F.1 – British Gp: THE POINT… BY GIAN CARLO MINARDI

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The race started changing the cards on the table, with the two Williams who get immediately the lead in front of Hamilton and Rosberg, authors of a bad start, as well as at Ferrari and that was able to until to keep up with Mercedes right from the first pit-stop.

With tyres changing,Lewis cleared his supremacy up, going to lead the group. With the arrival of rain in the final stages of the race, Williams missed the podium, in favor of Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari. Ferrari guessed the strategy, even if the work to do is a lot, considering the gap accused in Qualifying. A third very important place them back on the podium, but they will have to beware of Williams, which is growing steadily.

Lewis Hamilton showed on track all his British experience, guessing the exact moment to switch to Intermediate compounds, while in this race Nico was not 100% perfect. Very good Felipe Massa, author of an excellent time lap in Qualifying and of a solid race, closed in front of Bottas. Until the pit-stop, he had led the race, and then “give up” to Mercedes and to the rain, in favor of Maranello. It was positive the sixth and seventh positions of Kvyat and Hulkenberg, who led the Red Bull (orphan Ricciardo forced to retire) and Force India to the top. Force India completed the Gran Prix with the ninth position of Perez, behind the SF-15T of Kimi Raikkonen. A small point went to Fernando Alonso, who ended the British weekend of McLaren with the tenth position, after a difficult start, because of Jenson Button’s difficult retirement.

Mercedes has, once again, proved its dominance in terms of Power-Unit, with six cars in the top-ten while Ferrari will have to watch its backs by Williams’ return.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – Gian Carlo Minardi: “I would like to see again Formula 1 at Imola circuit”

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The days pass and the rumours around the future of the Italian Grand Prix are becoming more insistent. The latest initiative is named after the President of Lombardy Region, Roberto Maroni, who through the signature collection – called “Get on track with Lombardy. Sign for the GP in Monza” – is attempting to convince Bernie Ecclestone.

As we know, the contract between Monza circuit and FOA expires in 2016. Meanwhile, in recent weeks Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit has stepped forward, through a delegation headed by the Mayor of Imola Daniele Manca, that have met Bernie Ecclestone. “It can be done. There are good intentions and foundations as well. Imola was a good experience that could revive since 2017. I want that Italy remains at all costs in the calendar of Formula 1. But while Imola contacted me, I don’t know anything about Monza since one month. There is the desire to save the Italian Grand Prix, but money lack“.

One possible alternation with Monza is not bad even for Gian Carlo Minardi, who has commented on the website www.minardi.it: “In these days I’ve read that Imola would usurp the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. My reading key is different and I don’t see it as a negative aspect. Thanks to a new and solid company, Imola has proposed to Ecclestone, so that Italy doesn’t lose its world stage. The Italian Grand Prix is Monza, but if there were any problems, Imola could take over for hosting the Circus. The turnover could also be a viable solution”, the manager from Faenza concluded, “but here discussions of a political nature which go out of my league will open“.

F.1 – Road to Silverstone

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We enter the second part of a championship that now has little to tell in terms of World Champions. Mercedes holds the absolute leadership. There’s just open the internal fight between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. In the latest appointments, we saw Nico being on perfect form than the teammate, who was distracted and nervous. Last year the German driver was very fast, signing the pole position and leaving the victory to the teammate only for the gearbox failure.

It will be a Grand Prix to follow carefully, especially for Williams, which at Silverstone “opened the dances” to a great second part of the season, which gave it the third position among Constructors. The British team will be kept under control in particular by Ferrari that is the second force in field at the moment.

Silverstone is particularly abrasive circuit and for 52 laps Pirelli will bring Medium and Hard compounds. Be careful to the rain that has always been an important feature. Right now, England is crossed by high pressure that could remove the uncertainty of a wet track.

