F1 | Japanese GP – Preview

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A week later Sepang events and the double win of Red Bull, Formula 1 comes to Japan on a historic and technical track like that in Suzuka, with few escapes, where every mistake is costly for the drivers. We comes to the home of Honda that strengthened by Alonso’s and Button’s performances in Malaysia, along with a growing McLaren, will try to conquer some extra precious points for a more satisfying 2017.

A special plaudit has to be done to the Japanese audience who always rushes in the the bleachers, proving a great love for the Circus and also for the Minardi Team. After Ayrton Senna’s passing, the audience had decreased, but the old splendour is back little by little.

This weekend we are at less than five grand prix away from the end of the World Championship with Nico rosberg ahead of a very nervous Lewis Hamilton. Post-Sepand declarations made by the English driver are shameful. Such attack towards his employer is unacceptable. The problem could be caused by some tests for the upcoming season, mainly regarding the lubricants.

At Ferrari Sebastian Vettel will pay a three places penalty on the grid for the contact at the start. It is the least he could get by the commissioners. Ferrari in this final season is showing all its limits, not just against Mercedes. In Malaysia, Kimi Raikkonen collected the maximum with the fourth place, and this was also sensed through the team-radios between the driver and the pit.

In terms of tires, Pirelli will bring the Hard compounds, Medium and Soft. Ferrari focuses strongly on soft tires with nine sets for Vettel and Raikkonen, against the eight sets for Hamilton and Rosberg and six at Red Bull. A different solution at Mercedes with three sets of hard and two of medium for Hamilton against two hard and three medium for Rosberg. Only one white medium tire compound for Vettel and three red hard. Two sets of hard and medium for the Finn. Another component could be the weather, still very variable with temperatures around 20 ° C and a chance of rain for Saturday.

There are all the features to enjoy an interesting race on a historical and technical circuit with several overtaking opportunities. We will have the fight at Mercedes with a nervous Hamilton,determined to take a revenge, and Ferrari compelled to react after Kimi Raikkonen’s fourth place and Vettel’s mistake at the start.

F1 | Malaysian GP – Scorecards

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Lewis Hamilton – 9 extraordinary in qualifying with the new Sepang circuit record. He was perfect in race, betrayed just by car reliability.

Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen -9 an amazing and fair race from the couple of Red Bull. They handled very well their advantage against Rosberg.

Nico Rosberg – 9 he was the last in the first bend due to contact caused by Vettel and he managed to recover up to the third position, confirming the positioning in spite of a shameful penalty. He made the maximum.

Kimi Raikkonen – 8,5 surely he made his best. His Ferrari cannot do more than this. P4 and 28” are normality for this Ferrari.

Valtteri Bottas – 8 he was able to bring some important points to his Williams, especially in the fight with Force India for the fourth place.

Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button – 8 they both have brought some very important points to McLaren, especially in view of Japanese race.

Jolyon Palmer – 7,5 he defended the first point with tooth and nail

Carlos Sainz Jr – 6,5 he also deserves a positive mark because the limits of his car are clear and especially those of an engine that has already made some seasons. HE suffers the comparison with last generation engine.

Sebastian Vettel – 4 after Spa, again a mistake at the start. It is definitely too much for a World Champion. His penalty of 3 positions to be expiated at Suzuka’s starting greed is correct.

F1 | Malaysian GP – Preview

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Formula 1 gets to Malaysia that has hosted a World Championship event since 1999. Two straights that are the evident signs of Sepang in which Mercedes will have the chance to unleash the whole of its cavalry (1000 HP recorded, 980 HP declared by Toto Wolff), before others as much important detachments. Then, they reach the mixed part in which it is important to find the right balance between aerodynamics and fluidity in bends.

This will be a tactical and demanding Grand Prix due to the high temperatures, even if strong rains aren’t so sporadic in this period of the year. Once again, three top team have different tire strategies. Mercedes and Ferrari bring seven sets of Soft tires for each driver, even if Hamilton can also count on three Hard ones, like Raikkonen, against two “red” tire sets at disposal of Rosberg and Vettel. At Red Bull, Ricciardo and Verstappen have chosen a solution with 3 Hard tire sets, 4 Medium and 6 Soft.

This race could give us some extra clues about the fight for the title between Hamilton and Rosberg who are divided by just eight points after fifteen events. Strengthened by his success of fifteen days ago, the German driver overtook his teammate, while Ferrari, after its 2015 win with Sebastian Vettel (with which the seals of the “Princing Horse” in Malaysia become seven) will have to recover some points against Red Bull. The fight for the fourth place between Williams and Force India is also going to continue.

