F1 | Engines supply, Gian Carlo Minardi warns "Honda is a risk"

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While teams are engaged in the last session of collective Barcelona test in preparation for the first seasonal GP in Australia, behind the scenes one continues to work to change F1.

In addition to the changes in qualifying proposed by the F1 Commission and the Strategy Group that should come into play this year, starting from the Spanish GP, as Bernie Ecclestone directly announced “the new elimination software won’t be ready until May”; they also talk about new rules for the Power-Unit supply. The proposal would concern a minimum supply of two team for each manufacturer, with a maximum of three customers. So far, the Circus includes four suppliers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda) and eleven stables (Mercedes, Ferrari, Williams, Red Bull Racing, Force India, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Manor and the American new entry Haas).

According to the results of the first four testing days, Mercedes is still the leading manufacturer, not just because of its reliability (with its 3800 km travelled) but also because of its power, 950 validated HP, against 930 HP at Ferrari, 900 HP at Renault and 850 HP at Honda. So far, the World Champions supply four teams (Mercedes, Williams, Force India and Manor), like Ferrari does. With Renault and Red Bull, the Trans-alpines have two stables and McLaren with Honda. Eyes are on the Japanese manufacturer who faces a hard task after a disastrous 2015 and a change in top management.

GIAN CARLO MINARDI “If their difficulties continue also this year, Honda could decide to withdraw. Nobody likes to lose too much. According to what I have heard, the Japanese would have also some difficulties with the lubrication of the crankcase. Moreover, the change at the top management when the season has just started is not a good signal. The new rules force each manufacturer to supply two or three teams. In the event of a dramatic about-face, we will lack some supplies. It would be better to look around to find a new reliable manufacturer ” the manager from Faenza interviewed by www.minardi.it observes. “From Spain some rumors come about a nervous and worried Fernando Alonso”.

F1 | Hotseat. New qualifying format

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The F1 Commission and the Strategy Group have sketched the new qualifying format that will determine the starting grid of World F1 Grand Prix. The session of an hour remains divided into three segments (Q1-Q2-Q3) respectively of 16′, 15′ and 14′. Instead, the elimination system and the pole-positions assignment will completely change.The “hotseat” could became part of the Circus.

The first elimination will happen after the first 7 seconds of the Q1 followed by the other eliminations after every 90 seconds. After this session, only 15 drivers will join the next round. In Q2 the slowest driver will be recalled to the pit after six minutes, and just the faster 8 drivers will access to Q3, the final session, with eliminations that will start after 5 seconds and repeating every 90 seconds. The two best drivers will dispute the pole position in the last 1.30 minutes.

The aim is to create some havoc in the grid, trying to make races less predictable. This decision needs the approval of the World Motor Sport Council on March 4.

GIAN CARLO MINARDI: “It is something new that surely deserves to be tried, but this idea does not convince me because I do not believe it can change the cards at play drastically. Given the few time, Strategists could make some mistakes in Q3, but I do not expect any overturned show. Moreover, it could be a difficult reading for the audience in the stands”.

BERNIE ECCLESTONE has already announced that the new system won’t be operative before the Spanish GP. “We are not ready with the software. Thus, the World Championship will start with the already known qualifying. It isn’t the very format I’d have liked to see, but at least it mixes the cards making the grid less predictable. I’d have preferred thinking to some penalizations”.

Wouldn’t it have been better to announce  the new format with a ready software?

F1| Barcelona test: good start for Ferrari, first displeasures at McLaren

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The sun has set also on the fourth testing day in Barcelona, setting aside the first one of the two common tests sessions in view of the debut race in Melburne. It is difficult to make any predictions. What stands out from data is Mercedes reliability, but also the step forward of Ferrari with its SF16-H.
Consulted by www.minardi.it Gian Carlo Minardi has commented the first event of the Circus focusing on W07 but also on Ferrari and Force India, despite the economic difficulties of this latter. At McLaren-Honda there have been the first dissatisfactions.

F1 – Gian Carlo Minardi "Ferrari well done, Mercedes always at the top"

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The first two test days in Barcelona have already given us a clue about the potential world champions. Hamilton and Rosberg have managed to notch 320 sessions up without showing any problems. Behind them, we have seen an interesting Ferrari with Sebastian Vettel leading the standings with his SF16-H.

We have asked Gian Carlo Minardi for a specialised opinion. “The first two days have proven all the Mercedes supremacy, especially in terms of reliability. Hamilton and Rosberg have concluded 152 and 172 sessions without any problems. According to the rumors from the circuit: who has tested the times with the stopwatch, talks about a great power gap between the German Power Unit and the trans-alpine one” the manager from Faenza observes. “That being the case, Red Bull has been able to make an excellent frame once again”.

