Formula One news
Exclusive interview Gian Carlo Minardi
29 August 2005The former owner of Minardi, Gian carlo Minardi, is still working 24/7 at the team. The Italian is working for the team on many different ways and still looking ahead. F1Racing.net reporter Stijn Keuris talked with him in Monza about the past and the future.
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You are still connected to the team. What is your exact role at the moment?
That is a difficult question to answer. I do everything and nothing. I have to deal with the marketing department and I am part of the board of directors. I have done this job for 30 years, so I am also advising on the sporting point of view and the technical part.
You sold the team in 2000 to Paul Stoddart. Aren't you a bit sad that Minardi isn't yours anymore?
If Paul Stoddart wouldn't have been there, the team wouldn't exist anymore. I have to see the positive side of it. Of course I would have liked to have the team in my own hands, but now I have a different role in the team. It would be really great to find a good sponsor for Paul and keep the possibility to keep him managing the team in a proper way, something which has been difficult in the past years. This encourages me to work hard every day.
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You have been around for a long time. What is F1 like at this time, compared to the old days?
There is a lot of politics. In the old days you could be successful with a good car, engine and tyres. Now there is a lot more needed for success. That is the big difference. It is a different way of working. My origin is in the sport, I began as a constructor in F2. The human relationships are also different nowadays.
Paul Stoddart is planning to sell the team. Are you also involved in that?
I'm not a share holder. This is not within my tasks. Sometimes he asks me for advice and of course I give him my advice. But it is his team. I work every day for Paul to have the best team possible. And everything is for sale. When the team will be sold, it is up to Paul to get the best result for himself. But I'm sure he will only sell the team if the team can benefit from it.
But maybe the name Minardi will disappear…
I've been lucky that the team has been called Minardi for more than 330 races. This name is famous; it covers over 20 years of history in Formula One. The team was 100% mine in the past. All the people who have came to Minardi to buy shares, wanted to keep the name and tradition. If the new people want to change the name, the name will be changed. I hope they will think twice, or ten times, before they do change it.
There is a group of Dutch investors talking to Minardi about taking over the team. How serious are their plans?
Many people who say they are interested, turn out not to be. I never saw anyone who really was. I don't know much about this group. But there are always people interested, it can be Dutch, Japanese or anyone else.
Are you still going to other races besides Formula One, to look for talent?
Yes, but I do it also because I like it. After many years people understand how important it is to follow young drivers. Many teams are doing this now. I always watch lower series to look at young drivers.
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Many drivers who are at the top now, started at Minardi (for example Alonso, Fisichella, Webber and Trulli). How do you think this years drivers, Albers and Doornbos, will do in the future?
It is not up to me to say that. They have to be judged at the end of the season. One has done all the races, the other just joined us. The next races will be important to both. They have to show their qualities. It is difficult to say what other teams think of them. But these are two drivers who can remain and stay in Formula 1.
And what about other talents, in other series?
There are some drivers I have seen. They haven't been contacted yet, but it would be worth doing that.
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How is the contact with your former drivers? It is very good. I don't want to bother them, but they do come up to me to say hello. The relationship is very good.
When does the day arrive that you had enough of motor sports?
The day you won't see me at the track anymore, it will be that day. Or the day I realise I'm not useful anymore. But now I still work for the future. I thank god I could have done this job for so long. I always think the best is yet to come. I want to see a Minardi driver on the podium. And I always hope a former Minardi driver will win the world championship.
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