In Minardi’s 20-year history only one of their cars led a race and started from the front row. Here’s the story of the giant-killing Minardi M189.
Minardi articles archive
Minardi
F1 needs teams like Marussia, says Minardi
2015 F1 season
Posted onFormer F1 team principal Giancarlo Minardi has said the decision to block Manor from competing this year using Marussia’s 2014 car is “absurd”.
The last time we had 26 cars
Posted onThere are many doubts over the FIA’s radical ‘budget capping’ plans for 2010. However, their stated aim of getting 26-car grids into F1 is definitely good news – the only thing I can’t understand is why it’s taken them so long to realise bigger grids is better for the sport. Amazingly, it’s 14 years since … Continue reading The last time we had 26 cars
Forza Minardi! (Simon Vigar, 2008)
Posted onA few years ago I went for dinner at one of those trendy Italian restaurants where the tablecloth is a big sheet of paper and they give you a jar of crayons. Knowing one of the waiters was an F1 fan I scrawled “Forza Minardi” in fat letters on my side of the table. “Who … Continue reading Forza Minardi! (Simon Vigar, 2008)
F1’s new reason for cost cutting
Posted onWhy cut costs in Formula 1? Is it to give the smaller teams a chance? To make sure it isn?óÔé¼Ôäót the team with the biggest wallet that always wins? Or is it to stop the car manufacturers from leaving the sport? F1 is faced with complaints that it is a frivolous, environmentally-unfriendly waste, as the … Continue reading F1’s new reason for cost cutting
F1 07 review: Toro Rosso
Posted onThe Team Formerly Known As Minardi had the most successful season in its 23-year history in 2007, scoring eight points. But the Shanghai high was a one-off in a largely uncompetitive season blighted by unreliability, accidents and strife within the team. For Toro Rosso, 2007 was about getting to grips with a difficult car and … Continue reading F1 07 review: Toro Rosso
Flawless Vettel storms to fourth
Posted onSebastian Vettel was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons at Fuji last weekend after crashing into the back of Mark Webber. But he more than made amends for the blunder with a clinical drive to fourth from 17th on the grid in tricky conditions. It’s the best finish for the team since Toro … Continue reading Flawless Vettel storms to fourth
The feeder formula champions (p4/4)
Posted onMany of F1’s top drivers have entered the sport after winning the Formula 3000 or, more recently, GP2 championship. But no driver has ever won that junior title and then become F1 champion. In this four part series we take a look at the 22 champions including the driver who could be the first to … Continue reading The feeder formula champions (p4/4)
The feeder formula champions (p2/4)
Posted onGP2 is the ultimate category for young drivers looking to get into F1 – and before that was F3000. But no driver that won the F3000 or GP2 championship has then won the F1 title. In this four part series we take a look at the 22 champions – and what became of their F1 … Continue reading The feeder formula champions (p2/4)
Ferrari fight back for one-two at home
2004 Italian Grand Prix flashback
Posted onOver the final races of 2004 we often saw a very different Michael Schumacher. Was his crash at Monza the moment began to serious consider retiring from the sport?
The Old Rumour Mil – September
Posted onEight years ago Rubens Barrichello’s move to Ferrari was confirmed. He happily gave the press quotes about how he would definitely be allowed to race Michael Schumacher, which later proved to be not entirely true…
The Ben Evans Column – The best of the worst
Posted onIn my Formula Vee adventures this year I have raced against some very good and very bad drivers. Thanks to the heats and finals format I often get to see the slower drivers in action, and believe me some of them are awful. There is one gentleman in particular who went a lap down when … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column – The best of the worst
Top ten… Minardi heroes
Posted onWatching Markus Winkelhock lead his first ever Grand Prix having qualified his un-competitive Spyker at the back of the grid had me reminiscing about backmarker heroes Minardi. The Italian team became cult heroes during their two decades in Formula 1. They were often the first to get lapped, but they also made some giant-killing performances … Continue reading Top ten… Minardi heroes
Soapbox: Bring back one-lap qualifying
Posted onEveryone seems to think the qualifying problem has been fixed – but Duncan Stephens of Doctorvee reckons there are still big problems that need fixing. Recently I have begun to wonder if I should bother watching the qualifying sessions. What should be done with qualifying has been one of F1’s most contentious issues over the … Continue reading Soapbox: Bring back one-lap qualifying
The Old Rumour Mill – May
Posted onWhen Norbert Hamy wanted a name for his F1 team, he just turned his first name back to front. Trebron Racing Systems were set to join F1 racing in 1993 – but the obscure Japanese entry, run by a Canadian who claimed to have designed all manner of exciting technologies, simply disappeared. Plus, a contractual … Continue reading The Old Rumour Mill – May
F1 in the blogs 24: ITV & Ofcom
Posted onAre ITV breaking broadcasting regulations by showing advertisements during live Formula 1 races? Jon McKnight thinks so, and he’s trying to do something about it. Also in the round-up of the F1 blogs this week, Superleague Formula, BMW’s Pit Lane Park, the joys of being a Minardi fan, and why NASCAR fans should give F1 … Continue reading F1 in the blogs 24: ITV & Ofcom
How do you solve a problem like Toyota?
Posted onAre you a passionate, devoted fan of Panasonic Toyota Racing? Did you heart beat with anticipation during the unveiling of the TF107 last week? Will you tune in to the Australian Grand Prix in eight weeks’ time, praying for an all red-and-white front row? Probably not. According to last year’s FIA survey Toyota were the … Continue reading How do you solve a problem like Toyota?
100 Greatest F1 Videos – Part III (80-71)
Posted onToday we have numbers 80-71 from out top 100 Formula One videos. Including a near miss at Monaco, terror at the Hockenheimring, and turbo heaven at Montreal. Read on for more. Tags f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport / video / f1 video
Liuzzi stays on the bench
Posted onRed Bull’s purchase of Minardi has ended Vitantonio Liuzzi’s F1 racing for this season, and their peculiar ‘driver swap’ arrangement. Christian Klien will remain in the second RB1 for the last three rounds of the year as they try to hold off BAR for sixth in the constructor’s championship. Liuzzi is expected to get a … Continue reading Liuzzi stays on the bench
The Battle at the Back
Posted onThe cameras follow the fight at the front: there’s nothing wrong with that. But at the other end of the grid Minardi and Jordan are battling each other with equal ferocity, and a fascinating duel is beginning to develop between the two minnows of Formula One. Jordan and Minardi are, in relative terms, the poor … Continue reading The Battle at the Back