Archive for category: F1

This is apparently the most quiet moment of F1. Engines are turned off and the external teams are on vacation to recharge their batteries. But inside the factories the teams bustle to design and assemble the cars for 2016.

“Teams are creating the first shell that will face the crash-tests imposed by FIA for validation of all the components in view of the first test at the end of February” Gian Carlo Minardi, consulted by Minardi.it, comments. “On one side we have a Mercedes that passes through a party to another to celebrate its double win as best as it can, on the other one there is Circus face engaged in recovering its technical gap. Then there is Haas, the new-entry, that has to arrange everything from A to Z. They are facing a great effort because debuting with a 21 events scheduled on calendar is not easy” the manager from Faenza continues.

Anyway, the mind is projected forward in time. We are discussing to limit to three the number of power unit per driver in 2018 with the purpose to reduce cost. “To really cut the cost of this engine supply, producer should not redirect the cost of development and design on customers, but invest directly. Reducing the number of power units per driver to three is a possible way, even if it is very alarming. Both Mercedes team and its customers have been able to cover the entire season respecting rules without any penalization. No other manufacturer has achieved this amazing result”.

Under this aspect, Honda and Renault will be observed in a special way next season. “While the trans-alpine constructor seems to want to change direction no doubt with clear and defined ideas and projects, the Japaneses’ path seems more harder to me”.Renault, which is Red Bull Racing engine supplier, will return to the forefront as constructor after purchasing Lotus.“They have also acquired know-how around with the clear aim to get back on top. The situation at Honda seems more complicated. The electrical part has been the real Achilles’ heel. While Mercedes can exploit it for more than a minute, Japaneses struggle to reach 30” with with serious repercussions on time.We can notice this problem in T2 and, especially, in T3. In this respect, McLaren batteries have not been up to the job. Also Japaneses have been shopping in Europe” Gian Carlo Minardi, coming from an ACI meeting, concludes.

Alfa Romeo possible return to racing, announced by Ferrari President Sergio Marchionne during the year-end press conference, did not surely go unnoticed rekindling fans’ passion.

The so called “Big snake” has a glorious past in Motorsport, from F1 World Championship to Touring car race with Nicola Larini’s successes in 90s DTM. “Those were the golden years of Italian Motorsport, during which the team from Turin was engaged on all fronts: F1 with Ferrari, Rally and prototypes with Lancia, and Touring with Alfa Romeo, without forgetting Maserati” Gian Carlo Minardi consulted by Minardi.it comments about a possible Alfa Romeo return to races.“Surely, their come back would be terrific and an important news. I keep sustaining that Sports is the best means for a brand promotion. Even the most distracted young remembers Lancia success in the Rally World Championship with Delta or Nicola Larini’s seals under the wheel of his 155. Thanks to these programs, our boys then found a way towards professionalism. Drivers like Larini, Nannini and Pratese are the result of that kind of experiences. I can evaluate an Alfa Romeo return to races only in a positive way”.

Giulia, their last creature that will enter the market from 2016 has been launched in recent months. Along with Ferrari, the group from Turin has been conquering the scene with Abarth, thanks to a partnership with Formula 4 that saw his debut precisely in Italy two years ago with a project made in Italy thanks to Tatuus frames and Pirelli tyres.“As ACI’ we have been the first in the world to believe in FIA project linked to new Formula 4, and we have created a very strong product. Until now, F4 is the most important championship numerically speaking, and 2016 data are astounding. Abarth is a brand that attracts attention, so much than in Germany national F4 is the only race that includes a not German group. We must be proud of that” the manager from Faenza concludes.

The curtain has fell on the World Championship, so let’s grade the protagonist of Abu Dhabi GP along with Gian Carlo Minardi.

Nico Rosberg – 9 his weekend was perfect. He waited the right moment to place his sixth consecutive pole position closing the season with an impeccable race. I remain dazed about his ending-season metamorphosis. Having a fight in family all the season would be very interesting from a motoring point of view.

Sergio Perez – 8 we must reward him because he has matured along all the season, leaving behind Nico Hulkenberg, who was considered the emerging driver. Perez got the largest part of points appraising himself and his team.

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 finally he was able to appraise what he had at his disposal without overdoing, avoiding the mistakes of last races and closing in a positive third place. Unfortunately he can’t take advantage of his Ferrari at 100% as Vettel does.

Daniel Ricciardo – 7 despite his problematic car, he was able to close in sixth.

Grosjean – 7 he fought with a knife between his teeth closing his adventure with Lotus. Like Perez, he proved an important progress in view of 2016.

Jenson Button – 7 he hindered Alonso and defended his position despite his McLaren.

Sebastian Vettel – 5,5 he started in last position and closed in fourth “mimicking” Valentino Rossi, but he has some responsibility for Saturday’s hash.

 Lewis Hamilton – 5 I can not understand why he is so nervous. Probably e relaxed or he suffers his team-mate’s capacity.

