25/08/2014
NEWS STORY
Veteran race team owner Gian Carlo Minardi believes Honda's return to F1 next season will yet trigger a number of important driver moves.
Over the course of the Spa weekend the Italian was highly vocal, speaking out on the recruitment of Max Verstappen and the future, or lack of it, of Jenson Button.
Suggesting that Honda will want to make an immediate impact on its return with a "super-top driver to place alongside Magnussen", Minardi said that Button should not be part of the plan.
Pointing out that Nico Rosberg has recently signed a contract extension with Mercedes, Minardi initially said he would not be surprised to see either Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso linked with the Woking team.
Turning his attention to the signing of Max Verstappen, whose father Jos raced for Minardi in 2003, the Italian said he wasn't entirely convinced "the games are over".
"This operation surprised me, as it might cause problems for Carlos Sainz Jr, who is part of the Red Bull family for several years," said Minardi.
"For this reason, I see a different scene, with an extremely young Toro Rosso formed by Verstappen and Sainz Jr, and Daniil Kvyat (going) to Red Bull, in place of Sebastian Vettel," he said
Speaking ahead of Sunday's controversial race, he built on his Vettel to McLaren theory. "Do not forget that we have Honda determined to aim for a super-top driver and, to this day, we certainly have the first three guides unhappy with their situation: Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel. In addition, Red Bull Racing is a brand tuned to a young audience and the arrival of the new face of Kvyat alongside Ricciardo could be a very interesting marketing move.
"For some time, I contend that the time has come for the four-time World Champion to abdicate and accept new challenges," he added. "We are close to several changes, in a domino-style. We expect the first move and then all the others will arrive as a result."
Today, in the wake of yesterday's controversy, Minardi expanded on his theories.
"The recent statements of loyalty by Fernando Alonso at Ferrari have effectively removed one of the 'unhappy'," he said. "Therefore, Vettel and Hamilton remain in play.
"From Japan, a very strong manoeuvre is suggested to me," he continued, "it has been played in the last days by Honda, in order to win the pair Newey/Vettel.
"At Spa-Francorchamps, Bernie Ecclestone approached Vettel," he claimed, going on to suggest that "as has happened on other occasions", Mr E might have intervened in the driver market in an attempt to spice up the show.
Suggesting that Ecclestone may have attempted to convince Vettel to make a move, albeit without Newey, Minardi is convinced Ecclestone wants to see the four-time world champion in the Honda-powered McLaren next year.
"The mosaic begins to take shape," says Minardi. "By signing the young Max, Red Bull has accomplished an important marketing action, as well as acquiring a new potential talent.
"Moreover," he insists, "it might also realize the task that practically everyone took for granted: Carlos Sainz Jr. in F1, at Toro Rosso."
Again he claims: "At this point, it comes easy to think about a promotion for the young Russian Kvyat alongside Ricciardo, in case the transition of Sebastian Vettel to Honda will materialize.
"Hamilton's enigma remains," he adds. "Unhappy more than ever after the 'close contact' with Rosberg, he has been defended for the first time firmly by Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda.
"Is a new scenario emerging, changing the future strategies of Mercedes?" he wonders. "Does a new pretender loom on the horizon... Valtteri Bottas? A young man who showed his value on track and, who we should not forget has a remarkable manager... Toto Wolff!"
Now concentrating on driver management, the man who gave Fernando Alonso his F1 break, certainly has some interesting theories...
Chris Balfe