Discussion
Anyone know the point of the Minardi F1 team? Constantly underfunded, constantly at the back of the grid, and worst of all: drivers chosen not on merit, but on how much money they have. Critics bemoan Ferrari for being 'unsporting', what is Minardi then? Not a cynical post, but a genuine question.
FesterNath said:They may be underfunded, but I think they've got as much right to be in F1 as anyone else on the grid, and they are far from being a disgrace. I seem to remember hearing at the last GP in Brazil that the fastest lap of the Minardi this year was actually quicker than the pole lap last year.
Anyone know the point of the Minardi F1 team? Constantly underfunded, constantly at the back of the grid, and worst of all: drivers chosen not on merit, but on how much money they have. Critics bemoan Ferrari for being 'unsporting', what is Minardi then? Not a cynical post, but a genuine question.
I admit some of the drivers are never going to trouble the front runners, but how about Justin Wilson, Fernando Alonso and Marc Gene? 3 very good drivers who have driven for Minardi in the last few years. Also, Minardi are by no means the only team taking drivers on based on the amount of sponsorship they can bring. Even Lauda was a pay driver when he first started!
And if Ferrari are seen as unsporting, I would say that Minardi are quite possibly the *most* sporting team on the grid from what I've heard about them.
I agree whole-heartedly with ehasler on this.
Minardi are constantly striving to improve, and from what I've seen probably work harder than most other teams… their spirit and determination is astounding. They really do prove that it's the taking part that counts.. And they've helped quite a few drivers progress up the ladder. Yes, drivers may pay… but look closely at some other teams further up the grid, and some of them pay as well…
Given their limited budget I think they do an astounding job… in fact I reckon it's make F1 interesting again if everyone had the same budget as Minardi...
Minardi are constantly striving to improve, and from what I've seen probably work harder than most other teams… their spirit and determination is astounding. They really do prove that it's the taking part that counts.. And they've helped quite a few drivers progress up the ladder. Yes, drivers may pay… but look closely at some other teams further up the grid, and some of them pay as well…
Given their limited budget I think they do an astounding job… in fact I reckon it's make F1 interesting again if everyone had the same budget as Minardi...
IMHO minardi are what racing is all about...
Ferrari are just about throwing loads and loads and loads of money at the sport. same as all the other maufacturer teams...
I think that the manuf's getting deeper and deeper in to the ownership of the teams is a danger.
at some point they will loose interest ( i.e. ford with jaguar)
the best thing for the sport is private teams with manufacturers supplying the engines.
Ferrari are just about throwing loads and loads and loads of money at the sport. same as all the other maufacturer teams...
I think that the manuf's getting deeper and deeper in to the ownership of the teams is a danger.
at some point they will loose interest ( i.e. ford with jaguar)
the best thing for the sport is private teams with manufacturers supplying the engines.
Minardi are a good grooming source for drivers to get F1 experience. As mentioned above with the other drivers, also Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber started at Minardi too.
Oh and they can get their engines to play "When the saints go marching in" and they brew the best coffee in the pitlane.
Forza Minardi.
Oh and they can get their engines to play "When the saints go marching in" and they brew the best coffee in the pitlane.
Forza Minardi.
They are a good benchmark for what can be achieved on a limited budget. On a single qualifying lap, the difference between the back of the grid is not that great in terms of seconds apart, although I accept that adds up over the course of a race distance. However, those at the front are spending ten times as much to be only, what,1 to 2% faster.
Graham said:
IMHO minardi are what racing is all about...
They do it purely because they love the sport. As has been said, what they do on the budget they have is nothing short of heroic. An interesting fact from the last race of this season. Zsolt Baumgartner's time for 20th and last on the grid would have put him on pole for the 2003 Brazilian GP by a couple of tenths. I find that pretty amazing. Long may they continue to be in F1Graham said:
IMHO minardi are what racing is all about...
They do it purely because they love the sport. As has been said, what they do on the budget they have is nothing short of heroic. An interesting fact from the last race of this season. Zsolt Baumgartner's time for 20th and last on the grid would have put him on pole for the 2003 Brazilian GP by a couple of tenths. I find that pretty amazing. Long may they continue to be in F1Graham said:
IMHO minardi are what racing is all about...
They do it purely because they love the sport. As has been said, what they do on the budget they have is nothing short of heroic. An interesting fact from the last race of this season. Zsolt Baumgartner's time for 20th and last on the grid would have put him on pole for the 2003 Brazilian GP by a couple of tenths. I find that pretty amazing. Long may they continue to be in F1Minardi are probably the best vaule per $ spent of any of the F1 teams by quite a large margin.
F1 would be an ever more dull pace without them.
What they need is an engine deal that will last a few years with a company who will be a partner rather than a supplier, maybe a BMW junior team or something. Then a little bit more sponsorship and bingo they will be right up there with err Jordan
D
F1 would be an ever more dull pace without them.
What they need is an engine deal that will last a few years with a company who will be a partner rather than a supplier, maybe a BMW junior team or something. Then a little bit more sponsorship and bingo they will be right up there with err Jordan
D
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