F1 | Gp Mexico, THE POINT by Gian Carlo Minardi “The best driver won. An incredible mistake by Verstappen in qualifying”

/in , /by

It was the correct order of finishing that rewarded an excellent Lewis Hamilton and a perfect Mercedes that scored its 100th win and confirmed that it is the car to beat. They managed to perfectly exploit all the track conditions led by a great driver.

The result was not so obvious in the long run on Friday. After Saturday’s front row with both red cars Lewis Hamilton won today, even if the party for his sixth world title has been postponed. It was a good performance by Ferrari that was helped by the foolishness and the incredible mistake by Max Verstappen during qualifying.

Despite a pit stop in the first lap and having run the whole race with the hard tyres he also set excellent times up to the finish, finishing in sixth place behind his team mate. The mistake at the start is the result of what happened in qualifying. Today he would surely have been in the struggle for the win together with Hamilton, Vettel, Bottas and Leclerc. The driver from Monaco unfortunately paid the mistake in the pit stop. Those 3.7” seconds were fatal for him in the struggle for the podium. When you do a pit stop more the risks and/or the mistakes grow, just as happened during his second stop.

A great grand prix that was fought with many tactical consequences has been filed away. Four machines within barely 6” after 71 laps represents a nice visiting card for this Formula 1 even if the tyres truly last too long and especially as there is not much difference between one mix and another.

Now we go to Austin where we will be able to see another god fight with Mercedes still the car of reference.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp Mexico, Lewis Hamilton fears Ferrari. MINARDI “All pre-race tactics”

/in , /by

 

We have entered the week that brings us to the Mexico Grand Prix, the fourth last round of the world championship. Despite the declarations by Lewis Hamilton who sees Ferrari as the clear favourite, especially in the two long straights, I believe that both he and Mercedes remain the favourites and that the British driver will peacefully celebrate his sixth world championship.

The struggle for the title of vice champion is to be watched carefully with Bottas (274 points) in front of the two Ferrari drivers with Leclerc on 221 points in front of Vettel (212) who is tied with Verstappen. As has already happened in Japan, Mercedes could favour also favour the Finn driver to help him consolidate his position.

Even if they come from some subdued grands prix, they will have to watch their backs from Red Bull, the winner of the last two editions. The two straights are no help at time for the Honda engine but the chassis will know how to reduce the gap in the driven part.

On the tyre front, the three top teams have opted for different choices with 7 sets of Softs for Mercedes and Ferrari, against the 9 of Verstappen-Albon. Bottas will have at his disposal 4 Medium C3s, while Hamilton, Vettel and Leclerc five sets each with 3 for Red Bull. Two sets of the C2 Hard for the Finn driver against only 1 for his direct rivals.

It will be an interesting grand prix, both for the struggle at the top and also the various tirades that have exploded in recent weeks. The power of the Ferrari engine continues to cause discussion. I sincerely do not understand why these controversies have blown up so strongly in this part of the season. Until now nothing had come out and every clarification is important for the future but also from what we have learnt the project’s idea would not be forbidden. Racing Point’s protest against Renault has also dominated conversation and if confirmed could put into serious doubt the team’s permanence in the world championship.

As we wait to see what the GP in Mexico City will give us, I will be waiting for you on Friday morning at the Auto e moto d’epoca Fiera (Vintage Car and Motorcycle Fair) in Padua at the ACI stand where we will present the programme and the news of the 5th edition of the Historic Minardi Day scheduled from Friday April 24th to Sunday April 26th in Imola that this tear will host the ACI Storico (Historic) Festival.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | MINARDI “Hamilton? The best today”

/in , , /by

At Suzuka Mercedes put its hands on its sixth consecutive constructors’’ title, equalling Ferrari’s record, but in Mexico City Lewis Hamilton could once again wear the champion’s crown and so take another step towards Michael Schumacher’s record.

“The numbers talk for Lewis Hamilton. In Mexico he will be able to celebrate his sixth world title. This year too he left nothing to chance, even if he did make some mistakes, as did the team,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi on Pit Talk’s microphones.