Behind the scenes, the Circus will also talk about drivers-market and I hope it can be taken into account even our young drivers, who are standing out in the preparatory categories, such as Marciello, Fuoco (who made their debut in the post-Austria test sessions), Ghiotto, the winner of GP3 and Giovinazzo that is fighting in the International F.3. Just about young drivers, last weekend I was present at Imola circuit for the ACI Racing weekend. It was interesting both for numbers and also quality, with 40 GT cars and 27 Formula 4 open-wheels, with a grid composed by16 F.4 cars, all close in just 9 dec. Who was sitting in the stands has seen hard-fought races with the drivers of the future in action. The FIA will have to take another step forward since, to date, the jump from F.4 to International F.3 is very wide and we see too often spectacular and dangerous crashes.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – Gian Carlo Minardi: “These regulations have to be changed”

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The Austrian Grand Prix will be remembered not only for the double of Mercedes, but also for the penalties imposed to McLaren, Toro Rosso and Red Bull for exceeding the maximum number of Power Unit (four per season per car). Sum it all together they have touched a record of 70 penalty positions on the grid. Even Jenson Button would have to back 25 positions (in a line-up that counts on 20 cars maximum). It gets a little better his teammates.

Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button will be forced to change again the engine in view of the Silverstone Grand Prix. Here come another 20 positions of relegation, to which further penalty will be added in the race (drive through or stop and go) whether they fail to succeed in paying them all on the grid. “At this rate McLaren will eventually serve it penalties in the next season. It’s definitely a crazy and too complicated regulation“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “Fans can’t understand anything and this leads to a dangerous leaving. These regulations should be rewritten and revised. Look what happened to Maldonado. He lost control of his Lotus in the straight out of the wake“. Alain Prost was of the same opinion: “This aspect of the regulation should be changed. The driver has already been penalized because he could not finish the race or qualifying. And he has even to undergo an additional penalty”. Jean Alesi: “Who wrote these rules wants the ruin the Formula 1. Just need to talk to the fans in order to understand how much the public is moving away. To know the rules, it takes a degree in engineering … ” and Carlos Sainz following his son: “People no longer understands what are the criteria that determines the line-up. The rules of Formula 1 are too complicated”.

F.1 – Austrian Gp: DRIVERS’ SCORECARDS

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Nico Rosberg – 9 Like the team mate, in Qualifying he made a mistake, which probably cost him the pole position. He get back a lot in the race, overtaking against Hamilton at the start, flying to the victory by scoring the fastest lap of the race.

Lewis Hamilton – 7.5 Unfortunately the three errors (in Q3, at the start and exiting the pit) play against him, considering the technical potential available. Perhaps this supremacy of Mercedes is the cause of the distractions. It brings the two drivers to exceed and fall into errors. The championship will be played certainly between them and their respective mistakes.

Felipe Massa – 8.5 Good race for him, who successfully defended the third position thanks to his experience, eliminating the technical difference with the Ferrari that managed to close the gap.

Sebastian Vettel – 8.5 What happened in the pits is certainly not his fault. Author of a perfect weekend, he suffered a problem of construction that had already slowed Raikkonen early in the season. After recovering Massa, he failed to pass him, even because of Mercedes PU’s the supremacy.

Nico Hulkenberg – 7.5 Nice weekend and a good race for him, who ended with important points and the sixth place for Force India, which extends its lead over competitors.

Pastor Maldonado – 7.5 Once again he gave us a great show, losing control of his car on the straight, and then retrieve it. He prevailed over Verstappen.

Max Verstappen – 7 He lost the comparison with Maldonado, but he brought new points to Toro Rosso. His overtakings were exciting, without making mistakes. He is up to this F1 despite his young age.

Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo – 7 They have fought bringing home important points for their teams. Sergio Perez closed an important comeback with two points that complete the good weekend of Force India. Daniel Ricciardo was the last of the top-10, despite Red Bull in difficulty on the straights because of Renault.

Kimi Raikkonen – 4 Like in Canada, he lost control of the car, after being eliminated in Qualifying and starting from the back rows.

The situation at McLaren-Honda was very difficult. For the team, it will not be easy to convince new sponsors and I do not know how long Honda can economically support McLaren. To date, we haven’t seen improvements. On the opposite side, the team with Mercedes engine have resumed oxygen. In the top-10 we find seven teams with German PU and only one Ferrari, one Toro Rosso and one Red Bull.

