F1 | European GP, Baku – THE POINT

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Critics and insiders have prized the circuit in Baku and its first Grand Prix. Surely, compared to what we watched in GP2 with the double win, pole-position, and fastest lap accomplished by an excellent Antonio Giovinazzi, we would have expected a more animated race. Contrary to predictions, all the drivers have been very capable because Baku has proved to be a demanding and atypical track, considering its length of six km and the very high speed reached (more than 375 km/h at the end of the long straight).

An impeccable Nico Rosberg signs the pole position and the win, managing to keep far away his competitors. Red Bull payed its technical choice betting everything on qualifying and went missing. Well Ferrari that after sacrificing Saturday’s free practice, made its best in race with the excellent second place of Sebastian Vettel. Another amazing race for Sergio Perez that completed the podium, in spite of an economically troubled Force India, he exploited at his best both his Mercedes engine and the shell, blacking Nico Hulkenberg out. The German car company has placed six cars in the first ten positions.

Weekend out of shape, instead, for Lewis Hamilton. Protagonist of numerous mistakes in qualifying that have also jeopardized the result in race. He did not match up with his prize list, but brought home important points for the Championship.

As I have stressed in the first part, I must congratulate Antonio Giovinazzi for his two wins in GP2. In race 2 he was protagonist of an exemplar recover, performing an extraordinary overtaking in the final that worth him the second success in the weekend. Surely, he is ready for Formula 1.

I want just to invite you next Saturday at the Circuit of Imola for the Minardi Day, a sport day devoted to all aficionados and fans. In this day, we will have the chance to watch a lot of Formula 1 cars on track and more than 50 cars from the World Championship thanks to the exhibition “From Minardi to Toro Rosso” that retraces over 30 years of passion. Everyone is invited.

F1 | European GP – Preview

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Formula 1 is getting ready to come in Baku, onto an anomalous circuit, 6000 meters length that make it one of the longest in the World Championship and a straight of over 2 kms where incredible speeds will be reached , more than 340 km/h, to face then hard braking. The old city’s segment is also marked out with a very tight street, 7 meters without any space for mistakes.

These are all the unknowns that lead to a grand prix rich in surprises and to a variety of possible results in which the safety car could work overtime. Doing any predictions is difficult, or impossible, because we have no reference points. Surely, a well-performing car as Mercedes gives an advantage to its drivers who will have to focus mainly on the track. As usual, the attention will focus on Ferrari that comes from a not easy moment, excluding its second place in Montreal. They will have to keep working to get close to Hamilton and Rosberg, paying attention to a growing Red Bull. Matching up to Nico Rosberg in Canada, Verstappen proved all his worth once again. Unfortunately, in this moment, at Ferrari there is only Sebastian Vettel.

The other unknowns are the tires. Even in this case, Mercedes and Ferrari have chosen two different strategies. Pirelli will bring Medium, Soft, and Super Soft tire compounds. Vettel and Raikkonen will have at their disposal 7 sets of SuperSoft, 5 of Soft, and 1 set of Medium, instead Hamilton and Rosberg played a card with 8 sets of SuperSoft.

F1 | Canadian GP– SCORECARDS

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Lewis Hamilton – 9 he got the umpteenth start wrong. He has to work for eliminate this handicap.

Sebastian Vettel – 9 he definitely optimized what Ferrari put at his disposal, as a 59″ advantage “on Kimi Raikkonen proves. Excellent his start and his resolution in race. Up to the last lap, he tried to bother Hamilton in any way.

Valtteri Bottas – 8 the third place is worth a precious booty for his Williams.

Max Verstappen – 8,5 excellent start without forgetting the amazing duel with Nico Rosberg that he won in spite of an inferior PU.

Nico Rosberg – 7 he did his homework. Good at the start, even if, in my opinion, he seemed awed by what happened in Spain. He made a race in comeback, but along his way he found a great Verstappen.

