On the16th of March the World Championship Formula 1 will start. Most of the
teams have changed their drivers, as Alonso who is now back in Renault
together with Nelson Piquet Jr, Kovalainen in McLaren to pair with
Lewis Hamilton, Fisichella with Force India, while the champions
of the World Ferrari, BMW, Honda and Red Bull don’t change their drivers.
In your opinion what will be the best training of pilots?
Surely little has changed and for this advantage and I see a Ferrari
favourite. Then I believe the lack of changes will benefit the regulation of
Prancing Horse. It will be essential to work well during these months, and
then only at the first grand prix start to see the real potential of each
team.
This year in Formula 1 will have many new and young faces with Nelson
Piquet J. , The former GP2 runner up. Timo Glock, Sebastien Bourdais and
Sebastian Vettel, although he has already taken part in some grand prix in
2007.
They are all very young and promising it will be important to allow them to
work and develop. Unlike many of my colleagues I am confident about
the potential of Nelson Piquet Jr., a pilot who has a great opportunity to
show his talent . He also has the good fortune to have as a stable companion
bi-world champion Fernando Alonso from which he will learn a lot.
Unfortunately this year there will be no young Italian Formula 1 driver,
even if Luca Filippi joined the programme with Honda. Do you thing missing
out on F1 will make it difficult.
It 'a problem that has lasted many years. The young drivers grow in the
various categories , but then fail to make the final leap into F1. Pantano
and Liuzzi were proposed for greatness in Formula 1, but then failed to
stay. Davide Rigon is another striking example. A pilot who has demonstrated
a good talent by winning the various catagories in which he has excelled,
but difficulties with budgets are limiting his career
The fundamental problem, in my opinion, is that
Team Ferrari does not have a young driver program, unlike other
teams, from Honda, Red Bull and Renault.
Moreover, in these days, some of these teams have signed agreements with
minor series putting at stake as a reward for the winners a few days of
testing at the wheel of their single-seater. This policy has allowed us to
bring young drivers in Formula 1 and hold high interest in this sport.
Unfortunately, the team from Maranello paralyzes the growth of young pilots
instead attracting the interest of companies to its
ferrari as sponsors, but missing the opportunity to put the money
towards driver development
However, the Ferrari team is changing direction and, therefore, I hope that
they will give an opportunity to young talent to take part in a few days of
testing.
Unfortunately Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella are almost at the end of
their career
In recent years, we are talking about two major problems in F1: costs are
too high and the lack of performance. With regard to costs, Max Mosley said
that they want to set up the budgets for each team at $ 150 million Is It
a feasible thing and teams will accept a reduction so drastic?
This means a radical change, it needs a lot of control. In contrast to what
happens in America and in various sports like Basketball where several
companies have ceilings for sponsorship, in the Formula 1 manufacturers
invest to win and to get a return from the point of view of image and sales.
The fact that they are entered into F1 is certainly a good thing from a
certain point of view, but also the other an evil because it led to an
increase in costs.
The FIA must seek to protect all the teams so that the same coverage and the
same treatment from the technical and economic. The
Minardi team is no longer in Formula 1 because it has never been protected
by the FIA. We have always had to pay for engines, as well as the
supply of tyres - The only team to do so -.
Furthermore, I still remember that in 2003 we were on the track at Imola for
a test session. On that occasion it was in our single-seater - which was an
evolution of the 2001 and 2002 car - only 21 laps, registering with Justin
Wilson 1.23.4, then comparing with the times marked during qualifying for
the grand prix of the same year, we could start in the first row four. Just
one month later, during the race, with the same single-seater and the same
suppliers of tires we failed to go beyond… 1.26.000?
Frankly all this has always left me a little perplexed. Obviously having
contracts I have not been able to seek clarification.
To reduce costs, I would welcome to call the free practice session on
Friday, giving the team an opportunity to test young talent, without having
to resort to additional days of tests with increased costs for leases the
circuits and travel. Not forget that Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel had
the chance to be seen during the sessions of free practice Friday.
I think the FIA should Re Think and, bring new proposals
Also as regards the costs being too high in recent years we have seen some
new F1 teams , but they were not able to overcome the first year, while even
the Prodrive has declined to make it's entrance.
We have participated for 21 World Championships with very limited
budgets, how can we say what is the secret or what his idea to manage the
Minardi Team?
The philosophy of Minardi Team was to be independent and builders. Small but
good and make simple single-seater. We were in 120 people and despite the
lack of economic availability to be able to build 70-75% of the car .
This means we were true constructors The Minardi team has been a school for
many drivers, engineers and mechanics. Unfortunately, we have always had
little money, but the great strength was precisely in people who worked
inside, coming from Forli - Modena, where there are the best technicians
anywhere in the the world. If ever I were to start
from scratch, I would build the team again on this axis. I personally am
against the sale of the Chassis and the customer cars.
The failure of David Richard and his Prodrive in the F1 circus is strange,
because this is a person who grew up in the world of motorsport, unlike the
teams who have followed like Jordan. For those who are not accustomed to
this environment is very difficult to stay afloat and not sink in high
operating costs.
This year you and Giovanni have decided to bring online portal Minardi.it
Why?
With Minardi.it want to continue to stay close to our friends and fans who
have always followed and supported with great warmth and passion the
adventures of the Minardi team. We shall also try to ensure that new
generations learn about the mark Minardi and everything has been and is
still in the world of motor through a series of initiatives and events that
bring together teams for the whole season. Moreover Minardi.it offers a
series of consultations related to Vehicles ranging from legal advice
regarding commercial sponsorship contracts, technical partnerships, supply
of materials and services marketing, by printing the athletic training for
professional drivers.
Why should the younger generation come visit Minardi.it?
We want to try to attract young people and new generations through a
series of new projects that will continue with various teams, with the
aim of bringing them to live and to have the emotions of every race
weekend. Within Minardi.it you can find a large gallery to relive the
past seasons, know young pilots involved in categories thanks to the
section "MINARDI TV", the ability to interact with applications and many
other enhancements that will be accessible during the season
In conclusion, what will your commitments be for 2008?
The first official engagement was on Monday February 11 at the Varano
circuit for the debut of the new Dallara - FIAT giving new life to the
championship F.3 Italy and, of course, I will be present on the Italian
circuit in conjunction with the appointment of Italian championships .
Also I will be host of the television studios in Faenza Tele1 every
Wednesday evening after the end of the week to comment on the Formula 1
Grand Prize during the broadcast "Speed", while the Thursday evening will be
"Counting down" just giving my opinion!
Ciao