F.1 – Legends Parade: Pierluigi Martini “Time is as it he had stopped”

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The Legends Parade is an appointment that is getting closer to the heart of all fans that experience the Austrian Grand Prix of Formula 1.

After the inaugural event last year, with the return of the Circus in the green heart of Styria, thanks to Red Bull and its owner, this year the event tied to the past has attracted the attention of fans, thanks to the presence of the turbo open-wheels of the ‘80s and the drivers that have made great this sport. Together with Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Lotus with the protagonists of that time (Niki Lauda, Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet, Riccardo Patrese, Gerhard Berger, Christian Danner and Jean Alesi), there could not miss the colours of the Minardi team.

Pierluigi Martini, at the wheel of the Minardi M186 of  the collector Mr. Frits Van Eerd, gave new life to the colors of the team founded by Gian Carlo Minardi and lasted for over 100 Gp. “It has been a fantastic event and I have immediately relived wonderful feeling. Once I get into in the cockpit, it was as if time had stopped. I felt young again“, Pierluigi Martini comments with enthusiasm.  “I have immediately felt at ease. What a pity not having been able to get the top speed, because after a few kilometres we gave a fireworks show with the explosion of our turbo engine “, Pierluigi says smiling. “It was really pleasant to laugh and joke with all the other drivers, recalling past events. Even the public response was fantastic. This is an experience to be repeated more often and these are the right initiatives that the public and the fans appreciate“.

“Once again I have to congratulate Red Bull for the organization and for the success of this event which is entering by force in the hearts of fans“, Gian Carlo Minardi says, coming back from Austria. “I had the chance to relive wonderful moments of my past, reviewing some cars that have colored the ‘80s with their drivers, along with those people who have made the history of motor racing, such as Mrs. Brenda, Secretary of Mr. Enzo Ferrari, or Paul Roche, the “father” of the BMW engines. A special thanks to a friend and the collector Mr. Frits Van Eerd for having made available to all fans and to Piero his Minardi M186“, concludes the manager Faenza.

F.1 – Focus Ring

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With drivers’ press conference the spotlights on the Austrian Grand Prix switch on. Since last year the owner of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz, strongly wanted to return the Circus in the region of Styria, Austria has once again become an important event for the World Championship.

The track of Spielberg is 4,326 meters long and presents significant differences in height 677 meters above sea level, being positioned on the hillside, in the green heart of Styria.

The Red Bull Ring has four zones where the engine is very important, with three slow corners and a good guided segment. It requires a medium/high downforce and the asphalt is little abrasive. Soft tyres are the best choice for maximum grip. Here’s the Pirelli, for the third consecutive Grand Prix, leading the Soft and Supersoft.

The most critical point is engine cooling, due to track altitude, together with brakes, because there are outdistance sections that put a strain on the system. Be careful to fuel consumption: on paper every 100 kg/h allowed by regulation (when the motor exceeds 10,500 rpm rotation) are needed.

THE NUMBERS OF THE RED BULL RING
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Location: Spielberg
Laps: 71
Length: 4,326 meters
Altitude: 677-736 m above sea level

F.1 – Antonio Fuoco debuts on the SF-15T during the Austrian test sessions

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During the test session, which will take place on Spielberg circuit, the week after the Austrian Grand Prix, the Ferrari Driver Academy’s driver Antonio Fuoco will sign his debut at the wheel of the Ferrari SF-15T. For the 19-year-old Calabrian driver involved in GP3 with Carlin team, this will be the debut in an official test of Formula 1.

Antonio will get into the cockpit on Tuesday 23rd and then pass the wheel the next day to the third driver of Scuderia Ferrari, Esteban Gutiérrez. “I am very happy with this news. The FDA program is very ambitious. I am convinced that Vettel’s next team-mate will arrive exactly from the Academy”, Gian Carlo Minardi commented few weeks ago, during the interview for his website minardi.it. “It would be interesting to a lean young to grow, that does not require large investments, diverting the latter on the development of the complex technical”.

