F.4 – Joao Vieira preparing the second round at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit of Imola

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After the positive debut in the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth, marked by the first points scored at the Adria International Raceway, for Joao Vieira it’s now time for the second round scheduled next weekend at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit.

Waiting for the first green lights of Imola, the 16-year-old Brazilian driver came back at the wheel of Tatuus F4 T014 of Antonelli Motorsport Team at Mugello, signing his debut on the Tuscan track that will host the third weekend of this new series, strongly supported by FIA. For Joao it was an opportunity to get acquainted with the demanding layout of the international track owned by Ferrari, characterized by important slope changes and very fast and blind corners, such ad the “two Angry” (in Italian, “Le due arrabbiate”).

A positive start, that saw Joao firmly occupying the top positions and scoring important time results, with steady improvements at each session. “It has been a very fruitful day and I was positively surprised by the fast adaptation of Joao to the track, considering that he had never seen the circuit before. With the used compounds he was the fastest and only a technical problem denied him the opportunity to sign the best performance with a new set”, the manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

In preparation of the second round, the 16 year-old driver native of Gurupi moved to the headquarters of the Mestrino based Bhai Tech Advanced Vehicle Science Centre for a session in the simulator. “I’ve had the opportunity to study the track and trajectories. In this way I will have the opportunity to work easily once on the circuit”, Joao Vieira comments. “With regard to the Mugello track, I liked it straight away. A very technical track with fast and difficult corners. The work with the team was focused on the weekend of race”, the Minardi Management’s driver continues. The head, however, is already in Imola. “After scoring points in Adria, the goal is the podium. On the simulator I started studying the track and the ‘Acque Minerali’ and ‘Rivazza’ are the two most demanding corners”, the Brazilian concludes.

The curtains on the weekend at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola will be risen on Friday 27th June with three free practice sessions, in preparation for Saturday’s qualifying (28th June, 11.10 am and 12.00 am), which will determine the starting grid of the two rounds of competition (28’ + 1 Lap), beginning on Saturday at 5.30 pm and Sunday at 4.50 pm. In between, starting at 10.50 am, the sprint race (18’ + 1 Lap).

Austrian GP – Preview

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Formula 1 prepares his return to Austria, on a track that has had a “makeover”: I already had the chance to see and taste it a year and a half ago, during a race of the Italian Championship organized by ACI Sport. We are speaking of a well-structured circuit, with a good organization.
The Grand Prix will be surrounded by a series of promotional events. In the main one, the Austrian drivers who have raced in F1 world will return to step into their historical cockpits: therefore we’ll see Niki Lauda at the wheel of Ferrari 312T and Gerard Berger on 88C, Alexander Wurz on Benetton B198 and our Patrick Friesacher on Minardi PS05.
Red Bull is creating a great media event to watch and follow – they are masters in this kind of things. As I said it is a revisited track, certainly less dangerous than in the past, where the chassis and aerodynamics will be able to give a hand to the home team.

After the interlude in Canada marked by first seal of Daniel Ricciardo, Formula 1 is coming back to Europe. Mercedes has showed its only Achilles’ heel – reliability – that could liven up the World Championship. To say what will happen is not easy. There is a high chance of rain, and traction and aerodynamics will be an important component, as well as the tyres, especially on a dry track. Pirelli will bring in fact Supersoft and Soft. I expect a Mercedes ready to play the hare, with a Red Bull – strongly growing – ready to chase her. Ferrari seemed to be able to surprise us with important innovations, which unfortunately in Montreal have not yielded the expected results.
Do not forget about Williams, Force India and Toro Rosso. Depending on the circuit, or on the pairs pilot-circuit or power-unit-circuit, we might have some surprises. Fifteen days ago we saw a Williams in great shape. Without the inconvenience during the pit stop, maybe Massa could have fought for the first place, also keeping away from the contact with Perez. Who has had the ability to grab the Mercedes power-unit will do the killjoy, especially in the case of a KO of Rosberg and Hamilton.
We hope to live a red-hot and non-programmed final.

Canadian GP – Drivers' Scorecard

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After the Canadian Grand Prix, and the closing of this American parenthesis, it’s time to give some votes.

Daniel Ricciardo – 9 He showed what he’s made: should anyone still had any doubts about him, he must have changed his mind. No doubt, he’s the positive revelation of this season.

Nico Rosberg – 9 He brought home a second place despite a car that during the race experienced some reliability problems. Since qualifying and in the early stages of the race he showed to his team-mate that he’s a tough nut.

Jean-Eric Vergne – 7.5 Excellent qualifying and race for the Toro Rosso driver, who keeps the Faenza’s team before Lotus.