The SF16-H seems “well born” and it represents a new development in comparison to the single-seater for 2015. “In the winter Ferrari took a good step forward, but it is early to determine the gap, since I have the impression that Mercedes is marching purely in race trim. Mercedes and Ferrari are a step ahead of the others” Minardi concludes.

Poll- Vote the livery for 2016

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If Ferrari, Williams, Mercedes, McLaren, and Haas have presented their “weapons” for 2016 season, Sauber, Red Bull and Renault have showed only their new chromium patings, whereas Toro Rosso, Force India and Manor haven’t still “answered the call”.

On our official twitter channel we have launched a poll where you can choose the livery for 2016 that you prefer. In a first battery there are Ferrari, Red Bull, Haas, and Williams.

Starting from Monday and until Thursday, the teams will race in Barcelona, for the first round of collective testing in preparation for the Australian Grand Prix which inaugurates the F1 world championship of 2016.

Gian Carlo Minardi "I like this Social-F1"

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Williams and Ferrari have chosen to present their new 2016 cars through the web, as Red Bull that so far has presented the new livery that will dress the single-seaters consigned to Ricciardo and Kvyat. The return of Renault in the world championship as Manufacturer has been more traditional: they announced their organogram and unveiled a total black livery destined to undergo significant changes in colors.

This is a F1 more and more Social, that is trying to get closer to the new language of the young and very young people.“F1 must be able to race fast not only on the racetrack, but also with news and images. These days presentations are a first step closer to the needs of young people, who lean more and more to social networks to get immediately the news” Gian Carlo Minardi comments.“It is for this reason that the teams do their presentations in two or three steps, before arriving at the final version, starting from the livery” as in the case of Red Bull and Renault. “They can achieve millions of visits this way, ensuring a great visibility to sponsors. On the expenditure side, is also a big saving”.

The web allows  reduce distances and boundaries.“Journalists must n’t even move from their offices, and many more people may have available the press kits, ensuring a greater disclosure of that material through sites and personal blogs”.Minardi notices another good aspect “Do not forget that there are only four months between the last race of the year and the new season. This new way of working allows teams to take full advantage of the time to develop and prepare the car” the entrepreneur from Faenza concludes. “I appreciate this new approach and this methodology of providing information“.

 

Renault confirms the rumors on Alonso

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Paris’ Champ Elisées has been the evocative scenario chosen by Renault to inaugurate its new era in the F1 World Championship.

The new RS16 will be assigned to the young couple composed by Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer with Esteban Ocon, winner of the FIA European F3 and GP3 Series titles in 2014 and 2015, as a third driver and tester. In the last few days, the Danish ex-McLaren has been chosen to take Pastor Maldonado’s place, who wasn’t supported anymore by national oil company PDVSA. That way he is back in the Circus as an official driver after a year break.

In this occasion they also talked about team future programmes, and Carlos Ghosn confirmed the indiscretions on Fernando Alonso revealed by Gian Carlo Minardi on the website www.minardi.it last December. “Surely, I would like to sign with Fernando Alonso. Throughout our years in formula 1, we have worked and known a lot of drivers and Fernando is one of the best”.

In 2005 and 2006 the Spanish driver added the last two titles to the French company, a goal then missed in 2008 and 2009 when he came back in Enstone before moving to Maranello and woking. Fernando comes from a disastrous season with McLaren-Honda and 2016 will be the year of truth.

Surely, the new total black livery with a touch of yellow has surprised, but it will probably changed in view of Australian Grand Prix. Also the exposed car was only a show car created on a 2015 frame. We will see the RS16 during the first tests in Barcelona.

 

Italy is here!

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Although in 2016 Italy won’t be in Formula 1 with its drivers, at an international level the situation is very different with five standard bearers already confirmed in the three most important championships: GP2 Series, GP3 Series, and FIA European F3.

A strong signal demonstrating how the “Beautiful Country” is still able to prepare and make grow its guys.“It is the result of the work of the Federation in last years and the prove that Italy has nothing to envy to the other nations” Gian Carlo Minardi says. “Unfortunately, to reach F1, besides drivers’ technical qualities you need huge budgets and it would be useful to have a minor team ready to bet and capable to find the most talented drivers. As Federation we are working to help, in part at least, our guys, also under the economic aspect with some scholarships” the manager from Faenza continues.“Last year we started the ACI Team Italia project and it continues also this year. It’s not a consolation, but the situation isn’t better outside our borders. In these days, Stoffel Vandoorne, maker of an excellent season in GP2, is engaged in pirelli’s tests at the Paul Richard with McLaren. He declared he isn’t sure to enter the world championship not even in 2017”.