Kimi Raikkonen – 6 with his sixth place he took some precious points to Ferrari, but his gap from Vettel is disarming and it strongly calls into question his stay in “red”, and even in the Circus.

Daniel Riciardo – 6 Out of form during all the weekend and under his teammate’s level. In spite of his confirmation up to 2018 by the team, the irritability that you can sense in his announcements also reflects itself on track.

Nico Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz, and Sergio Perez – 6 they end a demanding weekend in point zone. Montreal is a difficult track where you have to manage your car, fuel consumptions and tires.

F1 | Canadian GP – Gian Carlo Minardi's Preview

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We are talking about an extremely important Gran Prix because it will close the first third of the season. Mistakes excepted, Mercedes will start as the favourite once again, with a good internal struggle between Rosberg and Hamilton. Nico will have to try to restore his supremacy on Lewis who dominated the stage among the little roads of the princedom. Ferrari, back from two difficult grand prix has used some tokens to develop his Power-Unit and will have to regain its role as a second power in the world championship, a role currently assaulted by a Red Bull in strong growing. Since Montreal is a circuit where aerodynamics and brakes have a key role, Adrian Newey’s creature could reach the spotlight.

Given its geographical position and the lack of mountains, the weather can quickly change. Up to now, the weather forecasts talk about temperatures around 20°C, thus also the tires could make the difference.

At Williams they should pay attention to Force India and Toro Rosso. They will bring some updates that will be analyzed in the post GP, but in this moment the gap between Ferrari and Red Bull is too wide.

A GP rich in unknowns awaits us. Behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are ready to battle. We have just to watch the race starting at 20:00.

 

F1 | Sebastian Vettel "on pins and needles"

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The GP in Spain and Monaco have left important aftermath in the state of mind of Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Lewis Hamilton.

If Mercedes and Red Bull drivers can console themselves with the win and the pole position achieved in the Principality, the Ferrari driver’s mood is definitely the worst. For some time, his attachment to the team has undergone a dramatic shift, as we could see from his last declarations. The positioning and the lack of competitiveness of his SF16-H start to be tight to him. The guy is champing at the bit. A certain anxiety towards the management seeps within the team, and the Spanish podium and the fourth place behind Perez sound like a defeat.

At Red Bull, Max Verstappen’s debut with a win brought new energy to Daniel Ricciardo who beyond signing the pole position in Monaco, with his fabulous lap wanted to launch an important signal. Anyway, the second consecutive mistake made by the pit prevented him again from gaining the win that he would have really deserved. The Italian-Australian was firmly leading the race. The disappointment was great, the smile glided away from his face, and he didn’t spare some criticism (more than deserved) towards the team.

The success conquered last Sunday should have contributed to temper the soul of a Lewis Hamilton in contrast with his team. Someone has talked about a possible layoff. With his win, the English has signed the first seasonal victory and reduced the gap from his teammate, only in seventh place at the start.

All these signals could suggest resounding changes, even if it is too early for making some provisions about the market of drivers. We can only be careful and see what will happen in the next weekends.

F1 | Gian Carlo Minardi "Ferrari tension. Red Bull in the ascendant"

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Early in season, Ferrari presented itself at the start as the main rival of Mercedes, but six GP have been enough to downsize the situation drastically.Starting from the first Australian event, the superiority of the Silver Arrows of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has been clear, just as the hesitation of Maranello.

Anyway, Red Bull has added itself. Backed by an excellent chassis with an extraordinary aerodynamics and by a good power unit, it was able to get back on top at every race up till the win with Max Verstappen in Spain. The coming of the very young Dutchman has contributed to give a boost to Daniel Ricciardo who signs the pole position in Monaco thanks to a perfect lap. Unfortunately, for the second time it was the pit that has ruined his race, delivering the win in Hamilton’s hands.