Lewis Hamilton – 7 Unfortunately, for the second time he was knocked out by reliability.

Felipe Massa – 7 Unfortunately, shortly after the race I was misled and in the first comments I put all the blame on him. He was actually the author of a great race, messed-up by Perez.

Jenson Button – 7.5 A good fourth place for the English driver, despite a McLaren not at the top.

In what proved to be the most exciting race of the year, I would give all the others a 6, both as an encouragement and for the show that they were able to create anyway.

To raise their paddles for the teams: I’d give it a beautiful 9 to Red Bull for winning their first race in this 2014, interrupting the supremacy of Mercedes and beating everyone to the draw with the contract of Adrian Newey. A good 8 to Williams and Toro Rosso. One point less for Force India. Unfortunately, the promises have not been followed by facts, and so Ferrari gets a narrow 6, only for its reliability.

Canadian GP – PREVIEW

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We’ve arrived at the seventh round of F1 World Championship and we are fast approaching mid-season. This weekend, Formula 1 flies overseas to Canada, Montreal, before coming back again to the Old Continent with six consecutive races, ranging from Austrian GP (returning this year in F1 calendar) to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

It is a mixed track, halfway between street and permanent circuit, extremely difficult due to high consumption and important breaks. Also, we must not forget the weather issue, with the winds from the two Oceans that might influence the course of the race. We arrive at the circuit named after Gilles Villeneuve, with the hope of seeing Ferrari ready to redeem thanks to the numerous novelties of which we have been hearing so much about. The objective of Maranello has to be the third step of the podium and the second place among Constructors, i.e. the first among the “others”. To do so, however, they need major and constant developments, also because we see a Red Bull constantly growing, ready to chase the invincible Mercedes.

Daniel Ricciardo is galvanized by the two consecutive podium finishes, but I would not give for missing a four-time World Champion such as Sebastian Vettel, even though, to date, it has happened all that once happened to Webber. At Red Bull’s the atmosphere is certainly not serene, with Adrian Newey ready for a sabbatical year.

In this beginning of the season we have seen starting grids and arrivals consisting of teams’ pairs, with two Mercedes, two Red Bull and two Ferrari, with Williams, Force India and Toro Rosso ready to bring home positions and important points, also taking advantage of errors by the top teams. Even here in Canada, I expect a very similar plot. Excluding the first six places, there are four positions left to complete the Top Ten. The ones more prepared and capable to hit the race will then be the ones to smile, coming back to Europe with a good outcome.

Force India will try to keep the fourth position, with Massa and Bottas ready to overtake McLaren for fifth place.

Bye "Shark", bye Vincenzo

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Today is a sad day for Minardi Team. After a long illness, Vincenzo Emiliani, named by friends “Lo Squalo” (“The Shark”), long time designer of the Minardi team, left us. Together with Eng. Caliri, he was the first designer of the Faenza team, since the days of Formula 2, remaining in the group until the end of the 90s, before moving on to the court of the Japanese giant Toyota.

Today, to accompany him on his last journey, there were many friends of that historical group that with great passion and professionalism contributed to the passage of Minardi Team from F2 to F1.

Bye bye Vincenzo!

Gian Carlo Minardi: "Formula 1 needs facts"

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Formula 1 is probably experiencing one of its most difficult moments, dealing with the economic crisis, the decline of the audience and the inexorable increase of costs.

Every day we read proposals to try to reduce costs, with important alarms from most of the teams who complain about the difficulty in closing budgets. “I believe Formula 1 is going through a period of great confusion. The economic side is dangerously affecting all choices and decisions looking at the future”, Gian Carlo Minardi says at the website minardi.it. “Excluding three or four teams, all the others are in big troubles. How to solve this situation is not straightforward. The technical decisions taken have certainly worsened the situation”.

The latest proposal to reduce costs would be to remove again the season tests, reducing also the pre-season days. “What is needed is to gather around a table and find practical and intelligent solutions. Not palliative treatments. Formula 1 needs to be redrawn, from sporting to technical rules, bringing the show back and the Circus closer to the fans. I don’t think that the right way to reduce costs is the elimination of road tests”.

The rising of costs and the global crisis, with a corresponding drop in the number of Sponsors, has led to an increase in debts, reaching mind-boggling amounts for some Teams. “Facing certain debts, I don’t think it’s still possible to maintain a starting grid worthy of the highest expression of worldwide motorsport: the continuation of this lack of interest of the public could cause a loss of more revenues, deriving from television rights. Therefore new rules are urgently needed, in my opinion mainly sporting rules able to bring radical changes. Formula 1 has to question openly the problems that undermine the system and find serious solutions, not just small variations such as a reduction of tests, third car for customers, and so on”, the manager from Faenza says.

