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Minardi: "Haas driver announcement a missed opportunity for Ferrari"

Published on 26 Jul 2017 09:22
9
By: Fergal Walsh

Former Formula 1 chief Giancarlo Minardi believes that Haas' announcement to keep its current set of drivers into 2018 is a major blow to Ferrari. Waiting in the wings are two Ferrari juniors, Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc, both hoping for a full-time drive in 2018.

Haas has been referred to as a Ferrari 'B' team, with the American outfit using some Ferrari parts on its car and originally used the Italian team's wind tunnel back in 2015 when it was preparing for an entry onto the grid the following year.

Minardi thinks Ferrari is failing to use any sort of influence when it comes to drivers, as Haas announced recently that Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen would continue racing for the team in 2018. Giovinazzi, who has already made 2 Grand Prix starts with Sauber, was rumoured to take up a full-time drive with Haas next year.

The Italian is Ferrari's official reserve driver and is seen as a star of the future. Leclerc is viewed in a similar way, with the 19-year-old dominating the Formula 2 championship this year. Minardi thinks that Ferrari is not being firm enough with Haas.

"If that were the case, it would be a missed opportunity for Ferrari," he said upon Haas' driver announcement. "I remain optimistic and I want to think it is only a move to maintain the serenity within a team that is doing very well, with the goal of winning as many points in the second half of the season."

"It would be a defeat for the entire Ferrari system for young drivers," he added when asked what if Giovinazzi didn't race in 2018. "It would then be obvious that Ferrari drivers do not enjoy any protection. Ferrari would no longer have any decision-making power over its customers, but for now I refuse to think of such a scenario."

Fergal Walsh

F1 News Romain Grosjean Kevin Magnussen Antonio Giovinazzi Charles Leclerc Sauber Ferrari Minardi

Replies (9)

krommenaas

Posts: 155
"Ferrari would no longer have any decision-making power over its customers" -- That is good news for every fan of racing then.
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- Jul 26 2017 - 10:50
- f1fan0101
  
  Posts: 1,804
  I'm not so sure.. Would love to see Leclerc or Giovinazzi in
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  Jul 26 2017 - 10:56
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  It's gonna happen anyway, if not in 2018, then at least in 2019, especially with Leclerc. Both drivers are young, so it'll be alright.
  If Ferrari are serious, they work out a deal with Sauber, or they promote one of them to Kimi's seat.
  This could also merely be HAAS leveraging their position, so if Ferrari wants to work something out, it's not gonna be cheap. Either way, good for HAAS for taking a stand.
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  Jul 26 2017 - 12:30
Barron

Posts: 625
Two things. "Using some Ferrari parts" is a bland statement covering the fact that almost everything including the chassis is Ferrari. There is no way even experienced builders like Dallara could come up with a fast design straight out of the box. To me, Haas is not a Constructor within the spirit of the F1 rules and if they started winning with this combo, then you'd start to see the objections rise. Secondly, I think this is Haas playing hardball with Ferrari. They clearly didn't come up with a suitable 'incentive' to use their (Ferrari's) junior drivers.
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- Jul 26 2017 - 11:14
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  They are more a sort of semi-full costumer team. But to be fair on them, they do have input on the chassis, and have to run data gathering themselves, and regulations limit what they can get from Ferrari's chassis quite significantly. Dallara get a few parts from Ferrari and have to base their design on said parts. And neither Sauber or Force India produce their own gearboxes (Xtrac supplied FI earlier, no idea who it is now), so one could argue whether they are full constructor teams aswell.
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  Jul 26 2017 - 18:23
RenaultFM1

Posts: 100
Why dont you get it Mr. Minardi and who else thinking same. Haas is owned be Gene Haas. Do you really think he would have another company to tell him how to run his team?. For sure they made some deals about test driving but no way more than that.
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- Jul 26 2017 - 15:40
Jutlandia

Posts: 191
Mr. Minardi apparently thinks that Ferrari is able to make decisions on behalf of Haas.
Thank Good they're not in that position.
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- Jul 26 2017 - 21:09
F1racefan97

Posts: 113
As much as Haas is its own team, Ferraris youth drivers are too good not to have a place on the grid and Haas are the best place for them
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- Jul 26 2017 - 21:51
- RenaultFM1
  
  Posts: 100
  That I think is not Haas's problem so I guess Ferrari should make their own B-team or put them in the Sauber. They could also replace Kimmi, why should they not give the youngster a place themself. You all blame Haas but infact you should blame Ferrari instead. There is only 20 seats.
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  Jul 27 2017 - 03:05