Giancarlo Minardi's grandfather had a Fiat dealership in Faenza since 1927, while his father, Giovanni Minardi, competed in his own cars in the late 1940s.
Giancarlo Minardi's grandfather had a Fiat dealership in Faenza since 1927, while his father, Giovanni Minardi, competed in his own cars in the late 1940s.
After losing financial backing from his sponsors before the 2005 German Grand Prix, Friesacher was replaced by Dutch Jordan test driver Robert Doornbos, creating the first all-Dutch driver line-up in Formula one since Carel Godin de Beaufort and Ben Pon drove together for the Ecurie Maarsbergen team at the 1962 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. ==Red Bull purchase and legacy== In 2005, Paul Stoddart stated that he would sell Minardi if he could find the right buyer.
He took the reins of the Scuderia del Passatore in the early 1970s.
In 1972 the team finished runner-up with Giancarlo Martini, but he won in the following season.
In 1974 Lamberto Leoni lost the championship due to a controversial black flag.
In 1975 the team was renamed “Scuderia Everest” for sponsorship reasons.
He ran with March chassis and BMW engines in Formula Two from 1975 to 1979. In 1976 the team briefly ran a customer Formula One Ferrari 312T with Giancarlo Martini, uncle of Pierluigi Martini.
He ran with March chassis and BMW engines in Formula Two from 1975 to 1979. In 1976 the team briefly ran a customer Formula One Ferrari 312T with Giancarlo Martini, uncle of Pierluigi Martini.
The promising Elio De Angelis raced for the team in 1977 and 1978 while Clay Regazzoni raced in 1978 and 1979.
The promising Elio De Angelis raced for the team in 1977 and 1978 while Clay Regazzoni raced in 1978 and 1979.
Minardi was an Italian automobile racing team and constructor founded in Faenza in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi.
The promising Elio De Angelis raced for the team in 1977 and 1978 while Clay Regazzoni raced in 1978 and 1979.
He ran with March chassis and BMW engines in Formula Two from 1975 to 1979. In 1976 the team briefly ran a customer Formula One Ferrari 312T with Giancarlo Martini, uncle of Pierluigi Martini.
In 1979 Minardi received financial backing from well known Italian motor racing patron Piero Mancini and set up the Minardi racing team as a Formula Two constructor. ==Racing history== ===Formula Two (1980–1984)=== The team first competed under the Minardi name in the 1980 European Formula Two championship.
In 1979 Minardi received financial backing from well known Italian motor racing patron Piero Mancini and set up the Minardi racing team as a Formula Two constructor. ==Racing history== ===Formula Two (1980–1984)=== The team first competed under the Minardi name in the 1980 European Formula Two championship.
The team was moderately successful in the midfield through the late 1980s and early 1990s, giving a succession of Italian drivers their first chance at the top level, including Alessandro Nannini, Pierluigi Martini and Gianni Morbidelli.
In 1981 Caliri and Marmiroli designed the Minardi M281 driven by Michele Alboreto, Johnny Cecotto, Miguel Ángel Guerra, Roberto Farneti and Enzo Coloni: Alboreto won the Misano race and finished 8th with 13 points, Cecotto gained 3 points and moved to March in summer.
The team's most notable result remains the 1981 win at the Misano round by Michele Alboreto.
The 1983 season saw several drivers racing with the Minardi M283: Alessandro Nannini (11 points), Pierluigi Martini (6 points), Paolo Barilla (0 points), Enzo Coloni (1 race), Emilio De Villota (2 races), Oscar Larrauri (1 race) and Aldo Bertuzzi (1 race).
The last season in Formula 2 was in 1984.
Minardi left the lower division at the end of 1984, although in 1986 a modified version of their final Formula Two car, the 283, was entered without success in two rounds of the Formula 3000 championship which had replaced Formula Two in 1985. ===Minardi Formula One (1985–1993)=== During 1984, Minardi took the decision to enter Formula One the following year.
It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans.
Minardi left the lower division at the end of 1984, although in 1986 a modified version of their final Formula Two car, the 283, was entered without success in two rounds of the Formula 3000 championship which had replaced Formula Two in 1985. ===Minardi Formula One (1985–1993)=== During 1984, Minardi took the decision to enter Formula One the following year.