Antonio Giovinazziand Raffaello Marciello will race in GP2 respectively with Prema and Russian Time colors. If to Marciello 2016 should be the year of redemption after a complicated season, Giovinazzi will debut in the waiting room of F1, after his positive season in FIA European F3 and his success in Master F3. “I was really glad reading Prema’s announcement about Giovinazzi, even if I am a bit embittered because four years ago I had already supported the candidacy of Antonio to important Teams and groups. When I saw him at Imola in his sixteen years, he made me an excellent impression”.

After the eight place achieved last year, Antonio Fuoco is again at the starting grid in GP3 series with the Trident Team, while the schedule of GP3 Series vice champion Luca Ghiotto is to be defined. The Venetian driver would be glad to sign his debut in GP2, future Formula 2, but he could remain another season in GP3 with the aim to win the title. On the FIA European F3 front, Alessio Lorandi will keep his growth.“He will be the driver of the Carlin Team, one of the top team in the championship. Even him comes from kart and at his first year in F3 has done very well despite his very young age“.

 

 

It's time for concrete actions

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Let us not hide the truth. Formula 1 is in a moment of confusion and precariousness, with sponsors running away along with fans, and the figures hardly add up. Every day we read everything and its opposite. We always hear saying “cost reduction”, but ultimately there is little concrete.

The Srategy Group and the F1 Commission have hard time to make substantial decisions for a change. We are facing a difficult economic situation. We have an oil crisis, companies that transfer their investment towards cheaper fields, recessions in TV investments, and scandals like that of Volkswagen and Renault. Also FCA is in a difficult moment facing important deadlines.

There are many opportunities to take advantage of, but it would time to close with serious and professional proposals. In this moment we are playing the engines match, but I have the impression that with drastic changes the English teams want to divert the attention on their greatest strength: the aerodynamics. Meanwhile, at Geneva, we have reached an agreement to continue with Power-Units till 2020 with the aim of lowering costs by standardising some components and arresting any developments. Spending over 20 million for an engine is really unmanageable, in my opinion, and it would be impossible to continue this way.

In terms of entertainment, teams would have asked the commissioners to be more indulgent with drivers. I am happy to have focused the attention on this aspect, especially last season. Formula 1 has grown thanks to the duels. However, keeping the same judges in all races becomes important.

With a new smile more, we are preparing to live and closely follow another intense season of Formula 1 … and may the best win.

The long-standing engines issue

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Last season will be remembered not just for the Mercedes domain and for Lewis Hamilton’s third world title, but also for the strong debate connected to the supplying of Power-Units, with Red Bull as starring.

After having blamed Renault harshly, Horner & C. have knocked on the doors of Mercedes and Ferrari, obtaining a year dated supplying and the “marching orders” from the president himself Carlos Ghosn. A scarce solution for a team whose purpose is to win, after having dominated the stage for four consecutive seasons and after being away from top position in the last two years. As we know, after hesitation, peace is back (paid weight in gold) between “the soft-drinkers” and the trans-alpine constructor. We have a different situation at Toro Rosso that will host again Ferrari, with a 2015 supply thanks to an exception. ” The client engine supply is a situation with wich I am very familiar. Keeping out the parenthesis of“Modern Engine” break when we fought against official car manufacturers as Ferrari, Honda, and MBW with a private engine built and developed from scratch, we had always had client engines that pay aminimum of 70-80 hp since 1988” Gian Carlo Minardi recalls.

“Even in 1991, with Ferrari engines, we were three steps back. Moreover, in those years, to make a great difference were also gasoline and lubricants. We have fought for years to make sure that every manufacturer provided the same engine to every client”. Almost as it has happened since some years, unless exceptions.“Before PU, the usage of the same engines had levelled all the performances, and also the private teams were able to obtain great satisfactions, as Brawn Gp has demonstrated” the manager from Faenza continues. “With pleasure, however, despite customer engines, we had some satisfactions” as the front row conquered by Martini in 1990 during qualifying in Phoenix, the fourth place in Estoril and the fifth in 2002 in Melbourne achieved by Webber who placed his Minardi PS02 ahead of Toyota despite an Asiatech. On some occasions, we could have been very competitive with an official engine”.

Ready to go

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Although the engines are still turned off,the 2016 season of Formula 1 World Championship goes live, ahead of the first common test on February 22 in Spain.Gene Haas’ s team has done its first step towards Melbourne with a favorable crash-test. “All the stables are working busily to bring on track their new car for the tests in Spain, and they are planning the possible developments ahead of Melbourne grand prix.

“Unlike what used to happen years ago, to take part to the common tests it is essential to have a shell homologated by FIA passing all its checks” Gian Carlo Minardi analyzes “Being in the weight limit allowed by the regulations. In my experience, my team didn’t pass the tests at the first attempt in a single circumstance. It was 1991, and due to an error of assessment while we were testing the deceleration, the “seat back”, that housed the reservoir, broke. This problem slowed us a lot, but we managed to limit the damage because in those years the approval to race had to arrive before of the inaugural weekend of the season. Today it is not that way. So it is an important milestone”.

