes.Five sets of Soft for Raikkonen against the four for Vettel, this last will have an extra set of Mediums in comparison with his team-mate (2 Mediums). Nico Rosberg prefers the white-strip tire compounds (Medium) with four sets. Hamilton will have three sets. We have to say that Mercedes proved to adapt to any solution very well. Same strategy for Ricciardo and Verstappen with three mediums, four softs and six Supersofts.

 We have just to watch the race that will start at 20.00 (Italian time).

F1 | US GP – SCORECARDS

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Lewis Hamilton – 10 perfect both qualifying and race. He managed the whole weekend with calmness and serenity, despite the world championship pressure.  The Gran Prix  appointments are decreasing inexorably and  just three races remain .He comes from difficult weeks, but has reacted as a champion.
Nico Rosberg- 9 in spite of an imperfect start, he managed his emotions well, bringing home a perfect result for him, with other three second places, the World Championship will be in his hands.
Daniel Ricciardo – 9 very good in qualifying where he put his car ahead of his team mate. Very good at the start when he inserted his Red Bull between two Mercedes.
Fernando Alonso – 8 his race was amazing. He managed to handle his McLaren very well and signed a series of fast laps, improving his performances constantly. Important his overtakings on Massa and Sainz, that are worth the fifth final place.
Carlos Sainz – 8 in qualifying, conquering the Q3 he made a master-piece. Considering his 2015 Ferrari engine, a sixth place in race is important.
Sebastian Vettel and kimi Raikkonen – 7 giving a low mark would be difficult because their performances are proportional to the quality of their cars. They are doing their best with enthusiasm and determination. They are aware of the hard time at Ferrari.
Felipe Massa and Sergio Perez – 7 they could fight tenaciously and conquered important points. In the last race, they will compete for the fourth Constructors’ place.
Romain Grosjean – 7 he reached the point zone at home circuit.

F1 | US GP – Preview

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We enter the hottest part of the calendar with just four events at the checkered flag.Each race could be crucial for Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Thirty three points are a great advantage for Nico, even psychologically speaking because four seconds are enough for becoming the world champion. With the car that he has at his disposal, excepting any reliability problems, it is a result more than achievable. Regarding the engine, Mercedes will keep playing in defense since they have already achieved the Constructor’s title (for three year in a row).

Last year, the weekend was heavily affected by the rain ( Q3 wasn’t raced), and it created a lot of troubles to the promoters. In spite it hasn’t an asterisk in the new calendar, Austin is one of those circuits in difficulty. I wish a serene weekend (in every respect).

It is a very demanding track, where the engine is committed fully during 60% of the lap, and the safety-car is a factor to keep in mind. Regarding strategies, Mercedes, Ferrari and red Bull have bet on different tire compounds. Ferrari bets resolutely on Supersofts, bringing seven sets for each driver against six at Mercedes and Red Bull. Just a Medium tire compound, against four at Red Bull, three for Hamilton and two for Rosberg. Five Softs for Vettel, Raikkonen and Rosberg, four for Hamilton and three for the couple Ricciardo/Verstappen.

After the fourth and fifth place gained in Japan, at Ferarri they will have to pay attention to Red Bull. The silence at Maranello means nervousness.Last year, Seb managed to end behind Mercedes, ahead of Verstappen’s Toro Rosso and Perez’s Force India.The attention will also focus on Hamilton, after his slam against the team, and on the Drivers market.

In 2017, Hulkenberg will move into Renault. At Williams, it is waited Lance stroll, 18 years old ( whose sign will come in November when he will be adult). I wish also to see the Italian flag…

 

F1 | Minardi "We need heroes. We must review this F1"

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Luckly, there is Nico Hulkenber, we would be tempted to say observing the silence in the days between a gran prix and the other. Force India, renault and Nico Hulkenberg have announced the moving of the German driver from Silverstone to Enstone at the end of the season.

Austin, Mexico, St. Paul and Abu Dhabi are the last appointments for him, 29 years old, along with Sergio Perez with the color of Force India that is the true wonder of this world championship with its 134 points that confirm it at the fourth place in the Constructor’s standings, ahead of Williams (124 points). Definitely an unsatisfying season for Renault that is again in the world championship as a constructor with only 8 points. Thanks to the experience of “Hulk”, winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2015, with six seasons in the world championship on the shoulders, the French constructor will try to move up the standings, also thanks to the change in the regulation in 2017 that will affect the season of the Circus. Who will leave the place between Magnussen and Palmer hasn’t been announced yet. “The moving of Nico into Renault will launch other repositionings. Force India comes from several growing seasons and its seat is desired, in spite some economic issues”, Gian Carlo minardi says at the Mugello Circuit where is taking place the last event of the Italian GT Championship.

Look for F1 heroes

“Given the bond between Force India and Mercedes, I’d like to see the arrival of Pascal Wehrlein“, the manager from Faenza continues, stressing the importance of rebuilding Formula 1. “Observing specialised newspapers, the announcement went pretty unobserved, excepting of some short articles. This Formula 1 has to be attractive again and we must to become passionates of this sport, independently from Ferrari results on track. To reach this aim, we must intervene on the show and on regulations urgently. In Mugello, many fans have come to watch the last appointment of the GT Championship where there are three crews fighting for the title, in addition to the return of a champion like Alex Zanardi. We need some heroes”.