Martini's best position was 8th in the 1985 Australian Grand Prix, behind Huub Rothengatter in an Osella. Nonetheless, the team expanded to two cars for the season.
Minardi left the lower division at the end of 1984, although in 1986 a modified version of their final Formula Two car, the 283, was entered without success in two rounds of the Formula 3000 championship which had replaced Formula Two in 1985. ===Minardi Formula One (1985–1993)=== During 1984, Minardi took the decision to enter Formula One the following year.
In 1988 Minardi switched to Cosworth engines, and in 1989 it became top entrant for Pirelli's return to Formula One.
Martini also recorded the team's only front row start, qualifying 2nd at the 1990 United States Grand Prix, and he led a lap during the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, the only time a Minardi led a lap.
In 1988 Minardi switched to Cosworth engines, and in 1989 it became top entrant for Pirelli's return to Formula One.
Martini also recorded the team's only front row start, qualifying 2nd at the 1990 United States Grand Prix, and he led a lap during the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, the only time a Minardi led a lap.
The team was moderately successful in the midfield through the late 1980s and early 1990s, giving a succession of Italian drivers their first chance at the top level, including Alessandro Nannini, Pierluigi Martini and Gianni Morbidelli.
The team never achieved a podium finish, only managing three 4th-place finishes: Martini twice in 1991 and Christian Fittipaldi in 1993. In the 21 seasons, Minardi entered 37 drivers.
The team never achieved a podium finish, only managing three 4th-place finishes: Martini twice in 1991 and Christian Fittipaldi in 1993. In the 21 seasons, Minardi entered 37 drivers.
In 1993 Minardi enjoyed a good campaign, collecting seven points thanks to Christian Fittipaldi's fourth place in the 1993 South African Grand Prix and fifth place in the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix and Fabrizio Barbazza sixth places in the 1993 European Grand Prix and 1993 San Marino Grand Prix. ===Minardi, Scuderia Italia and Fondmetal (1994–2000)=== As the number of small teams shrank, Minardi slipped from the mid-field towards the back of the grid.
Money woes hit and in 1994 Minardi merged with BMS Scuderia Italia in an effort to survive.
In 1994 Martini finished 5th at both the 1994 Spanish Grand Prix and 1994 French Grand Prix, while Michele Alboreto scored his last point in Formula 1 with a 6th place in the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix.
Acknowledging that the team was struggling, Bernie Ecclestone spoke to Flavio Briatore, who agreed to buy a share in the team in 1995.
However, Rumi's poor health forced him to withdraw his backing at the end of the season. Points were rare during this time; Pedro Lamy scored his one and only point in Formula 1 with a 6th place in the 1995 Australian Grand Prix; this result was followed by a long barren spell until Marc Gené finished 6th in the 1999 European Grand Prix.
In 1996 Italian businessman Gabriele Rumi, former owner of the Fondmetal team switched his sponsorship support from Tyrrell to Minardi.
In 1997 Minardi teamed up with engine manufacturer Brian Hart.
For the season the team were forced to use 1998-spec Ford Zetec-R V10 engines, which were rebadged as Fondmetal engines in deference to his financial input.
However, Rumi's poor health forced him to withdraw his backing at the end of the season. Points were rare during this time; Pedro Lamy scored his one and only point in Formula 1 with a 6th place in the 1995 Australian Grand Prix; this result was followed by a long barren spell until Marc Gené finished 6th in the 1999 European Grand Prix.
In 2001, to save the team from folding, Minardi sold it to Australian businessman Paul Stoddart, who ran the team for five years before selling it on to Red Bull GmbH in 2005 who renamed it Scuderia Toro Rosso.
From 2001, all of Minardi chassis were called "PS" then a number, the PS being the initials of team owner, Paul Stoddart. During its time in F1, the team scored a total of 38 championship points; 16 of these were earned by the team's first driver, Pierluigi Martini.