“Mercedes, independently from some reliability problems and mistakes, proved to be again an unapproachable car. Moreover, when it is vulnerable, Red Bull strategy fails. In Monaco, like in Spain, it is Ricciardo who lost the top of the podium”, Gian Carlo Minardi explains.The Italian-Australian did not spare criticism towards the team. “In some circuits Red Bull exceeds Ferrari thanks to an excellent chassis, in spite of an engine that still leaves some “horses” in Maranello. From the beginning of the season, the SF16-H has not proven to be that perfect weapon to defeat the reigning German World Champions. Many times, we have stressed how the gap is unchanged.The situation for Milton Keynes is the opposite. After a difficult 2015, they are bridging the gap”, the manager from Faenza continues.

The fourth place of Sebastian Vettel in Monaco behind Perez’ Force India, and the third Spanish place are results that begin to become uncomfortable for the German. “A strong irritability shows through the team, especially from Vettel who has also changed his declarations toward the team drastically. The young man paws the ground and starts to feel tight in his positioning. Maurizio Arrivabene, for his part, continues to point Mercedes, but a potential third place in the World Championship would be a defeat”.

Montreal could be an important testbed for both Ferrari and red Bull. “We’ll have the same tire compounds used in Monaco and the weather could affect the choices. Thanks to the long straights, the chassis and the aerodynamics have a central role, as the brake system. Red Bull will try to fill the gap of power with the goodness of Adrian Newey’s design” Minardi ends.

 

F1 | MONACO GP – SCORECARDS

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Lewis Hamilton  – 9 excellent and impeccable throughout the whole race, also taking some strategy risks.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8 after the outstanding time in qualifying that earned him an incredible pole position, he had to give up due to another mistake made by the pit.

Sergio Perez – 8,5 sensational race for the Mexican driver who has optimized Force India at its best , in spite of economic problems.

Sebastian Vettel – 7 a personal mark, not to be shared with Ferrari. He made too many mistakes, even if I don’t know if the fault is his. A Vettel that gets agitated and anxious for results that do not come.

Fernando Alonso – 8 a sensational lap after lap. The gap from the top is important, but he was able to attack with his tenacity and his driving skills improving himself after each step. He outclassed his teammate.

Nico Hulenberg – 7 aligned to what was done by his teammate. Some important points for Force India.

Nico Rosberg – 7 weakened, even if it was clear he had some problems. In qualifying he wasn’t the usual Nico, especially in a circuit that he dominated last years.

Carlos Sainz – 7 now he is the only landmark for Toro Rosso that is getting calmness after the agreement with Renault for engine supply. The Spaniard is proving to be a top team driver.

Jenson Button – 7 even if he arrived behind his teammate, he gained important points for McLaren-Honda that sees daylight.

 Felipe Massa – 6 even if I don’t believe that his result in qualifying and in race is all his fault.

F1 | Monaco GP – Gian Carlo Minardi's Preview

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We can expect an interesting Monaco Grand Prix due to many factors. From both the point of view of spectators that will experience the most glamour event of the season, and from the technical point of view, expecially after such a dynamic Spanish GP livened up by the accident in Mercedes and by the challenge between Red Bull and Ferrari. Red Bull starts favoured (respect to Ferrari), thanks to his excellent chassis. In spite of a power-unit inferior than that used by Maranello, they prevailed in Spain. Anyway, since they renewed the supply for the next two seasons with Renault, have the chance to work comfortably for 2017. I don’t expect, instead, any surprise in the lead. The real challenge is for the third step of the podium.

Pirelli will launch its new Ultra-Soft tire compound, that could make the difference in a scarcely abrasive circuit.

Mercedes will take 10 Ultra-Soft sets out of 13 while Vettel and Raikkonen will have at their disposal “just” 9. Little differences. In winter testing, the teams had a taste, but on a city circuit something could change.  The other big variable will be the safety cars that can distort what carefully is been devised. It is the shortest race of the year, but the most challenging in all respects. At any time the studied plans may stop working and until the checkered flag nobody is certain of having done 100%.

At Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton has not digested the decision of the management, which is getting tired of his behavior. Interestings solution could open up towards the future.

 

F1 | Ferrari, be careful. Red Bull took wing

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 The Spanish Gran Prix, fifth event of the World Championship, gave strong and clear signals about the powers on the field. On the one hand, we had the demonstration of the astonishing power of Mercedes (if we needed it), on the other hand, Ferrari did not manage to exploit the golden occasion, and Red Bull, in a strong growth, got the better of it.

In the first four events, the Silver Arrows tried to minimize the gap, but the incredible time achieved by Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona’s qualifying showed all its supremacy.Since it became a testing room for F1, Montmelò represents a good testbed for sensing the trend of the season, and Red Bull has confirmed its positive moment, proving to have a clear program that was built on paying choices, also relating to commercial aspects, thanks to Verstappen’s first seal.

Ferrari, instead, is living a hard time and the second place in the world championship could be not so sure. Now, we are getting closer to Monte Carlo with many unknowns.

F1 | Red Bull towards a biennial renewal with Renault?

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After its first seasonal win with the young Max Verstappen at the Spanish Circuit of Barcelona, Red Bull would have closed an agreement with Renault for the Power-Unit supply for the next two years.

After last year’s soap-opera, and after risking to have no power unit for 2016 due to the Frenchs’ marching orders with the refusal of Mercedes and Ferrari (a circumstance that ended into a renewal with Renault under the TAG Heuer brand for a single season), Milton Keynes’s team had started a negotiation with BMW that was deeply interested in a comeback into Formula1.

The uncertainty that still today lingers around to 2017’s regulations has brought the cooperation to an impasse, shifting the balance towards a continuity in the relationship with the French brand for the next two seasons. “BMW would have decided to give up its comeback into the Circus, given the uncertainty on the next regulations. Thus, Red Bull would have already renewed its cooperation with Renault for 2017’s and 2018’s seasons, also due to the good results obtained and to the new team policy”, Gian Carlo Minardi says.“The question on the future remains at Toro Rosso: they have to decide if continue with Ferrari, move to Renault, or, if regulation gets clear, aim for something more resounding” the manager from Faenza concludes.

At the end of two days of testing at Montmelò, the drivers of Red Bull and of Renault were positively affected by the new power-unit brought to the track by by Trans-alpines.

F1 | Spanish GP – SCORECARDS

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The highest Sunday’s grade can only be his:

Max Verstappen – 10 a perfect race. In spite of Kimi Raikkonen’s pressure, he showed cold blood and drove well without the slightest imperfection. He managed to react very well to the change of team. Red Bull backed him with a different strategy compared to that of Ricciardo, favoring the commercial aspect.

Daniel Ricciardo – 9 he deserve this mark considering the misfortune of a tire puncture during the last laps. They used a different strategy trying to confuse Ferrari.

Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel – 8 they ended a difficult race in which all the complications of Maranello appeared.

Carlos Sainz – 8 the driver at Toro Rosso was protagonist of a very admirable race that ended with an important sixth place. In the first laps, he was behind his Red Bull relatives. He wasn’t intimidated by the choice of the mother house and responded very well.

Daniil Kvyat – 7 for encouragement. He must absolutely recover from the shock that could definitely jeopardize his career. In Toro Rosso, he will have the chance to find again tranquility and show his qualities.

Jenson Button – 7 despite a McLaren-Honda problematic in race, he gained important points.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton 4 – with a so embarrassing technical supremacy, they cannot take the liberty of throwing away everything at the third bend. In my opinion, Nico has the 49% of the guilt. Hamilton, a three times world champion should have waited. Mercedes Management will have to sort out its two just reconfirmed drivers.