For the second time, we can see the new property of formula 1, after its debut in Singapore. As they have already declared, they bet on a Formula 1 linked to big events and oriented towards the great world capitals. In my opinion, we should review the regulations radically, so to make races more spectacular.

Tomorrow's F1. Carey bets on "Big events". Minardi "We need shorter races"

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Step by step, Chase Carey, Formula 1 new face after the acquisition by Liberty Media, unveils the project for the Circus new era. Back from the weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, in an interview released to the official website of the world championship, Carey talks about “great events” that will affect the whole week before a grand prix.“Singapore is incredible. It is a week-long show. A F1 Grand Prix will have to be part of a greater event, in which cars and drivers will be the core. Cars are amazing, as their technology, but this is not enough”.

Speaking of the market, Liberty Media will bet a lot on Land of Stars and Stripes. “We believe that F1 must reach the great cities of the world like Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.

“Singapore is the first circuit that has transformed its Grand Prix into an event with shows and attractions throughout the week. Really a good idea that attracts a lot of people, but Formula 1 cannot detach from true and historic circuits like Monza, Silverstone, and Spa-Franchorchamps”,GianCarloMinardi tells us.“Some years ago, circuit fields were assaulted by fans and transformed into campsites with tents and barbecue. Today, unfortunately, this is impossible”. 

“Accessory events are absolutely ok, but we should have shorter and more spectacular races, a complete review of the regulations is indispensable. We need clear, fixed rules, accessible also for fans”, the manager from Faenza continues, calling attention on a highly current issue.

How many of us, watching a race, have risked to fall asleep? Singapore, except for the amazing fight between Kvyat-Verstappen, Raikkonen’s overtaking against Hamilton and the last laps with Ricciardo’s (failed) recovery against winner Rosberg, was endless, soporific.

“In the US, sports federations, from Basket to Nascar and Indy, are making a study about the indifference of young people for sports, who require faster events. In the next years, this crisis will also involve soccer. Ninety minutes are too many for a match”, Minardi concludes adding “The World is changing. In the last 10 years, the US, the percentage of new licensed people has passed from 73% to 45%. It is an important signal about what is attractive for today’s young people and about how their habits change”.

F1 | young grid in 2017. Sainz towards Renault?

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Next season could bring many changes on the starting grid of a Formula 1 grand prix. At Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull the crews have been validated, but in the remaining part of the grid there could be some changes.

As we know, during the Italian grand prix weekend, Felipe Massa (born in 1981) announced his retirement from races. At Williams, alongside Finnish driver Bottas it could arrive Canadian driver Lance Stroll, former FDA winner of the Italian Formula 4 championship, and current leader in the FIA F3 European.

At McLaren, Stoffel Vandoorne (born in 1992) has already been announced beside Fernado Alonso with Jenson Button (born in 1980) as a third and test driver for the English team.

In June, Red Bull renewed its agreement with the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. that could be lent to Renault. From next year, Toro Rosso abandons Ferrari engines to embrace again the French power-unit. Thus, the Spaniard could be part of this operation, since the constructor is working to rebuilt its 2017 team. So far, Magnussen and Palmer have not persuaded the top brass (due also to a car little performing).

Among the drivers currently under agreement with Renault there is also Esteban Ocon born in 1996, who from the Spa-Francorchamps appointment wears Manor colors alongside Pascal Wehrlein (driver born in 1994 and now under agreement with Mercedes). The French driver, winner of two titles in as many seasons (2014-FIA F3 European and 2015-GP3 Series) could be placed side by side with Sainz Jr (third F1 season in 2017).

It could be promoted into Toro Rosso, the French driver Pierre Gasly born in 1996 and current GP2 Series leader, ahead our standard bearers Antonio Giovinazzi and Raffaele Marciello who surely deserve a chance. Daniil Kvyat, after being substituted by Max Verstappen in Red Bull, is looking for confirmations. In Singapore, in the duel with the Dutch driver, he proved to be an excellent driver.

At Force India, team principal Vijay Mallya has confirmed both the drivers, but Sergio Perez leaves an open door. Claire Williams praised the Mexican driver who declared to be gratified in an interview released to the official website of the world championship, yet he is looking at Renault.