Being a “newbie”, the American team will be observed in special. “Making your debut with 21 scheduled races is not easy both under an economic and logistical aspect. They have gained energies from experienced F1 men and, as we can read, they want optimize their team with a structure composed of a maximum of 200 people. I agree with this kind of management, because I find wrong to have a staff composed of 400-500 or 1000 people just to build two cars”.

In recent weeks, coming back “home” for a while in Spallanzani street, Gian Carlo Minardi has been guest at Toro Rosso. “I could visit the new establishments and I was glad to see their coordination. I am sure that, thanks to Ferari engine, they will be able to raise the bar on the reliability front, the real Achille’s heel of last season. They missed about 60-70 points especially due to the retreats of Carlo Sainz in the final laps” the manager from Faenza concludes.

F1 -Year-end fireworks. Alonso towards Enstone?

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“I become wild-eyed when Horner declares openly that the supremacy of Mercedes has to be controlled because it damage F1 interest., rr when a Boulluer says that the Circus is just for who can afford it. I would like to remember to  these Motorsport gurus that they did not complain when Red Bull had dominated the scene for four consecutive years (Mercedes was at its second season) and that without the difficulties at little Manor, McLaren would have been the last” Gian Carlo Minardi states on www.minardi.it and recalls that the World Championship has always been made by cycles.

History tells about supremacist signed by Williams, McLaren, and Ferrari till Red Bull and Mercedes ones. “Till the little teams have closed the starting grid, big constructors have animated the scene. As soon as they have remained in the back of the row, because the little teams started to close or to guess the right arrangement of a race, the big teams, like Toyota, BMW, Jaguar and Honda, have escaped. Listening to these opinions, I have the impression that F1 is not organized by great professionals” the manager from Faenza continues underling the importance of an intervention on rules to give some stability that will enable everybody to race by promoting fairness in the distribution of awards. “Spending over 400 million having a team made of 1000 persons to build two cars is absurd. Like it is crazy paying 25 million for the Power-Unit, only few years ago engines price was 5-6 million. Today, 20 million make the difference and it is difficult to find them in the market”. According to the numbers, today’s F1 isn’t a great investment as in the 90s when it assured the company an unequaled economic return.With clear projects and freedom “of creating”, we would be able to find out alternative solutions. Also the little teams would be able to carry ingenious solutions on track”.

There are chatter that distract from the moves behind the curtains that especially concern a very active Renault in the market. “With the purchase of Lotus and their return as Constructors, the trans-alpines have all the interest to reinforce each of their departments. They are looking for human resources, technicians, and drivers. President Carlos Ghosn is working to tear Fernando Alonso out from Honda”. To the Spanish driver it would be the third return to Enstone.Despite the confirmations that Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer received in the last weeks, they won’t be able to sleep very well. “Maldonado can count on Venezuelan assets that are useful to the team. Palmer’s situation is more complex. Informations coming from France confirm this path, even if it is not an easy solution. On Management front, as rumors confirm, Renault seems like to bet on Alain Prost as Team Principal”. The four-time world champion with McLaren and Williams will have decisive responsibility within the team. Without having any shares, as it happens at Mercedes with Toto Wolff.

F1 – Year-end scorecards: DRIVERS

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After analyzing the season of the teams, let’s judge the drivers. The first five teams occupy the first five places with two Mercedes, two Ferrari, two Williams, two Red Bull and two Force India, with two surprises: Kvjat ahead of Ricciardo and Perez ahead of Hulkenberg who had to be the wonder. At Williams Bottas hasn’t trashed Massa “the grandpa”. Also in this case the first of the class is a Mercedes driver as well as World Champion for the third time.

Lewis Hamilton – 9 as said for Mercedes, he doesn’t deserve a full vote. After managing the championship skillfully and after winning the title he loosened.

Sebastian Vettel – 8,5 in addition to three wins and numerous podia, taking advantage of every opportunity he brought serenity to Ferrari.

Nico Rosberg – 8 especially thanks to the last six races, since he would have got 6 in the first part of the season. He has proven to be a good driver. His talent is also important for the show.

Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas – 7,5 in many occasions they have fought with a seriously troubling car. On paper Bottas should have trashed Massa, but the Brazilian defended himself with nails.

Sergio Perez – 7,5 he had a growing season with important results. He gave a nice boost to his career managing to get the better of his team-mate, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz – 7 they proved themselves to be the best beginners, with an enormous potential. To the couple Toro Rosso – Ferrari, they are surely a good auspice. They will bring a lot of points after overcoming reliability troubles.

Kimi Raikkonen – 6 because we love him, and we hope that he can find some incentive for a good season. 2016 could also be his last F1 chance.