F1 |Spanish GP – Preview

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Next weekend the Circus arrives in Spain. The circuit of Barcelona is very familiar to the teams and drivers, and they will put in place numerous technical newness coming from the experience in the first four GP.

It is going to be an important event where we can evaluate the technical level of each one. Once again, the comparison term will be Mercedes that, in spite of its disarming power, hasn’t still shown all its cards. Ferrari will have a double responsibility: getting closer to Aldo costa’s “creature” and protecting itself from Red Bull and a fast growing Williams.

Max Verstappen has reached Milton Keynes. He was promoted to Toro Rosso in place of Daniil Kvyat who comes back to Toro Rosso, a team he knows very well after his debut in Formula 1 where he had gained a promotion for the following year beside Daniel Ricciardo. As I have already stressed, I think it has been an impulsive decision. The Russian driver, as he has already demonstrated, is not a driver “to be set aside”

Regarding the tires, Pirelli will bring the Hard, Medium, and Soft compounds. In winter tests, Mercedes impressed us proving an excellent feeling with the “whites” medium tires. Hamilton and Rosberg will have at their disposal five sets of “whites” and seven of “yellows”, yellows, each. At Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen decisively bet on the softer compound with eight sets of soft tires and four sets of medium ones.

Regarding Regulations, we are waiting important decisions that will have to define the future of Formula 1. As far as I know, there is at least a car manufacturer very interested to join the Circus as a manufacturer, but we need rules clear and accurate. Don’t forget that at the end of this year Red Bull will be again without an engine. In the last weeks, Renault  came  forward, putting aside the hatchet, to try an approach and a renewal of the supply contract. At Enstone they have realized that it will take some time to get back to being competitive, so Horner’s structure could be an important partner.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

F1 | A stormy air?

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The third place achieved by Kimi Raikkonen at the Grand Prix in Sochi was not enough for Ferrari to see the glass half-full. The new Mercedes double win and the reliability problems of the SF16-H are creating some anxiety in the race department and president Marchionne, new CEO of the Prancing Horse, depicted himself as embittered. “It bothers me to see Ferrari suffering this way”.

After just four GP, Mercedes has put together 157 points and dubbed Ferrari that stops at 76 points. It is also due to the three withdrawals of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in Australia, Bahrain, and Russia (because of the double pileup caused by Kvyat that from the Grand Prix of Spain will be downgraded to Toro Rosso and will replace Verstappen who is promoted alongside Daniel Ricciardo).Only in Shanghai both the Ferrari cars saw the checkered flag gaining the second and fifth positions.

Since the winter tests, Mercedes had showed a disarming superpower which was proved by the first four Nico Rosberg’s wins and by two double wins. “We have had signals of a new superpower since the test days that showed a situation different respect the announcements. Recovering during the season is not easy, especially without any tests. Despite some reliability problems also at Mercedes, the best time made by Rosberg at the second to last lap is another signal of their potential. It is the proof that he had managed the race until that moment”, Gian Carlo Minardi explains. “The problems accused by Hamilton could also be children of developments projected towards the future”, continues the Manager from Faenza engaged in the organization of the 100th edition of the Targa Florio scheduled this weekend.

Once finished the Russian grand prix, Maurizio Arrivabene, managing director and team principal of the Prancing Horse, offered his mea culpa. “When things don’t work there, someone is always responsible. The reliability can suffer when you are obliged to run after someone and have to pull out the best from any single component. Thus, also the development of the cars is slowed”, Minardi adds. “Unfortunately, in some circumstances, they lacked the referent man who can smooth 3-4 tenths of seconds”.

As usual, with the arrival in Spain, the teams will bring numerous newness obtained through the experience and data acquired during the non-European events.The Circus will prolong his stay in Barcelona for two testing days scheduled in May, 17 and 18. With a tweet, Sauber (in a strong economic difficulty) said that it will not present, having no new solutions to be tested and no young driver available according to the rules which asks each team to try a young driver in at least one of the two days.