Minardi? Why bother?

Alex M3 · Post 28 Dec 2003, 00:05

So whats really goin on with Minardi? I mean, how can they sustain season after season? I think Baumgartner shouldn't come to F1 so early either.. especially to Minardi.

Irvingthien · Post 28 Dec 2003, 04:47

well, minardi got thru every season by the money they get from sponsors, and by using cheaper engine.before 2000, they have telefonica as a major sponsor, in 2001, the spanish telecomunication company quit and paul stoddart came in with the money.in 2002, they signed alex yoong because they can get cash from the Malaysian goverment and from Magnum 4d, the malaysian lottery company.in 2003, they have Jos Vestappen's main sponsor, Trust to back them...they have the Hungarian goverment to back them because of Zsolt Baumgartner.

Monstrobolaxa · Post 28 Dec 2003, 15:12

It's a fight for survival.....

Culpan · Post 28 Dec 2003, 16:22

Shame on you, how dare you question the reasons minardi continue on, all we know is that they do and the sport is better off with them than without

Micky · Post 28 Dec 2003, 17:13

The sport needs Minardi. They are the only team that gives the young guys a chance at the big time. The likes of Webber and Alonso started at Minardi and now they've got their big drives.

walter · Post 29 Dec 2003, 07:23

the sport definetly needs the Minardi team. I would not be as interested in the sport if I didnt think that perhaps some day they will have success. Even if they do not win any races, to see them score points would be something exciting to watch. They are the proof that Motorsports is driven by passion and not money(haha, I know what youre thinking..) I would rather see more private teams emerge in F1 rather than another auto brand driven team.

SpeedTech · Post 30 Dec 2003, 00:51

F1 definatly needs a team like Minardi. If you think about it how many drivers have brought cash to Minardi to keep the team on the grid and eventually get better drives. It's what you can call a foot in the door to some drivers. Like everything in life you take the risk or not.

Now have a look how many drivers Minardi have helped climb up the grid.

F1guru · Post 31 Dec 2003, 07:02

Sorry but Minardi has always started in the back so I don't think they have made any progress of moving up. F1 needs Minardi because it does introduce great drivers like Trulli, Fisichella, Alonso, and Webber that have great teams.

USAF1 · Post 05 Jan 2004, 00:44

F1 not only needs Minardi but I feel the sport needs more teams period. Wouldn't it be better to see 30 cars racing than 20cars.

RAF · Post 05 Jan 2004, 01:58

Minardi need F1 and F1 need Minardi. They introduce a lot of talent into F1. They may be the back of the grid team most of the time but their contribution should be thanked, not pissed on.

Minardi and Jordan are the only trully privatere teams left in F1. We should do the most to keep it that way. Shame on you for dissing them.

F1JagFan · Post 06 Jan 2004, 10:18

Good to see most people are supportive of the likes of Eddie Jordan and Paul Stoddart. As an Aussie, I am very proud of Stoddard and his team - without Stoddard, Webber probably wouldn't have a drive, as well as several others. The day the privateer disappears from F1 will be very sad indeed. Stoddard and Jordan should be celebrated. The way Stoddard stood up to the big teams this year is nothing but inspirational. The guy is a legend. He would be the first to admit that he is not likely to win too many races (if any) and that he is just in it for the love of racing. Eddie too. Should be more of it, and it keeps things in perspective. Its what it is all about - the love of racing, not the corporate advertising strategies.

Ohh, and this for the guy who started this topic -

Guest · Post 11 Jan 2004, 01:44

F1guru wrote:Sorry but Minardi has always started in the back so I don't think they have made any progress of moving up. F1 needs Minardi because it does introduce great drivers like Trulli, Fisichella, Alonso, and Webber that have great teams.

i remember when Hobbs was introducing the grid line up at suzuka this past year, he said something like "and on the last row of the grid, its all minardi, all the time"

joseff · Post 11 Jan 2004, 06:59

And they up the entertainment value of F1!
- USGP 2000, see Hakkinen trying to find a way around Gaston Mazzacane, who was running 3rd in a Minardi
- French GP 2003, Minardis scored 1-2 in Friday qualifying
- Various complaints of "Four Minardis were out to get me!" in Monaco GPs
- Try tracking all the sponsor changes on those Minardis! If I had a paint shop, I'd be richer with a Minardi contract than a Ferrari one

And finally, when did you last see Eddie Jordan or Luca di Montezemolo in a GP car? Patrick Head and Ross Brawn won't even fit into an F1 cockpit. Paul "Just Paul" Stoddart and the Minardians are in it for the love of it

Monstrobolaxa · Post 11 Jan 2004, 17:00

Just one thing about the paintings....on F1 cars....the majority of sponsors logos are decals and no directly painted on the bodywork....it would take alot more time to paint all the logos then "pasting" them on.....and it would be fairly expensive.

Monstrobolaxa · Post 11 Jan 2004, 17:01

forgot...to mention....but the main colours are painted on....