Monaco GP – Drivers’ Scorecard

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At this time, the ranking of teams is well defined, especially regarding Qualifying, with two Mercedes, two Red Bull, two Ferrari and two Toro Rosso, along with some “interferences” such as McLaren and Force India. This situation is repeated in the race too: last Sunday, it was a little less defined (two Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Force India, Williams, Lotus, McLaren and Marussia), also because of the heavy debacle of Renault engines and for the particularity of the track. With the return to Europe it will be better highlighted again.
The difference will be made – beyond the technical values – also by the available budgets. The situation is quite critical for different teams, with bells ringing for the dead. This factor will definitely have an influence on the starting grid.

That said, let’s go with the votes:

Nico Rosberg – 9 He did very well all weekend, “hiding” in free practice, since he has never completed what I call the “filotto”, that is the best time in all sectors – something that, on the other hand, he achieved in Qualifying. I do not see any cheating from his side. He would even deserve a 10, but I do not approve his behaviour at the restart after the safety-car, even though he had the right to do what he did. A 10 is also deserved by Mercedes: with Nico and Lewis, they did not yield anything.

Jules Bianchi – 8.5 He took home an “encyclopedic” result. Two points (which could have been more without the questionable penalty) that are the life for a small team. I identify with their situation. Two points that mean survival and almost certainly a permanence in the Top 10, therefore television rights.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8 Great race for the Australian. In the end, he tried to attack a Hamilton with some physical problems, giving all out.

Lewis Hamilton – 7.5 He tried to trouble his team-mate, proving its limits of character and of inability to withstand the pressure. A pilot can not and do not have to act like he did both on the podium and in the moments before and after the race, evidently trying to annoy his team-mate.

Felipe Massa – 7 He was the author of an amazing race, penalized by Ericsson in Qualifying. In the first step he made a number of turns like on one, proving to manage well the tyres. A good seventh place for him and for the team.

Nico Hulkenberg – 7 Started from the sixth row, he ended with an outstanding fifth place among the steep streets of the Principality, bringing to the team precious points for retaining the fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 Although he made the mistake at the Loews, he was the author of a great start. Unfortunately the contact with Chilton has compromised his best day since he’s been back in Red.

Fernando Alonso – 7 He accused some technical problems, in particular with a loss of power at start. He fought for fourth place, the actual position of Ferrari.

Daniil Kvyat – 6 of encouragement. Despite the incident in practice – which might happen – he brought the car into the Top Ten, together with Vergne. Both he and his team-mate have been victims of the black day for the Renault power-unit.

All other pilots: insufficient, including Sebastian Vettel, who is suffering the team-mate. Within the team there’s a situation of great irritability, that could lead Adrian Newey to take a gap year (read more here), returning in the Circus in 2016. The talented engineer might not be the only one to change air… A hot half and end of the season is taking shape, especially if the teams will not be able to put the pieces in place in order to bother the supremacy of Mercedes.

Minardi: "Red Bull not releasing itself from Renault? A sabbatical year for Newey"

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With the Grand Prix of Monte Carlo, teams traditionally begin to lay the foundations for the new year, especially on the front of power-units.

The leitmotif of the weekend in Monaco has been the debacle of the Renault power-units, which have laid out the races of Vettel, Kvyat, Vergne and Maldonado. Only Daniel Ricciardo kept up the honour of the transalpine manufacturer, with a third place at finish which also means the second consecutive podium for the Australian driver. Despite a power-unit with a deficit of about 80-90 hp, in the final stages of the race the Australian pilot was able to fight on an even footing with Hamilton’s Mercedes.

As we said, in the motor-homes the negotiations for 2015 have begun, especially at Red Bull’s. “The World Champions are unable to free themselves from the contract for the supply of next season”, Gian Carlo Minardi comments at the website minardi.it. “This could result in important changes, both regarding technicians and pilots. Adrian Newey might take a year off, waiting to return to the Circus in 2016 with other colours. The same could apply to those drivers who are no longer willing to lose”, the manager from Faenza continues.

Several engine manufacturers would be interested in entering F1 (BMW and Toyota in first place), provided that they find a valid technical partner. “The team not satisfied with their situation have explored alternative scenarios, in order to evaluate new supplies. The new engine manufacturers are interested in finding a valid technical partner that enables them to win straight away. Therefore, if the top teams confirm the current partnerships, the entry of these new players may be deferred”, the ex-constructor from Faenza concludes.

Gian Carlo Minardi: "Let's focus on competitiveness, rather than noise"

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After the Spanish Grand Prix was over, Formula 1 has extended its stay in Barcelona for two days of collective tests.