“He certainly has the best car. In Suzuka he also proved his technical worth, as he showed with his times.”

“In the 46th lap he broke all the records with 1.30.9, while in the 49th lap, despite the new tyres, Leclerc did not go under 1.31.611. We’re talking of a difference of 6-7 tenths of a second.

“Today, Hamilton for me is the best of the lot. In the moments that count he always made the difference, just as Mercedes is the car to beat. They have been flying towards 2020 for some time and they know this well in Maranello. This year they equalled Ferrari’s record and the people in Brackley want to break it”

Gian Carlo Minardi highlighted how tight the duel between Mercedes and Ferrari is in this final part of the season. “They have to be absolutely perfect in order to beat them as happened in Spa, Monza and Singapore. In Japan we had a Ferrari with two faces. In qualifying it was perfect, putting together an unexpected 1-2 with perfect laps by Vettel and Leclerc. In the race on the other hand, it was all wiped out with a wrong start by Vettel and a mistake at the first bend of a 53 lap GP by Charles.

“In the race the German held off an unrestrained Hamilton. Could he have done more with a better start? We can’t know, even if it would have been difficult. Ferrari has made significant progress but there are still dark holes,” concluded the manager from Faenza.

13.10.2019- Podium, 2nd place Sebastian Vettel (GER) Scuderia Ferrari SF90

F1 | Gp Japan, MINARDI “Vettel/Leclerc? The stopwatch must be the referee”

/in , /by

GP Giappone F1 1992

The Formula 1 World Championship Circus arrives in Japan for the seventeenth round on the Suzuki circuit, one of the world’s most beautiful tracks. This is an Old School track with many pitfalls and with no paved escape route where every mistake is punished.

This is a demanding track for both the cars and the drivers. We are coming from five years of domination by Mercedes and it will not be easy for the rivals to interrupt this positive streak, even if in the latest rounds Ferrari managed to overturn the predictions, in the hope that the team has resolved the reliability problems that conditioned the result in Russia with Sebastian Vettel’s withdrawal when he was in command.

The unknown factor is the cyclone approaching for Friday and Saturday, while the race should be dry. On the tyre front Pirelli has brought the hardest mixes, with Mercedes more conservative compared to its direct rivals. If the majority of drivers has opted for 1 set of C1s (White Hard), Hamilton and Bottas have chosen 4 mixes of C2 (Yellow Medium) against the 3 of Ferrari and Red Bull with 8 C4s (Red Soft) against the 8 of Vettel-Leclerc and Verstappen-Albon.

In recent days the internal struggle between Vettel and Leclerc has held sway. Binotto will surely know how to manage it for the best, even if it is positive for a team that aims to win. We have come into the final phase of the season with only 5 GPs to be fought that could decide the future team structure. Leclerc is young, 22 and in his first season with a top team and he has a future as a champion in front of him, while Vettel must find once more the serenity to come back and exploit his abilities to the full. I am convinced that the true referee should be the stopwatch and to leave the drivers free to fight, always in the best interest of the team.

Staying on the young drivers’ front, Mercedes and Toto Wolff have made a good move, bringing back into the negotiations Lando Norris who brought the supply of the German power-unit to McLaren. This is a nice move for both, a little less for Renault that at the moment is without client teams should it continue in 2021, even if I have my reservations.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp Russia, MINARDI “Mercedes is the car to beat”

/in , /by

We are on the eve of the Russian Grand Prix, the sixteenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship. We come from consecutive three wins by Ferrari that were enhanced by its first double of the season, achieved on the hostile Singapore track that brought some valuable tranquillity in the Racing Department of Maranello.

We come to a circuit that is not easy and characterized by a fast section that favours the SF90 with a very slow final section that should make Mercedes and Red Bull smile. I prefer using the conditional in light of the result on the Marina Bay Circuit.

Despite the fourth and fifth placings by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas last week, I am still convinced that the car to beat is still the Mercedes. Last year they dominated far and wide, “playing” with the rivals, but this year nothing is written yet.