Minardi stresses the difficult economic situation of the Circus. “In the last weeks, the temporary calendar for 2017’s season was announced with three circuits needing a confirmation: Montral, Hockenheim and San Paulo. From what I have understood there are still six or seven circuits in difficulty. This F1 is to be renewed“.

Vettel-Ferrari

A complicated situation also at Ferrari. Luca Baldisseri, in the interview released to Corriere dela Sera indicates Marchionne and Arrivabene, respectively President and Team Principal, as one of the issues at Maranello. “Unfortunately they have no experience in races, nowadays the top brass of the stable lack this knowledge . Within the team there is an atmosphere of terror”, states the engineer of Irvine and Schumacher. Mattia Binotto, new technical director after Allison is apreciated. “Mattia has a great experience and is a great motivator, but I would prefer him as a team principal” continues the engineer who is now along with the young Stroll in the sphere of Williams.

After the GP in Japan, the ex Constructor from Faenza had stressed the tension between Vettel and Ferrari. “The relationship between Seb and Maranello isn’t idyllic and you can sense it through so many signals. It seems to be back at the times of Fernando Alonso, but I do not think that the German will wait four years”.

Hamilton-Mercedes

We also have a tense situation at Mercedes, where they console themselves with their successes and with the constructor’s title (the third in a row) already gained. The drivers’ title is only a matter of time. “The behavior of Hamilton has not gone unnoticed” Minardi contiunes making clear references to the events happened in Malaysia (English yelled about a sabotage) and Suzuka (he publicly called idiot a member of his team) “It is started an arm wrestling between him and the team, so much so that he has not tried the new Pirelli wide tires unlike Rosberg and Wehrlein. After that math will have crowned the new world champion, some newness could happen at Mercedes“, Minardi concludes.

F1 | Japanese GP – Scorecards

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Nico Rosberg – 9 perfect both in qualifying and in race. He made no mistakes and managed the whole weekend at the best giving us sense of calmness. He know he can reach one of his goal: the world title.

Max Verstappen – 9 after two mediocre races, he proved all his personality both in qualifying and in race. He caused problems for Lewis Hamilton, three times world champion. He reacted decisively to Mercedes driver’s attacks. Someone complained about it, but we need more struggles like that. Having team-radio with drivers ready to complain because of slowing down due to who is overtaken by a lap or at the first chaos doesn’t make sense in F1.

Kimi Raikkonen – 8 he is surprising us, at last. Both in qualifying and in race he caused some problems for his team mate. He has squeezed his Ferrari, making amazing overtakings. He is the only one that can try to get close to the third place in the driver’s world championship.

Sebastian Vettel – 7,5 upward final for the German champion that is suffering the dynamism of the Finnish. The team principal didn’t spare him some criticism, even if in my opinion this is not the right way to stimulate a driver hungry for success, especially when he has a worse car than the previous year. I sense that Seb isn’t going to wait four years, and the agreement is to be renewed in 2017.

Sergio Perez – 7 along with his team mate who deserves a good 7, is bringing Force India towards an unhoped and very important goal, especially in this season rich in complications.

Felipe Massa – 7 staying ahead of a younger team mate at the end of the season and at the end of a career is synonymous of mental power.

 Daniel Ricciardo – 7 a weekend to be forgotten during which he was defeated by his team mate.

Daniil Kvyat and Vallteri Bottas – 6 they made just their job, no more. They deserve only the passing grade.

Carlos Sainz jr – 5,5 if the Russian made just his homework, the Spaniard didn’t it. In Japan, I saw him in trouble.

Lewis Hamilton – 4 for the second weekend in a row, has attacked his team heavily. After accusing of sabotage in Malaysia, in Suzuka he called “idiot”a member of his team because he appealed to the FIA against Verstappen. It is an unacceptable behaviour toward his employer. It won’t be unnoticed by the bosses at the German constructor.

Esteban Gutierrez – 4 I don’t see him improving. His place in Haas can be saved only by the sponsor.

F1 | Now Hamilton risks a lot

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As it happened in Malaysia, also in Suzuka Lewis Hamilton didn’t spare some criticisms to Mercedes, in a severe way. Maker of a mistake at the start and of a fight for the second place with Verstappen in the last part of the Japanese GP, the English has called “idiot” a member of his team for his appealing to F.IA against the Red Bull driver’s behavior on the track. The appeal was then nullified, and all the declarations were cancelled.

In Sepang, after a yielding few laps to the end while he was leading the race, Hamilton attacked his team, claiming he had been sabotaged. “It is an unacceptable behaviour toward his employer and toward such a prestigious and winning constructor as Mercedes. It is the second time in a week that Hamilton has attacked his team heavily, and I am sure that it won’t be unnoticed”.

“Now, the English is in a complicated moment and the management knows to have the best car for many future years. We’ll see the consequences of his action, when the title will have be assigned. At the moment, Hamilton’s behaviour goes beyond the race department. The chairman of Mercedes can’t be satisfied about his employee’s declarations” Gian Carlo Minardi says.

Ferrari is also in a complicated situation with its team principal Maurizio Arrivabene that calls to order Sebastian Vettel. “In my opinion, you should use other means to stimulate a driver, especially when you give him a worse car than the previous one. I sense that in Maranello it is back the era of Fernando Alonso, but I don’t think that Seb will wait four years. We should remember that in 2017 his agreement will be about to expire”“, the manager from Faenza concludes.

 

F1 | Video-interview with Gian Carlo MInardi at Imola

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At Imola during the BossGp Championship, we met Gian Carlo Minardi in the Minardi Team pit. Here is what he told us.