The two days were led – as it regards timing – by Max Chilton on Marussia and Pastor Maldonado on his Lotus. “We must not be mislead by these chronometric surveys as it is virtually impossible to draw conclusions , without knowing the work programs of the teams. It’s likely that someone has worked looking ahead to Montecarlo”, Gian Carlo Minardi comments on the website minardi.it. “We cannot even make a comparison with the results on track during qualifying as the tyre compounds were different”. The two best times in tests have been realized with the supersoft compound.

“Pirelli brought different compounds after a Gran Prix, maybe with the intent of doing some checks both in view of 2015 and to define sets for the upcoming races”, the manager from Faenza continues. “An important fact that catches the attention is represented by the high number of kilometers covered by most of the teams which are focusing both on developments and reliability. A praise to Susie Wolff, who has covered 55 laps: an important technical and physical commitment, staying ahead of riders who have more confidence with the car”. The former constructor puts its attention on those teams that have focused on young pilots. “It’s good to see that some teams have decided to rely on young drivers. Some have done this for economic needs, but not all: an example is McLaren, who bet on Stoffel Vandoorne for tyres tests. My hope is that, in the near future, this may become a fixed and important rule for Formula 1”.

Wednesday was also the debut day of the “megaphone” to improve the sound of the V6 Turbo. “To me it’s absurd that we need to focus on noise, when it’s certainly not the primary problem. It would be better to achieve more competitiveness among the top teams. In Spain we registered a gap of 49’’ between Mercedes and Red Bull, the first among the chasers: an abyss”.

Spanish GP – Drivers' Scorecard

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Fifth success in as many races for Mercedes, with the first official podium for Daniel Ricciardo. Let’s start with the votes.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg – 9 From Friday to Sunday evening, they have been able to dominate the situation in an absolute way.

Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel – 9 While Ricciardo achieves his first official podium, Vettel performs a good comeback (starting from 15th place), finishing at the foot of the podium – despite a car which is not yet at the top, still evolving and trying to exploit the chassis as the best of its strength points.

Valtteri Bottas – 8 He did a great job, placing his Williams between RB and Ferrari, something which the team-mate failed to achieve. Thanks to the German power-unit, the English team is able to compensate for some chassis problems.

Roman Grosjean – 8 He finished behind the Ferrari duo, scoring the first points of the season for his Lotus.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen – 7 They went into an incredible struggle to be able to bring a car into the score-zone.

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez – 6 A vote of encouragement: again, new points for them and Force India in Spain.

The other drivers are at the same level, with Button and Magnussen who pay the price of finding themselves in a season of transition. McLaren is not helped by Mercedes and pays the duty; in the future, it will be a machine of which we will talk about. Magnussen has the opportunity to reinforce his experience in view of 2015.

At this time, the Constructors’ rank reflects the forces in the field, with Mercedes before everyone, with a technical advantage that makes it hard for rivals to catch up. From what we can imagine, they still do not exploit their power-unit at 100%. Behind them we find Red Bull, Ferrari, Force India and Williams. RB is trying to make the most of his chassis, despite some reliability issues, trying to make up to a Renault engine still not at the top. Ferrari is the third force, but they have so much work to do.

As said before, Williams takes advantage from the best engine of the lot, as well as Force India which hits consistently the score-zone.

Spanish GP – PREVIEW

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We are almost at the first quarter of the World Championship, now preparing to get back to Europe, field of the competition until summer (exception done for Montreal).

The teams are preparing to get back on track, three weeks after the race in China. It will be interesting to see what they have been able to achieve in terms of development. Until now, the Circus, stage by stage, has made giant steps regarding the technique. Mercedes’ direct rivals will hardly manage to undermine Hamilton and Rosberg: at the time, the fight is between Ferrari, Red Bull and Force India for the third place.

Undoubtedly, the Spanish Grand Prix will be a weekend full of uncertainty. Behind the W05, we have seen great movement and liveliness. Rumors speak of a Red Bull with several innovations, as well as Ferrari, even though Formula 1 is not very “talkative” this year. There’s more talk about tomorrow, rather than about what happens in the present. We often hear about future regulations – with not really appropriate proposals – trying to distract attention from Research and Development issues.

About this silence and detachment, I’d like to open a parenthesis. Imola has just hosted a sensational show, with over 32,000 fans who literally invaded the “Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit” not to watch a race, but to remember Ayrton Senna – the man and the driver. The good thing is that the audience was mostly composed of young fans, who have not directly experienced Ayrton’s Era. What happened in Imola is the example that fans love to be in contact with their idols: Formula 1 should treasure this experience. The noise – a topic over-discussed in the last weeks – has nothing to do with a decline in interest. Regarding this, Ferrari deserves a 10+ because they showed a very sensitive attitude, approaching the public and getting close to fans. In Imola, I myself have been subject of sympathy, contacts, requests for autographs and photographs as it had never happened during my career in F1.