The climatic conditions can make the difference since the teams will find temperatures lower than Singapore. On the tyre front, Mercedes and Ferrari have opted for different strategies with 8 sets of the Softs the world champions against the 9 for Ferrari and Verstappen. Two sets of Hards for Bottas against one for Hamilton, Vettel, Leclerc and Verstappen, with 4 Mediums for Hamilton against the three of his main rivals.

We are the end of September and there are thirty days to go to the day to end the work of defining the 2021 regulations, there is no uniformity of view from the teams. This is not minor obstacle considering that a unanimous vote is needed. I am still convinced that the definition of Constructor is to be defended to prevent the creation of clones which would lead to the creation of a huge gap between teams. It would be a major financial damage for the image of Formula 1. I have always fought for this, with Frank Williams as an ally.

One final consideration before saying goodbye. In recent days there has been much talk about the drivers’ market and Haas’ move amazed us. They talk about continuity, but sincerely this is incomprehensible in consideration of the current performance of the two drivers. I am convinced they gave everything they could. It would have been opportune to confirm one and to bring fresh air into the team. With the current situation Hulkenberg risks being left out. His name has been linked with Alfa Romeo but I am convinced that Antonio Giovinazzi deserves to be confirmed. He certainly has made some mistakes but the team too has not been exempt from Kamikaze decisions with highly questionable strategies.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Contact us

/by

Gian Carlo Minardi

To contact Gian Carlo Minardi and the Minardi Team write to
gcminardi@minardi.it

Minardi Management

To contact Giovanni Minardi and the Minardi Management write to
giovanni@minardi.it

GEAR

To contact GEAR write to info@gearsrl.it

Media e Ufficio Stampa

To contact Editors of minardi.it write to
media@minardi.it

Utilizza questo modulo per richiedere informazioni riguardanti il sito o informazioni di carattere generale (piloti, scuderie, foto, video e servizi). Tutti i campi del modulo sono obbligatori

Nota informativa sul trattamento dei dati personali
La compilazione del modulo autorizza formalmente il trattamento dei dati personali nel rispetto del decreto legislativo n.196/2003.


Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Training

/by

Thanks to its 21 years long experience in Formula 1 and its partnership with the best professionals in the field, Minardi Management can plan and manage the relationship between the driver and the facilities offering a professional consultation applied to psychophysical activity.
Training programs, driving simulators, and custom nutrition programs will be developed professionally, after the most meticulous physical assessment test.

Link – Fans Club

/by

Minardi Club Pavullo

Giacomo Tansini:
robertot@tiscalinet.it

Les Minardistes

(En Français)
www.lesminardistes.tk

Minardi Club Lauria

Giovanni Cosentino:
giovanni.cosentino@tiscali.it

Minardi Club San Francisco

(USA)
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=minardi%20club%20san%20francisco

Emmett Quigley
equigley@mac.com

Forza Minardi

(In English)
www.forzaminardi.com

Cars and drivers of Minardi’s History

/by

2006


Model: Lola B02/50
Drivers: Rodriguez – Caceres – Tuka Rocha – Rigon – Ippoliti – Nunes
Engine: Zytek V8
Tech. Director: Breda
Tyres: Michelin

2005


Model: PS05
Drivers: Albers – Doornbos – Friesacher – Toccacelo
Engine: Cosworth TJ2005 Series 10
Tech. Director: Tredozi
Tyres: Bridgestone

2004


Model: PS04B
Drivers: Bruni – Baumgartner
Engine: Cosworth Racing CR-3L
Tech. Director: Tredozi
Tyres: Bridgestone

2003


Model: PS03
Drivers: Verstappen – Wilson – Kiesa
Engine: Cosworth Racing CR-3
Tech. Director: Tredozi
Tyres: Bridgestone

2002


Model: PS02
Drivers: Webber – Yoong
Engine: Asiatech AT02
Tech. Director: Tredozi
Tyres: Michelin

2001


Model: PS01
Drivers: Alonso – Marques – Yoong
Engine: European V10
Tech. Director: Tredozi
Tyres: Michelin