After the success in the Monza GP, Antonio Giovinazzi was called by Ferrari for a test day at the simulator. Sauber could open its door for him next to Swedish driver Eriksson.

F1 | Singapore GP – SCORECARDS

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Nico Rosberg – 10 very good in qualifying where he conquered the pole position. In particular, he managed to achieve a really important win in spite of a car with too many brake problems. He kept calmness during Ricciardo’s recovery.

Daniel Ricciardo – 9 excellent his first row in qualifying. In race he was always present, fighting till the end supported by a good strategy. With two extra laps, he would have bothered the leader.

Sebastian Vettel – 8,5 like Raikkonen, he optimized his Ferrari, becoming protagonist of an important recovery. Considering the same tire compounds used, the gap remains great.

Kimi Raikkonen – 8,5 I saw again an aggressive Finnish driver who made his best. His overtake on Hamilton was amazing. The fourth place was the maximum.

Fernando Alonso – 8 the Spanish driver raced very fast giving McLaren some important points in the fight against Toro Rosso.

Daniil Kvyat – 7,5 during his duel with Verstappen, he proved not to be “the burned one”. Two important points for Toro Rosso.

Kevin Magnussen – 7 for encouragement. Like his team mate he must gain the renewal for next season. An important point for Renault.

Max Verstappen – 6,5 he lost the challenge with his team mate in qualifying and during the race he appeared not in great shape to me, even if he accomplished some overtakings of his. Once again, unfortunately, he complained. It happens too often, really. He cannot expect the other drivers to step aside when he arrives.

F1 | Drivers'market. Minardi "Stroll towards Williams, but there are also our drivers"

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“If one of our standard-bearer, Giovinazzi, Fuoco, or Ghiotto does not make his debut into Formula 1, then it will be useless to work”. These hard words belong to Gian Carlo Minardi interviewed by www.minardi.it about the drivers’ market for 2017.

The manager from Faenza does not use any turn of phrase to stress the quality of our drivers who are protagonists in their respective championships: GP3 and GP2 Series. “In Gp2, Antonio Giovinazzi and Raffaele Marciello are in the second and third position, fighting for the title. Further away, there is Luca Ghiotto, maker of a positive debut season. With two remaining GP3 events, Antonio Fuoco is in the second place.

During the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Felipe Massa announced his retirement from   racing, whereas McLaren welcomed Softel Vandoome that will race beside Fernando Alonso, with Jenson Button relegated as a third/test driver. “It could be Lance Stroll the substitute of Felipe Massa, beside Bottas. Now, the Canadian driver is committed to win the European FIA F3 Championship to gain the Super Licence, and for the first time in his short career he does not make any announcements”, the ex Team Principal continues.

 The Canadian driver,born in 1998,  signed his debut with the single seaters in the first edition of the Italian Formula 4 championship powered by Abarth and inaugurated its golden book, then  the following year he passed to the FIA F3 European Championship. With still two scheduled races (Imola and Hockenaim) Stroll leads the standings of the European Formula 3. “We have to see what Sauber, Manor and Renault are going to do. The French team is working in the backstage to build its 2017 team. Important movements are also expected at Sauber after the change in ownership. Hypothetically speaking, there are still six/seven recommendable drivers, and Antonio Giovinazzi could be the market man. He has proved his talent in all these years, not only in GP”.

The Minardi family, thanks to the intuition of Gian Carlo and Giovanni, has proved his great feeling with young drivers, following the first phases in their career. “In 2010, along with my son Giovanni, I gave Giovinazzi the possibility to prove his value in a test day at Varano with a Formula Abarth, opening his path this way. Then, he found the important Indonesian endorsement. In GP2, he is showing his talent decisively, as he did in Formula 3”.

The games are open, and we wish to quickly see the tricolor flag in the top series.

F1 | Gian Carlo Minardi "Singapore, last call for Ferrari"

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This weekend, Formula 1 goes to Singapore, one of the last Grand Prix for dreaming about a Ferrari win that will have to guard itself tenaciously from an aggressive Red Bull. Last year, Vettel managed to achieve the win after studying the problems at Mercedes that next Sunday will try to debunk the myth of a circuit where it has never made a double win in the last 8 editions. Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will try to achieve also this record, playing an important card from the point of view of the world championship.

With its 61 laps it is a demanding circuit that puts cars and tires under stress. Once again, Ferrari will bet decisively on soft tire compounds since it has brought 9 sets of extra-softs, Mercedes and Red Bull just seven. In Monza, the Silver Arrows have already proved to be at ease in any situation and unstoppable with any tire compound.