Going back to Spain, we come from a year in which Ferrari dominated with a first and third place, whereas this year they have to run after and catch up. Let’s see what happens. I myself will be in Barcelona to see this new Formula first-hand, to report the situation at best and to face this new era with you all.

China GP – Drivers' Scorecard

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The fourth GP of the season is over: Formula 1 is now coming to The Old Continent. Once again the Circus surprised us, with almost all cars arrived at finish – excepting Grosjean’s Lotus and Sutil’s Sauber: all teams are achieving extremely high reliability standards. Now they have just less than 3 weeks of intense work: I’m curious to see what will happen in Spain.

As far as now, Formula 1 deserves a good mark – I’d say a Seven – despite the scaremongering about audience decrease. There hadn’t been a F1 race in the Easter weekend for a long time: we cannot forget this aspect. Formula 1 started the season on a rising path, but it’s showing all its qualities very quickly and I’m sure that fights and battles will be back very soon.

Lewis Hamilton – 9 He would certainly deserve a 10, but with the car he’s driving we cannot give the highest mark. He did everything perfect, unlike his teammate.

Fernando Alonso – 9 He was the protagonist of a fantastic race and weekend, despite the F14-T still does not deserve the third step of the podium. From the 44th passage until finish he drove keeping a qualification pace, always pushing and trying to exploit the car at its best, unlike Kimi.

Nico Rosberg – 8 Since qualifications, he did some mistakes – being on the starting grid on the “dirty” side of the track – but then he was able to recover. Perhaps he suffered Hamilton’s pressure.

Daniel Ricciardo – 8 Well deserved for the race. Since the beginning of the season, he’s been showing qualities that I did not imagine: he really deserves to be rewarded.

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 He’s going through a difficult moment, perhaps suffering the troubles of Team Ferrari.

Nico Hulkenberg, Felipe Massa, Daniil Kvyat e Romain Grosjean – 7 In particular for the Lotus driver, for his performance until his car abandoned him.

Sebastian Vettel – 6 An encouraging vote, for the unhappy moment he’s going through.

China GP – PREVIEW

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As we know, the days leading to China GP have been “shaked” by the sudden and quick decision at Ferrari’s, with the resignation of Stefano Domenicali. Sincerely, I didn’t expect he would have done such a thing so quickly and at this point of the season. Stefano is a friend and a person I regard with a special esteem: beside this, in 23 years spent at Maranello he has worked as a good manager, bringing an active contribution to the growth of the team. In order to shake things up in such a critical season, he decided to stand up for it, personally.

He will be replaced as team principal by Marco Mattiacci, who will have to face and solve many problems and issues, also speaking in terms of human resources: he’ll certainly need to reset the situation. He has never been involved in the Formula 1 World Championship, and this may be of help in taking this decision: nonetheless, the context is not easy at all, with the Chinese weekend of race – where last year Fernando Alonso triumphed – quickly approaching. Now we just have to see how the whole team will react to this changing of the guard.

The Circus is coming to Shanghai, on a track of 5,451 Km with a straight of 1,3 Km, which does not entail a particular stress on the braking system, though last year Pirelli tyres struggled with heavy greening. This year the Italian constructor will make available two types of compounds, P ZERO WHITE MEDIUM and P ZERO YELLOW SOFT, which involve a difference of more than 1’’. Therefore, strategies become very important: last year,Fernando scored a success for Ferrari  with a strategy of 3 stops.

Last race in Bahrain was only 15 days ago: I don’t think there will be surprises regarding winners. I expect a great Hamilton-Rosberg fight again, especially if the team keeps leaving them “free”. It becomes interesting to see who will be able to get on the third step of the podium: the competition will be among the teams with a Mercedes engine, Force India and Williams above all. The beauty of Formula 1 is also the fact that a team with limited resources – such as Force India – can compete for a high ranking, with the goal of scoring as much points as possible.

For McLaren this is a transition year, given the change to Honda power-unit in 2015. We certainly have to keep an eye on the Red Bull of Vettel & Ricciardo, which remains the car with the best chassis: they could show their potential precisely in the mixed stretch, loosing something in the long straight. The Achilles’ heel remains the Renault power-unit and those 40 hp Horner is still asking for.

Now, let’s go to China, with the hope to see a Ferrari competing for the second place soon.