Minardi laments lack of countrymen.

Yes, what a shame Minardi is no longer present in the top flight. During, say, 1994 this characterful Italian team was still in the hunt for points from time to time - ironically with two old, but very italian drivers - Pierluigi Martini and the late Michele Alboreto. After that their fortunes faded, but they were always the ones to give talented youngsters a chance, and many famous names have them to thank for it. I miss them - because they, like Williams, represented what F1 used to be about: independent teams. And even though they were perrenial backmarkers, they had so much more character than Super Aguri, Force India and Toro Rosso. Since then F1 has become bigger, but better?

I could not agree more with you Syklone

Ask FA!

Skylone and chu chu well said there.
If only Toto Rosso Had kept the Minardi name, or added it to there current name.
Just to keep Giancarlo minardi memory from his own team in F1.
Yet saying that Paul Stoddart has kept his name (Minardi) going in the states and is doing very well (thank god!)

I agree with Minardi: it's a shame Ferrari doesn't have a development and support programme for young drivers like other teams. In my opinion to lead such a programme would be a perfect job for MS! He even does it with his friends with his kart team - how great it would be if Ferrari joined and they could raise up kids until they reach F1!

As one who remembers the heyday of Farina, Taruffi, Villoresi, Ascari, Musso and Castelotti as well as Baghetti I understand Minardi's frustration. don't forget that there were more Italian racing teams; Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia, Osella and Minardi that competed at that time.

It happens in cycles... There was DeAngeles, Alesi, Patrese and
Regazonni.

Some of the new boys seem to think that because they are Italian, they have the right to be there...

GB

i read an interview with FA a year ago. guy was saying the the best driver he s ever faced was pantano. enuff said

Was that because he let Fernando past without a fuss!?

Unfortunately this is a sport where you don't only need immense skill and a bit of luck, but a whole lot of wonga in your wallet too.

At the end of the day there are only around 40-50 people a year get to drive one of these cars, some drivers will always miss out.

We've seen from the Red Bull programme that you can be ditched at the crucial moment, so I don't see how yet another driver programme can improve the situation. All I can see it doing is making the karting dads push thier sons harder.

Kubica raced in italy, so there must be some kind of infastructure there already. I don't see any Finnish teams on the grid either!

The Red Bull driver development programme is designed to sell Red Bull! I watched the American version of the programme with much interest as I was working with a young man who was turned down for being too old. Yet he was either the same age or younger than the poor hapless souls who were chosen. If the RB programme was supposed to develop drivers a major portion of the programme should have been directed at promoting them in their own country...Didn't happen here in America, mate.

Then again America doesn't have weekly motorsports news magazines in which to sell the stories of the drivers. American drivers like Charlie Kimball go to Europe and race F Ford, F3, Euro F3 and WSbR! Who cares!

Yes Andy, that was a smart comment mate. he let him past, same as Schumacher, Raikkonen and everybody else in 05 and 06

The way I remember it, Kimi broke down a hell of a lot and Schumi was driving a car with god awful tyres in 05 and became a lot more competitive towards the end of 06 (when Fernando scored 1 win in the same period). I'm no way denying the guy has talent, he's a good driver.

I do chuckle when I think his insistance to be top dog has landed him as an underdog this season.

well ... reverse reasoning - hadnt mc laren treated him like they did (for example putting him 5 places back in hung) he d won the 07 chship
it s funny how everybody still blame alonso - rd has a history of driver management troubles - alonso never had a prob in any other teams ...

chu chu, do you not think that maybe RD has a problem dealing with drivers with a latin temperament and not with those from non-latin countries. Flav would obviously understand the latin temperament and therefore understand FA. Maybe McLaren under RD shoul dstick to non-latin drivers.

Oh right, you know, I could have sworn it was the FIA stewards that gave Fernando the grid penalty, not big bad Ron Dennis himself!

Thanks for clearing that up though!

By the way, wasn't Senna a latin driver?

Calvin i dont think FA is an impulsive guy at all. I dont know, i think the most "latin" tempered driver in f1 has been Jim Hunt - a scotsman!

Andy, the Hungary ripoff has been widely discussed. First time i hear of a driver being sanctioned without breaking any rules. Did u see RD throw his headset to the ground when FA scored that pole? DO u really believe it wasnt McLaren who claimed against him?

Come off it, he and the rest of the world knew the consequences of him being sat in that pit box 10 seconds longer than he should have been.

Though he was VERY unfairly punished at Monza 06.

Perhaps the teams should club together and fund an FIA Steward development fund, that way we might get more consistency.