Ferrari will have to pay attention to Red Bull that is at ease in this kind of track thanks to an excellent aerodynamics and frame. They can also count on a Power-Unit decisively enhanced in comparison with that they had in 2015.

With Singapore, six events are missing to the checkered flag of the world championship, with different features that are critical for the achievement of the title by Mercedes.

Once again, there will be a lot of “Made in Italy” thanks to the DZ technology rewarded at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Dz, in fact, is ready to light up the night at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. From the point of view of the show, the lighting has a central role, but the action field of DZ also concern the audio-video system in the circuit, it is a support for the “Race Control Room” through its video-control system.

Bernie Ecclestone sells his Formula 1

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With the image of Scrooge McDuck happily swimming in his deposit, we wanted to joke, but it seems that  Bernie Ecclestone sold (or is going to sell) Formula 1 to the American group Liberty Media.

 The Italian Grand Prix weekend in the temple of speed in Monza has been rich in announcements. From Felice Massa who will leave the Circus at the end of the season, closing his adventure with Williams, to Soffel Vandoome debutting in the world championship beside Fernando Alonso in 2017 with McClaren, and Jenson Button as a third/test driver.  The renewal of the agreement between F1 and the Circuit of Monza for other three years that, anyway, has still to be signed.

“From what we heard, Bernie Ecclestone would have found a buyer for F1, even if he will stay beside the new proprietor. A Formula 1 that in this moment has to  renew itself and be spectacular again because the fans that flocked to Monza deserve more, absolutely. We have to reconsider the rules and the format”, explains Gian Carlo Minardi interviewed by www.minardi.it.

“The decision made by Massa has to be respected. He has given a lot to this sport, as much as he has received, and today he does not want call himself into question again, and worsen the technical level. A decision that we must respect. In 2017, at McLaren we will have a World Champion as a test driver/third driver and a young driver as a regular. Softel Vandoorne has proved to have all the qualities to do well, but his adventure starts with a great pressure. This choice from the team makes me think that if the young boy do not respects their expectations, Button could replace him”.

F1 | Italian GP – SCORECARDS

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Audience – 10 the highest mark is up to the numerous fans who flocked to the circuit, answering in a masterly way to Formula 1, they created a unique choreography once again.
Nico Rosberg – 9.5 he did not give up after the amazing pole position of Lewis Hamilton. A perfect race, and he has been perfectly backed by his team.
Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen – 8 they optimized what Ferrari put at their disposal, reversing a negative trend. In Monza, they came back into the struggle for the second place in the world championship.
Daniel Ricciardo – 8 he fought with a car that has some difficulties in the long straight, giving us an amazing overtake at the detriment of Williams.
Felipe Massa Valtteri Bottas – 7.5 in the temple of the speed they achieved (at least for now) the fourth place ahead of a Force India that will fight tooth and nail.
Fernando Alonso – 7.5 in spite of the complications of Honda, he proved to fight tooth and nail. He did not gain points but proved to be a first choice driver, signing the fastest lap even if he was supported by the tires, with few petrol on board.
Sergio Perez – 7 along with Hulkenberg he contained damages in his confrontation with Williams. It will be a great fight till the end.
Max Verstappen – 6 it was not his best weekend. Probably he had been warned by commissioners and by his colleagues.
Lewis Hamilton – 6 at the start he frustrated his extraordinary pole position, but what I did not like is his behavior at the end of the race. You have to know how to loose.

F1 | Italian GP – Preview

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The Italian Grand Prix will be characterized by high temperatures, so the choice of the tire compounds will be crucial. Last year, the race slipped away with just a single pit stop, but the presence of SuperSoft tires could determine more stops, even if the circuit is little abrasive. It will depend greatly on the temperatures and on the pressures imposed by the constructor.

Hamilton and Vettel have opted for a single set of medium tires, whereas their respective teammates have been tighter with two sets each one, like Verstappen and Ricciardo. Seven tire compounds of SuperSoft (in Monza for the first time) for Ferrari and Mercedes.

If at Spa-Franchorchamps, they touched 350 km/h, I am curious to see what will happen in the speed temple. They will have to pay attention especially in view of 2017, with regulations that will bring to a greater aerodynamic weight and more high speeds.