For some time the manager from Faenza hopes a return to test sessions open to young drivers, perhaps even on Fridays of Grand Prix races, just a few years ago. “Do not forget that from the free practice sessions on Friday morning open to rookies emerged drivers like Sebastian Vettel – four times world champion – and Robert Kubica, just to name two. This proves that when people who know F.1 environment propose rules, something good is done. This is why I insist that within the Federation competent technicians involved in the team should intervene. Formula 1 should be run by the FIA, for the drafting of technical and sporting regulations, and by the FOA, with regard to communication and promotion. But today we have a Strategy-Group consisting directly from F1 teams, where everyone rightly furthers his own cause.

F.1 – In Austria the Minardi M186 comes back to thunder with Pierluigi Martini

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We are getting closer to the Austrian Grand Prix and the Legends Parade, which takes place together with the eighth round of the season. Last year, the protagonists were the nine Austrian drivers with a past in the World Championship; among them, there was Patrick Friesacher, at the wheel of the Minardi PS04B of 2005. This year the main theme will be the open-wheels with turbo engines of the’80s and, once again, Minardi’s colours will be present on track both with a car and a driver.

Together with the ’84 and ’85 McLarens, the Ferrari F1-87/88C, the Renault RE50-03 and the Lotus 98T will parade also the Minardi M186 powered by Motori Moderni of Andrea de Cesaris and Alessandro Nannini. For the occasion, Pierluigi Martini that with the team of Gian Carlo Minardi has covered more than 100 Grand Prix in eight seasons (from 1985 to 1995) will be at the wheel of the car. “I am honoured that, once again, a car of the Minardi Team has been chosen for the parade and I have to thank my friend Frits Van Eerd, for having made available the car. It will also be amazing to see the double Minardi-Martini. To me, all drivers were important, because they helped write the story of the Minardi Team, but certainly “Piero” deserves a special place, having raced with me over 100 Gp“, Gian Carlo Minardi comments.

For Pierluigi Martini, it will be a return into the cockpit of an open-wheel, after the experienced that took place in 2006, during the Gp Masters. We like to remember that in the palmares of the driver from Romagna stands out the victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1999) at the wheel of the BMW V12 LMR. “I really do not know what to expect. It will be surely a wonderful experience, being able to be back at the wheel of those cars. I don’t drive an open-wheel since 2006. It will be the right opportunity to understand how much crazy I was to race in those years”, Pierluigi Martini says, smiling.

Pierluigi has promised that will tell us all the feelings he experienced after the event. Then, see you after the Austrian Grand Prix.

F.1 – Fall in sales for the Austrian Gp: "Tickets are too expensive"

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This is the week of the Austrian Grand Prix, the eighth appointment of F1 World Championship. This Grand Prix came back in the F1 calendar last year: in Styria Formula 1 experienced one of races with the best organization ever, rewarded with terraces and lawns crowded of public, thanks to the presence of nine Austrian drivers on track for the Legends Parade. This year the initiative will be repeated too, and the main theme will be the cars powered by Turbo engines of the ‘80s.

In the weeks before, however, Helmut Marko, the right arm of Mr. Red Bull, alarmed about on the sharp fall in ticket sales – despite the many initiatives put in place – because of the particularly difficult moment that Formula 1 is experiencing. “Besides the lack of the traditional sound of the engines, the cars are too easy to drive”, Marko declared, remarking those Power-Units that are creating many problems to Red Bull. “Everything has started with the introduction of the power-unit, which are not sustainable for this Formula 1 and are so complex that can’t be introduced in the mass-production cars”.

“I understand the difficulty of confirming the success of sales in 2014 because, apparently, Berni Ecclestone has imposed to maintain the same prices of other circuits“, Gian Carlo Minardi comments. “Frankly, I find it really absurd, because as organizer, I should decide how to organize the Grand Prix and estimate the loss amount, especially if I have paid the sum required for the race. Evidently, the imposed price increase of tickets is affecting the presale, considering also the current economic unlucky moment of Europe. Last year, the Austrian Gp was one of the best-organized Grand Prix, thanks to the many initiatives of background, such as the Legends Parade, which is confirmed also for this weekend. I hope that ticket sales will recover as closers we’re getting to the event“, the manager from Faenza, who will be in Spielberg, concludes.

