Country of Origin: Italy
Year of Foundation: 1972
Active Years in F1: 1985-
Drivers Championships: -
Constructor's Cups: -
Current Drivers: Gaston Mazzacane,
Marc Gene
Current Model: M200
Car Numbers: 20, 21
Primary Sponsor(s): Fondmetal |
Minardi entered its first race in 1985, competing with one car driven by Pierluigi Martini, using the Ford Cosworth engine without a turbocharger. However as turbochargers were legal in 1985, they were almost a prerequisite, so the Minardi team was so uncompetitive, they were lapped after just a few laps.
At the third grand prix of the season, at Imola, Minardi announced they would be using the turbocharged Motori Moderni engine. This was equally as woeful in power and the team struggled all season.
In 1986 Martini left and Minardi introduced a second car. The driver line-up was now Andrea de Cesaris and Alessandro Nannini, but the team fared no better.
In 1989, there was a big step for the Minardi team as they achieved a top ten place in the championship out of 13 teams with Martini returning and the Spaniard Sala driving for them. Martini made history when he led the Portuguese Grand Prix for one lap before he pitted. Martini eventually finished fifth here and sixth in Australia in Minardi’s best season.
In 1990 Martini was partnered by Morbidelli but Minardi ended the season pointless, disappointing after the relative success of 1989.
1991 looked as if it was going to be more positive when a deal was struck with Ferrari for their V12 engines, however the season was disappointing, the only significant result coming in Portugal when Martini achieved forth place. Morbidelli was joined by Christian Fittipaldi for the next season but achieved only one point.
In 1993 and 1994 Martini returned again and the Minardi team struck a long-term deal with Ford to be supplied with their engines. Over these two years they achieved many steady performances but a big blow came at the start of 1995 when a Mugen Honda deal seemed on until the Ligier team intervened and Minardi were left with the Ford Cosworth. Since then, it has become to see the Minardi cars at the rear of the grid or outside the 107% qualifying time.
Poor drivers and a lack of funds has made it virtually impossible for Minardi to improve enough to be up to the standard of such teams as Prost, Sauber and Arrows
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