2000


Model: M02
Drivers: Gené – Mazzacane
Engine: V10 Fondmetal
Tech. Director: Brunner
Tyres: Bridgestone

1999


Model: M01
Drivers: Badoer – Gené – Sarrazin
Engine: V10 Ford Zetec
Tech. Director: Brunner
Tyres: Bridgestone

1998


Model: M198
Drivers: Nakano – Tuero
Engine: V10 Ford Cosworth
Tech. Director: Tredozi
Tyres: Bridgestone

1997


Model: M197
Drivers: Katayama – Trulli – Marques
Engine: V8 Hart
Tech. Director: Tredozi – Gennari
Tyres: Bridgestone

1996


Model: M195/B
Drivers: Lavaggi – Fisichella – Lamy – Marques
Engine: V8 Cosworth
Tech. Director: Tredozi – Gennari
Tyres: Goodyear

1995


Model: M195
Drives: Martini – Badoer – Lamy
Engine: V8 Cosworth
Tech. Director: Costa
Tyres: Goodyear

1994


Model: M194
Drivers: Martini – Alboreto
Engine: V8 Cosworth
Tech. Director: Costa
Tyres: Goodyear

1993


Model: M193
Drivers: Fittipaldi – Barbazza – Martini – Gounon
Engine: V8 Cosworth
Tech. Director: Costa
Tyres: Goodyear

1992


Model: M192/L + M192
Drivers: Morbidelli – Fittipaldi – Zanardi
Engine: V12 Lamborghini
Tech. Director: Costa
Tyres: Goodyear

1991


Model: M191
Drivers: Martini – Morbidelli – Moreno
Engine: V12 Ferrari
Tech. Director: Costa
Tyres: Goodyear

1990


Model: M190
Drivers: Martini – Barilla – Morbidelli
Engine: V8 Cosworth Mader
Tech. Director: Costa
Tyres: Pirelli

1989


Model: M189
Drivers: Sala – Barilla – Martini
Engine: V8 Cosworth Mader
Tech. Director: Costa
Tyres: Pirelli

1988


Model: M188
Drivers: Sala – Campos – Martini
Engine: V8 Cosworth Mader 
Tech. Director: Caliri
Tyres: Goodyear

1987


Model: M186
Drivers: Nannini – Campos
Engine: V6 M. Moderni
Tech. Director: Caliri
Tyres: Goodyear

1986


Model: M185/B + M186
Drivers: De Cesaris – Nannini 
Engines: V6 M. Moderni
Tech. Director: Caliri
Tyres: Pirelli

1985


Model: M185
Drivers: Martini
Engine: V8 Cosworth – V6 M. Moderni
Tech. Director: Caliri
Tyres: Pirelli

About – Gian Carlo Minardi

/by

Gian Carlo Minardi

Born: 18 September 1947
Birth place: Faenza (Ravenna), Italy
Nationality: Italian
Civil State: Married with Mara, a Son Giovanni
Place of Residence: Faenza (Ravenna)
Hobbies:Football, Historical Car
Email: gcminardi@minardi.it

Gian Carlo has grown among cars: his family ran a business as Fiat dealer from 1927 to 1999. No doubt, the passion for racing was passed on to him by his father Giovanni, who built the GM75 in 1948. It was a small two-seater car, powered by a 6-cylinder and 750 hp engine, whose design was carried out together with Sir Oberdan Golfieri, the Engineer. After a short period spent as an uphill racer, a rally driver behind the wheel of a Fiat 124 and historical cars meetings attendee, the young Minardi decided to hang up his helmet to deal with a new-born racing squad named “Scuderia del Passatore”, a team from Romagna engaged in lower Formulas Championships. From 1972 to 1974 the team got good results in Formula Italia: the driver Giancarlo Martini finished 2nd in the 1972 Championship and was 1973 Championship winner.

