Archive for category: F1

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.

Evaluating a funny GP like that in Austin is always a pleasure. I offer my congratulations to Hamilton for his third World title, but I give the highest mark to:

Sebastian Vettel – 9 maker of a perfect race along which he push his Ferrari to the limit without a sole mistake. Forced to start in 13 due to the replacement of his engine, he succeeded recovering till third place smelling the second one. Despite complicated conditions he has been impeccable in every situation fighting with any means. Like certain champions he can bring out the best in his Ferrari differently to his drive-mate.

Max Verstappen – 8+ once again he showed us what he is made of, especially with his excellent takeoffs.

Carlos Sainz Jr – 8 he went trough some mistakes which strengthened and allowed him to close a great race. Both he and his team-mate are taking STR towards an un-hoped sixth place in spite of a loss of points due to reliability.

Lewis Hamilton – 7,5 we have always to remember the car he has at his disposal. Surely, last week-end he has not been impeccable. Anyway I congratulate with him for his third title.

Sergio Perez – 7 another race where the Mexican driver proved his nature and to be good at. Along with Hulkenberg, he is taking Force India to unhoped levels: the fifth place is strengthened.

Daniel Ricciardo – 7 I liked very much the Australian driver both in qualifying and on race. As long as he could he fought like a lion proving to be at play even in difficult conditions.

Daniil Kvyat – 6 what a pity his juvenile mistake with which he canceled what he had well done till that moment.

Nico Rosberg – 5,5 the German heavily disappointed me. With such a car to drive, sometimes he makes second-.driver’s mistakes. That is not really good.

Kimi Raikkonen- 5 due to my liking for Ferrari. Anyway it is time to stop defending him or someone have to explain what kind of technical complication occurred. The comparison with his team-mate is embarrassing.

Mr Bernie Ecclestone is sure: Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso won’t leave F1 World Championship even if they are now without an engine for next season after their break with Renault.

In the last two weeks, Red Bull staff, from Marko Horner to Newey, have threatened by the press to leave the Circus after the refusal of Mercedes and Ferrari who are not willing to sell their latest PU models. The soap opera seems to have come to an end. Red Bull would got back in touch with Renault which asks for a public letter of apology for the treatment they have received by “The Soft-drinkers” in the last few months. Maranello’s doors should open for Toro Rosso even if there are technical complications not easy to solve because the team from Faenza uses the same transmission of Red Bull Racing. A new development would involve a considerable amount of time and money.

“The risk of a defection was high, but in view of recent events I think it can be considered avoided” Mr. E has commented on Autosport. FIA and Mr. Ecclestone refer especially to article 23.5 of sport regulation where it is stated that from 2016 to 2020 only the power unit validate by the Federation will be usable.

At present the deadline to freeze the engines is on February 28 2016. Then it will not be possible to improve them. Gian Carlo Minardi stressed this perspective already on 30 September commenting Red Bull situation ”On February 28th 2016 engines meant to be used during the season will have to be deposited and frozen.Not being able to use tokens for developing their PU along the season, the official teams and their customers will have the same power unit and, unlike this season, diversify supplies won’t be possible.In my opinion, the use of 2015 PU is unlikely, unless some change in regulation coming from constructors’ meeting in Ginevra, that should also pass the examination of the Formula One Commission”.

According to last rumors, at yesterday’s meeting in Ginevra, Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda expressed their willing to avoid the freezing and to update their unities during 2016 (32 tokens would have been asked). Basically like this year. This way we could have official engines and customers. An evolution like this would be really favorable for Honda and Renault in a strong technical delay respect to Mercedes and Ferrari. We have to applaud the fair-play of Mercedes which probably will keep its leadership having important developments aside. But there is more. There is the willing to modify article 23.5 of sport rules so to supply 2005 power units.

We have to keep in mind that this kind of proposals should be discussed by F1 Commission, and approved jointly by all the teams.