Be careful about Mercedes. I am almost sure that they want to show all their superpower in the Italian field and at Ferrari home. So far, they “have played” with their rivals, but what happened in Belgium makes me feel little serene. Thanks to a regulation, ridiculous and more, they  have homologated three engine for Hamilton making him pay  just a single penalty (he started at the bottom of the formation, gathering more than 60  penalty places) on a track where overtakings are possible, ending the race in the third place (thanks also to the yellow-red flags).Stopwatch in hand, the gap between Mercedes and Ferrari is great, in spite of many different announcements. At the 40th lap, Hamilton signs the best time in the race, 1:51.583 with Vettel stopped at 1:52.728 (35th lap), at that moment they were both struggling for recovering. 1:52 for Rosberg who was leading without any pressure.

At Ferrari, they will have to pay attention to Renault engines, especially to the incredible aerodynamic and frame of Red Bull.

Be also careful to Force India that could do well again, after the fourth and fifth Belgian places.

We will have the first confirmation with Friday’s free practice. Have a pleasant Italian Grand Prix.
 
 
 
 

F1 | Monza, Mercedes ready to show off all its power

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«If I were a rival of theirs, I would be very worried about Monza Grand Prix». These are the first words of Gian Carlo Minardi who has been consulted by the website www.minardi.it for talking about the Mercedes performance in Belgium.

«We are at the last European grand prix in an already an already won season by Mercedes. So far, they have played with their rivals. In Monza, at the Ferrari home and on the Italian field, they are going to show all their potential. What happened at Spa-Franchorchamps, in my opinion, is just a preamble», the manager from Faenza continues referring to Rosberg’s solitary win and to Hamilton’s recovery, who speeding from the last position along with Fernando Alonso, went up to the third place. His win was also backed by favorable events (virtual safety-car and red flag following the frightening Kevin Magnussen’s accident) masterfully exploited by both himself and the team.

«It is a personal interpretation after observing the choice to homologate three engine for Lewis Hamilton, making him pay a single penalty on a very fast circuit, even thanks to a regulation that should be revised. The second clue is made of the chronometric results. At the same conditions, Lewis Hamilton has signed 1:51.583 (40th lap) against Sebastian Vettel’s time 1:52.728 (35th lap). 1:52 for Nico Rosberg leading the race».

«Mercedes has run very well the tires, in spite of the controversy with Pirelli for some pressures, as Hamilton stressed. In Monza the tires will have an important role, also due to the use of the SuperSofts that could contribute to reach interesting maximum speeds. At Spa they touched 350 km/h».

We will meet again in Monza. Experiencing this GP devoted to a Mercedes against everybody, watching the gap that it will be able to impose on other teams, will be very interesting.

F1 | Belgian GP – SCORECARDS

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Nico Rosberg – 9 he managed the diatribe between Mercedes and Pirelli very well. At Mercedes, they have a powerfull advantage as it proves the comparison between their lap time with that of their principal competitors.  They have been good at managing the tires given that the choice for tire compound had been made more than 40 days before.

Lewis Hamilton – 8,5 for the race and his recover. It is during a race like this one that we can evaluate the value of a team and especially of a driver. He managed each opportunity he had with great coolness.

Fernando Alonso -8,5 what I said for Lewis it is also true for the Spaniard . Considering the current resources of his McLaren, he raced at a very interesting pace.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8 maker of a great race he brought Red Bull in the second place.

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez – 7,5 they achieved an important  and unexpected result that worth the current fourth place in the  constructor’s world championship, ahead of Williams. I see them in a great shape for Monza.

Kimi Raikkonen – 6 beyond the standings, complaining is not useful, especially if you keep on minimizing the problems of your car.

Daniil Kvyat – 6 it was his least worst seasonal weekend. He has not entered the point zone, due especially to a technical issue. Toro Rosso, at this moment, is paying its choice for a 2015 engine.

Sebastian Vettel – 5 he has some responsabilities in the first bend, where he closed Raikkonen. His start was excellent but it was frustrated immediately by a mistake that a four times world champion should avoid.

Max Verstappen – 4 you cannot ruin what you have done the day before with an unprejudiced Garibaldi style race. He has the complaisance of commissioners because they tolerate him doing what others dream. In Maldonado, they would have already revoked his license. This kind of behavior will have to be an argument in the meetings with drivers and sports commissioners. His talent is indisputable but has to be controlled. In addition, I do not find fair to complain by radio that way because the risk is to affect commissioners’ decisions.