The team was renamed “Scuderia Everest” and took part in the 1975 and 1976 Formula 2 European Championships with a BMW March. These are the racing seasons in which racers such as Martini and Leoni made their debut alongside the team. In 1975 he simultaneously started to collaborate with the Ferrari. The deep admiration and respect cherished by the Commendatore Enzo Ferrari for Gian Carlo Minardi resulted in putting a F.1 Ferrari 312/B3 available for the Scuderia Everest, to wean Italian motorsport young drivers.

In 1977 the Ferrari made the Dino V6 engines available for the team from Faenza. The F.2 Ralts first and the Chevrons then, were all equipped with those engines. Drivers: Brancatelli, Leoni, Guerra and De Angelis.

Minardi himself became a constructor in 1979, when he founded the Minardi Team. The Team ran 4 brilliant F.2 racing seasons, characterized by good results and a win scored by the driver Michele Alboreto in the 1981 European Championship in Misano.

In 1985 the Minardi Team made his debut in Formula 1. In 1991 the Ferrari announced it would have equipped the Minardi with its V12 engines. It was the first time a private team was allowed to be equipped with Ferrari engines and we don’t have to be surprised about Mr Ferrari decision, since he deeply admired Minardi.

In 1994 Minardi reached an agreement with the “Scuderia Italia”, in order to ensure the survival of his team. Two years later the team’s majority stake was bought by Gabriele Rumi and Flavio Briatore . Gian Carlo Minardi worked closely to Gabriele Rumi as the Team Managing Director until the end of the 2000 racing season.

In January 2001, the Minardi Team’s majority stake was bought by Paul Stoddart.

In 2005, after running 340 GP and being a F.1 Team for 21 years, the Team itself was assigned to the Red Bull. This is the year that marks the end of Gian Carlo Minardi’s adventure in the world of Formula 1.

He is currently an ACI-CSAI (Italian motorsport commission) advisor and a sport analyst for several newspapers and TV programs.

AYRTON DAY –The Imola circuit celebrates the brazilian champion

/in /by

On Wednesday May 1st the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit will be the stage for the Ayrton Day in memory of Senna, twenty five years after the demise of the Brazilian champion.

The day will give fans the chance to experience the commemoration in various ways thanks to an intense programme that will start at 8.00am and finish at 6.00pm with displays on the track by F1 racing cars and historic cars (starting at 11.30am), exhibitions, cars made from LEGO blocks (McLaren MP4) and guided tours of the Circuit’s facilities, as well as experiencing the thrill of virtual speed with the simulators.

Seven Formula 1 cars with which Ayrton Senna built his career will be present. We start with the 1983 Williams FW09, the racing car in which the Brazilian carried out his first F1 test up to the 1994 Williams FW16, passing through the LOTUS 97T/4 JPS and Lotus 99T/6 Camel, the McLaren MP4/5B and McLaren MP/7 and the Williams FW14 to which we also add the Honda NSX road car. In the pits there will be the Minardi M192, M194 and PS01, the Ferrari F93A, the Toro Rosso STR 03 and the Van Diemen RF83, the chassis of Roland Ratzenberger who will also be remembered on the occasion.

The Santerno Circuit will also host a photographic exhibition “Simply the best” by Angelo Orsi and Mirco Lazzari, the “Senna” portraits exhibition, the “L’uomo, il pilota, il mito” (The man, the driver, the myth) conference (10am in the Conference Room) with the members of the F1 GRAN PRIX DRIVERS CLUB (Emanuele Pirro, Howden Ganley, Patrick Tambay, Hans Herrmann, Derek Daly, David Piper, Teddy Pilette, Jo Vonlanthen, Mike Wilds, Jo Ramirez and Mario Theissen) with the relative autograph session and the presentation of the book “Senna Inedito” (The Unpublished Senna, 4.00pm in the Conference Room) by Pino Allievi, Roberto Boccafogli, Carlo Cavicchi, Giorgio Piola and Carlo Sanchez.