Fernando Alosnso – 5 despite  his capacity- as his time demonstrates – and the problematic McLaren, he has to avoid certain declarations and polemics.

 Max Vrstappen and carlos Sainz – 5 I have always endorsed them appraising their performances, but last Sunday the ymade some mistakes.

 

We are approaching the last race of this Mercedes season along which only Ferrari has managed to spoil their party on three occasions, although unfortunately the technical gap remains wide. Mercedes customer teams themselves, despite the guaranteed superiority of the Power-Unit , have been unable to support a technical comparison.

Therefore, we arrive in Abu Dhabi with little more to say. Just the fourth place with a fight among Bottas, Raikkonenn, and Massa and the sixth place in the Constructors’ standings remain at stake. For a good 2016 start, I hope Kimi be able to beat his compatriot at Williams, to prove his true value given the wide gap with Vettel. Instead, nine points divide Faenza from Enstone. Not an easy gap to fill in during a single race, despite Lotus financial difficulties.

According to tradition we will race by night, the asphalt, affected by heat and by the desert sand, will improve session after session. The brake system will be particularly stressed because it will have to work for the 22% of the lap, with two great straight lines.After two consecutive victories, Rosberg will try to end with a bang his bitter season, although Hamilton is determinate not to make him concessions. Rosberg’s championship ending is really incomprehensible.Freed from the tensions of the championship, Nico found the serenity to counter his strong team-mate.

Instead, from Tuesday December 1th we will already be in 2016 World Championship with the test of Pirelli, when the ultra-soft tire compounds, the violet Super SuperSofts, will be tested. All the teams will check their duration and consumption with the maximum fuel load, in Q3 version. They will become another strategic variable.

Let’s grade the Brazilian Grand Prix along with Gian Carlo Minardi, although evaluating a monotonous race like this is a hard task.

Nico Rosberg – 8,5 pole position and victory. His awakening is an enigma. He unbelievably emerged from hibernation exactly when his team-mate won the world championship. He achieved his second flawless race. This leads me to think that at Mercedes, in spite of what they declare, there must be some kind of hierarchy. Otherwise he should made an examination of conscience. He has coped with a determined Hamilton who signed the fastest lap of the race.

Max Verstappen – 8 he showed us three ancient over-takings. He pushed madly despite his problematic car which favors a lot his competitors. It is the sixth time he has gained some points. For a rookie it is an amazing result.

Sebastian Vettel – 8 he brought out the best from his Ferrari with an amazing race giving Raikkonen a 30” gap. It is clear he has been giving his all. He has lived a favorable moment; his mood and his performances on track have been good.

Lewis Hamilton – 7 I didn’t like his behavior at the end of the race. I don’t approve certain “spoiled child”’s attitudes. Anyway, he has tried to catch up his team-mate and to win the race signing the fastest lap.

Hulkenberg, Bottas, Grosjean – 7 they all achieved an excellent race. They have optimized their performances. Hulkenberh succeeded in coping with Bottas who proved himself to be fourth, even thought he has just a point more than his compatriot at Ferrari. Grosjean has fought his challenge with Toro Rosso for the sixth place bringing home some substantial points despite his Lotus which hasn’t had a lot of developments.

Daniil Kvyat – 6,5 once again he fought and hindered his team-mate. Along with Verstappen and Sainz, he is one of the most promising young.

Kimi Raikkonen – 6 just because he got some points. Giving him more is a hard work.

Let’s grade this grand prix carried out unenthusiastically with the incertitude of a missed rain.

Nico Rosberg – 8,5 his season is difficult to evaluate. He has alternated excellent performances with colorless races. On Sunday, he did exactly what we had expected from him some GPs ago, and he was able to cope with the world champion in a battle of fast laps.

Valtteri Bottas, Daniil Kvyat, and Max Verstappen – 8 they are the future of motor sports. All three of them decisively have a fast and aggressive pace. Bottas took William to the podium again, while the Russian driver has been enhancing himself for the whole weekend putting Ricciardo in troubles despite the myriad problems of Red Bull team. Another laudable race for the Dutch driver at STR.

Lewis Hamilton – 7,5 he went on track ready to fight and not as a mere spectator. He missed the decisive spring to pass Rosberg. Anyway, it is always the same, the first and the second place are a matter for Mercedes.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez – 7 another excellent performance for the both standard-bearers of Force India which strengthens his fifth position in Constructors’ standings. An excellent breath of fresh air.

Felipe Massa – 7 because he has fought Romain Grosjean for the whole GP

Romain Grosjean – 6 due to his tenth place. He has to thank Sainz who has been penalized by a complication; otherwise, Felipe Massa would have been behind him.

Sebastian Vettel – 5,5 when you are always compelled to drive to the limit, and you have a car hard to drive, a mistake can occur. In a sole weekend, he did what he has not done for 105 races. Maths keeps him at play for the second place even if it will be a difficult task.

Kimi Raikkonen -5 he was bombarded by complications but the contact with Bottas could have been avoided. What he did during the race is incomprehensible.