This is a sign that something more has to change in this Formula 1, and also as soon as possible.

F.1 – Road To Austria

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The Formula 1 is ready to make his comeback in Styria, the green heart of Austria, for its second Grand Prix marked Red Bull Ring, after its return in the calendar.

We speak about a medium-fast track, which is not too aggressive for tyres; this is why Pirelli will bring Soft and Supersoft compounds for the third consecutive race. The number of stops will play an important role in the final result. Last year, most of the teams opted for three pit-stops, but for this year the winning move could gamble on the two pit-stops. Another big unknown element will be the weather, which is always very variable and rainy, shifting race’s ground.

With regard to the first row, I do not expect big news, with Mercedes ready to act a new family battle between Hamilton and Rosberg. The situation behind them is more uncertain: Ferrari and Williams get ready to fight. Last year here Williams colored the entire front row with Massa’s pole position – followed by his teammate, Bottas – thanks to a chronometric result that was really close to the record marked by Michael Schumacher, who could be beaten this year.

The Austrian track requires a good engine and it will not be easy to fight against Mercedes’ Power-Unit. I expect that Force India will be ready to battle for the top ten, thanks to Nico Hulkenberg, galvanized by his win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 919 Hybrid Porsche. Compared to 2014, some scenarios have changed: Red Bull and McLaren are far away from the top zones, although the “rumours” speak about signs of growth. At Ferrari, the Finnish driver is called to a good weekend, to ward off the criticism and bring home those points necessary to Maranello to retain the second position in the Constructors’ Championship. Honestly, I do not agree with all these criticisms against him, even if he is certainly losing the comparison with his teammate.

As happened in 2014, even this year there will be the Legends Parade, whose theme is dedicated to the turbo cars of the ’80s. I am glad that on track there is also the Minardi M186-01 with Pierluigi Martini at the wheel, together with Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, respectively in 1984 and 1985’s McLarens, Gerhard Berger on the F1-87/88C, Jean Alesi with Renault RE50-03 of 1984 and Martin Brundle with Lotus 98T of 1986. In short, this is another reason to go and see the Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.1 – Minardi: “F.1 is the highest expression of speed. Technological research to LMP1”

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The world of motorsport entered the weekend that will take us to the race in the world’s most famous endurance scene: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In terms of Formula 1, we have just left behind the Canadian Grand Prix. Therefore, we wanted to meet Gian Carlo Minardi to talk about the problems of Circus, but not and beyond.

Formula 1 is not going through its best moment. Where can we find the causes?

Right now Formula 1 needs to find again its appeal. We have too much complicated races to experience and interpret. Sometimes, the staff and commentators themselves have difficulties. Moreover, we see meetings that lead nowhere. Lately, there has been talk for the umpteenth about car leasing and refueling, without evaluating the economic impact of these operations. Cars built to win a World Championship have strategies construction and operating costs well above the minor open-wheels. I personally studied this fact in 1996. Fortunately, it seems that in Canada Team Principals made a step back on refueling. I see too much confusion and lack of professionalism. The climax was reached just in Montreal, during the penalty imposed on Vettel and Verstappen. From the temporary standings to the official one there were six hours. An eternity. It means that the regulations are so messed up that those who wrote them can not read and translate them easily.

What could be the recipe for a revival?

I have no magic wand, but have long asserted that the Strategy-Group should be made up of people outside the team. Technicians updated on latest technology and who know the F.1 environment, but that are not directly involved by teams. Otherwise, everyone further his own cause, obviously. Formula 1 should be run by the FIA, for the drafting of technical and sporting regulations, and by the FOA, with regard to communication and promotion. A step forward was taken by Jean Todt, who strengthens his group, working alongside Charlie Whiting and Jo Bauer and also the aerodynamic expert Marcin Budkowski. We need simple and lasting rules. In this way, we could also attract new constructors. Today, all companies have a ready-to-use Power-Unit, but with these uncertainties no one is so foolish as to enter.