Open letter from Gian Carlo Minardi "Imola is synonymous with the Romagna around the world"

/in /by

As a man of sport I would have preferred not entering in person into the question tied to the Imola circuit but in recent weeks I received many requests for information from passionate enthusiasts worried about the future of the Historic Minardi Day. For this reason I want to calm all the fans by confirming that on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit will host the fourth edition and to state my thoughts on what is happening.

Around the world Imola is synonymous with the Romagna region and speaking in a sporting way I consider it my second home as it was the stage of 21 Grands Prix for the Minardi Team.

The Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit is an international heritage.

The core lies in defining once and for all the meaning of the Circuit for the city of Imola. A Circuit is obviously a place where auto and motorbike races are held, both at national and international, and in the specific case of Imola we are talking of a facility with a historic image that is exceptional in the world, a point of reference for all of Motorsport, beginning with the Italian Federation.

All the circuits have high management costs, tied above all the renovation work for its safety. In order to protect the budgets, it is necessary that the facility functions for the greater part of the year, also through days of open testing that are open to all the fans. This would be easily to facilitate in the Imola Circuit because its image would attract this very type of clientele. Without forgetting that hosting national and international events brings income above all to the cause but also to the benefit of the Imola Local Council’s overall economic performance and also to the neighbouring Local Councils.

The circuit is certainly also a source of discomfort because of the sound for those who live nearby but goodwill is needed to overcome these problems. Today there are technologies and interventions that can alleviate a good part of the problem.

Despite Formula Imola having managed to relaunch activity strongly in recent years, if we do not decide to follow the road to saving the Circuit we seriously risk losing the Enzo and Dino Ferrari.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Imola to spend a weekend together under the banner of Motorsport with the fourth edition of the Historic Minardi Day.

Gian Carlo Minardi

The Bandini Trophy and the Minardi Day together on the weekend of May 5th and 6th.

/in /by

The Bandini Trophy and the Minardi Day come together for a weekend of international Motorsport which will see the two prestigious events on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May unite in a spectacular fashion, thanks to the collaboration of the heads of the two organizations: Francesco Asirelli – President of the Bandini Committee, now in the 25th edition of the annual awards in memory of the famous and much missed Ferrari driver who tragically lost his life in 1967 and Giancarlo Minardi who, together with Formula Imola, is preparing the 3rd year of Minardi Day.

The winner of the 2018 Bandini Trophy is the Finnish driver, Valtteri Bottas of the World Champion F1 Team “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport who will collect his award on Saturday 5th May in Brisighella. Alongside Valtteri Bottas the Committee, which is made up of some of the most illustrious figures of the world of Motor Sport and Journalism, has assigned a special exclusive award to the President of ACI and Vice-President of the FIA, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, whose prestigious presence perfectly combines Italian Motor Sport with the International image of the weekend’s events with great emphasis on Motor Valley.

As well as the winners Aldo Costa – F1 World Champion designer and Riccardo Mosconi – Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, will complete the formidable presence of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, which, for the delight of fans. will bring two F1 cars; the 2013 W04 and the 2016 W07.

On Saturday afternoon the W07, the world champion car of 2016, will be driven by Valtteri Bottas from the main square in Faenza to Brisighella, where he will receive the prestigious Award, one of the most coveted on the circuit.
Mercedes, the protagonist of the 2015 edition, with Team Principal Toto Wolff , the much celebrated and honoured winner in 2015, will be in the spotlight for the entire weekend first in the charming Medieval Romagnolo village of Brisighella and then at the Minardi Day at Imola with the 2013 W04 that will be driven by its designer Aldo Costa (formerly of the Mindardi Team). Valtteri Bottas will also stop at the pits to sign autorgraphs prior to going to Faenza.

It promises to be a breathtaking and intense weekend which will bring together the distinguished 25th edition of the Bandini Awards, and the 3rd annual Minardi Day – major events for true Motorsport fans.

The Bandini Trophy awards ceremony will come alive at 3,00pm on Saturday 5th May with an impressive parade of cars and breathtaking exhibits before the arrival of the F1 W07 car in Brisighella and will conclude at 6.00pm with the Closing Ceremony in the spectacular Amphitheatre of the spectacular medieval hamlet.