That season saw Fernando Alonso make his F1 debut for the team at the age of 19; though he (and the team) failed to score any points that year, his performance was impressive enough that the reborn Renault F1 team signed him for 2002.
He was replaced by Mark Webber, another future race winner, and heavy attrition at his debut race in Melbourne saw him finish in the points in 5th, with teammate Alex Yoong just outside the points in 7th. Another memorable episode happened during the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Before the start of the 2004 season, however, Stoddart threatened to withdraw his support against the ban on traction control, but later changed his mind.
Midway through the 2004 season, the other teams voted to change the unpopular single lap qualifying system back to the old 1 hour format, but Stoddart voted against because it would also mean the 107% rule being reintroduced; this meant the change never occurred, as a unanimous vote was required to change something so significant in the middle of a season.
While Minardi had run Bridgestone tyres, Stoddart had offered to compromise with the Michelin teams but Mosley had rejected it. In 2004 Minardi was represented by two rookies, Italian Gianmaria "Gimmi" Bruni and Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner.
It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans.
In 2001, to save the team from folding, Minardi sold it to Australian businessman Paul Stoddart, who ran the team for five years before selling it on to Red Bull GmbH in 2005 who renamed it Scuderia Toro Rosso.
Thirteen had Italian nationality, the others came with 13 different nationalities (discounting Doornbos racing under a Monaco license in 2005).
Before the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, Stoddart initially threatened to withdraw his cars if they were made to comply with the revised regulations for 2005, claiming Minardi could not afford to do so.
Stoddart also repeatedly called for the resignation of the FIA's President, Max Mosley, particularly in the aftermath of the 2005 United States Grand Prix where the majority of teams withdrew from the race due to safety concerns about their Michelin tyres.
Baumgartner was also the first Hungarian to score a point in a World Championship F1 race. In 2005, Minardi's drivers were Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher.
They amassed a total of seven points following the debacle of the 2005 United States Grand Prix, in which they finished fifth and sixth (of six runners) respectively.
After losing financial backing from his sponsors before the 2005 German Grand Prix, Friesacher was replaced by Dutch Jordan test driver Robert Doornbos, creating the first all-Dutch driver line-up in Formula one since Carel Godin de Beaufort and Ben Pon drove together for the Ecurie Maarsbergen team at the 1962 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. ==Red Bull purchase and legacy== In 2005, Paul Stoddart stated that he would sell Minardi if he could find the right buyer.
The petition was not successful and the team was renamed Scuderia Toro Rosso for the 2006 season.
The team won as Alpha Tauri at Monza in 2020, with Pierre Gasly. ==Racing return for Minardi== Giancarlo Minardi and Paul Stoddart have both made use of the Minardi name in new motorsport ventures. On 1 January 2006, Giancarlo Minardi re-acquired certain rights to use the Minardi name in racing.
The team raced with moderate success, scoring a podium in each leg of the Spa round in June 2006.
For 2008 the team was known simply as Piquet Sports. In 2006, Paul Stoddart declared his intention to enter a new team called 'European Minardi F1 Team Ltd' into Formula One beginning in .
On 18 December 2006, it was confirmed that he had purchased a controlling interest in the CTE Racing-HVM Champ Car team and that the team would be renamed Minardi Team USA.
For 2007, Minardi Team by GP Racing combined forces with GP2 team Piquet Sports, to form Minardi Piquet Sports.
In 2007, the team had reasonable success.
The greatly increased funding from Red Bull, including the use of the Red Bull chassis and Ferrari engines, gradually led to improved results, culminating in Toro Rosso's only pole position and win at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
For 2008 the team was known simply as Piquet Sports. In 2006, Paul Stoddart declared his intention to enter a new team called 'European Minardi F1 Team Ltd' into Formula One beginning in .
The team was further renamed Scuderia AlphaTauri in 2020 to promote the clothing brand of Red Bull.
The team won as Alpha Tauri at Monza in 2020, with Pierre Gasly. ==Racing return for Minardi== Giancarlo Minardi and Paul Stoddart have both made use of the Minardi name in new motorsport ventures. On 1 January 2006, Giancarlo Minardi re-acquired certain rights to use the Minardi name in racing.
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