We have to add the technical difficulty of three teams

We experience a clear supremacy of Mercedes, thanks to its Power-Unit. Among eight cars with the German engine, seven constantly occupy the top ten. In contrast, we have three teams (Red Bull, Toro Rosso and McLaren), not in financial difficulty, suffering technical problems of Renault and Honda. I repeat that the motor racing should have the greatest expression of technological research in the LMP1, with companies committed to transfer technologies from track to streets. The F1 has to be the ultimate expression of speed, technique and performance.

What future do you see for these two realities?

There were several boards of directors in the last few weeks and sincerely I don’t see great solutions or pleasant scenarios. Honda is a historical name and to date there’s no improvement. Even the Japanese could have their sudden impulses and I don’t see a rosy future also for the French.

This weekend there will be the 24 Hours of Le Mans and, after the return of Nissan, 2016 will be the Ford’s turn

The FIA WEC, whose calendar includes the French marathon, must call all the constructors in order to develop the latest technologies, to be transferred later on mass-production cars. I would, in fact, frowned upon the use of PU in this scenario, because the future of standard cars will go toward turbo and hybrid. The endurance races have always represented this type of challenges for the companies, while the approach is different for the F1.

At the start there will be also Nico Hulkenberg. Are you in favor of these exchanges?

In the contracts that I signed with my drivers, I have always added the clause against the 24H, because it hides too many pitfalls, considering the track layout, the reached speed and the many cars which are simultaneously on the track. Therefore, I don’t look favorably on these exchanges. There are many valid drivers and there’s no need to catch them among the 22 drivers of F1.

After the Canadian Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen is at the epicenter of the public debate

As Maurizio Arrivabene informs, Kimi knows exactly what to do to renew with Ferrari. From what I’ve seen in these first few races, in my opinion, he is not a driver for Maranello, which can already count on a four-time World Champion and I’ll pull him alongside a young driver. He is not up to the task, as well as last year.

With regard to young drivers. During the test sessions in Australia, Fuoco will debut at the wheel of Ferrari

I am very happy with this news. The FDA program is very ambitious. I am convinced that next Vettel’s teammate will came right from the Academy. The current situation will take several months to recover the technical gap towards Mercedes. Therefore, it would be interesting to a trust on a young driver to grow, who does not require large investments that can be used for the development of the technical part.

F.1 – Canada GP – DRIVERS’ SCORECARDS

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Lewis Hamilton 9 – Despite an exceptional Sunday and the pole position I cannot give more, because at the start of the weekend I saw him very nervous, committing several mistakes. Perhaps he had also accused the post-Monaco. During the race, instead, he was perfect. When he is on form, he cannot be caught.
Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa – 8 For their incredible comeback, with important time results, although we must not be deceived by an easy optimism. Apart from Hamilton, who managed his car, Raikkonen, Vettel and Massa were the fastest.
Nico Rosberg – 7.5 Who knows, perhaps in his subconscious he wanted to return the gift received in Montecarlo. Certainly, he was not very active in Qualifying, because 3 dec of outdistance are indeed a lot, and almost non-existent in race. When he tried to attack Hamilton, he was rejected.
Valtteri Bottas – 7.5 He optimized the full potential of his Williams, conquering an important podium.
Pastor Maldonado – 7 Despite the rumours, he brought Lotus important points.
Daniil Kvjat – 7 He is struggling in the midst of many difficulties and managed to respond to criticisms of the early season. He is proving to deserve the promotion.
Kimi Raikkonen –  5 He is the first of the insufficient. Good in Qualifying but in the race he was really disastrous. He did not optimize the potential of the Ferrari and the statements of Arrivabene are eloquent. He made a mistake not as world champion and not as a driver who seeks the reaffirmation
Let’s draw a veil over McLaren. Drivers tried to do their best, but they definitely get lost. With regards to teams:
Mercedes – 10 They did not get intimidated by internal mistakes and reacted with a new double
Williams – 8 They were present with a good podium of Bottas and a good recovery of Massa
Ferrari – 7.5 of encouragement. I did not see great benefits from the evolutionary steps of the engine. 45” from the winner are a lot and they show how winding is the road.
Lotus – 7 They were able to react to a negative moment.
Force India – 6.5 They took advantage of the moment, to take home important points.