Minardi PS01
Encyclopedia
The Minardi PS01 was the car with which the Minardi
team competed in the Formula One
season. It was initially driven by Tarso Marques
, who returned to the team after last driving an F1 car in , and Fernando Alonso
, a rookie who had graduated from Formula 3000 and was in a long-term contract to Flavio Briatore
's driver management scheme.
The PS01 marked a new beginning for Minardi. The chassis designation referred to the fact that it was the first car to be races under the ownership of Paul Stoddart
, who had bought the team from the terminally-ill Gabriele Rumi only two months before the first race of the season. In between, the PS01 was hurriedly built, with Marques' car still being assembled at the Australian GP
. The car was a tidy, efficient design by Gustav Brunner
, but it was hamstrung by a lack of testing and horsepower from an elderly engine (which was badged "European
", after Stoddart's aviation
company).
Despite this lack of preparation, the cars were surprisingly competitive, with Marques only failing to qualify once and future champion Alonso able to compete in the lower reaches of the midfield. However, the team scored no points and were hit hard when Brunner defected to the fledgling Toyota F1
team mid-season. As the season drew to a close, the frustrated Marques agreed to leave the team, allowing the well-funded Alex Yoong
to become Malaysia's first F1 driver.
The team also raced an updated car, featuring a revised rear end and gearbox, from the Belgian GP onwards. This chassis was designated as the Minardi PS01B.
The team were unclassified in the Constructors' Championship, with no points.
* Denotes European badged as Ford
Minardi
Minardi was an automobile racing team and constructor founded in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi. It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans...
team competed in the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
season. It was initially driven by Tarso Marques
Tarso Marques
Tarso Anibal Santanna Marques is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 24 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 31, 1996...
, who returned to the team after last driving an F1 car in , and Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion, who is currently racing for Ferrari....
, a rookie who had graduated from Formula 3000 and was in a long-term contract to Flavio Briatore
Flavio Briatore
Flavio Briatore is an Italian businessman. During the 1980s, he was convicted for multiple counts of fraud, receiving two prison sentences, only one of which he served. As a fugitive from Italy, he set up restaurants and then a number of successful Benneton franchises in the Virgin Islands and the...
's driver management scheme.
The PS01 marked a new beginning for Minardi. The chassis designation referred to the fact that it was the first car to be races under the ownership of Paul Stoddart
Paul Stoddart
Paul Stoddart, born 26 May 1955, is an Australian millionaire airline magnate, and former owner of the Minardi Formula One racing team. He later took the Minardi brand into the Champ Car World Series after his purchase of a portion of CTE-HVM Racing which he renamed Minardi Team USA for 2007.-Early...
, who had bought the team from the terminally-ill Gabriele Rumi only two months before the first race of the season. In between, the PS01 was hurriedly built, with Marques' car still being assembled at the Australian GP
2001 Australian Grand Prix
The 2001 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 4 March 2001 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. It was the 66th running of the Australian Grand Prix and the first race of the 2001 Formula One season...
. The car was a tidy, efficient design by Gustav Brunner
Gustav Brunner
Gustav Brunner is an Austrian Formula One designer and engineer. He was born on 12 September 1950 , and got his start in racing car design at the German-based constructor McNamara. He first entered F1 in a brief spell working for the ATS team in 1978, before designing cars for Formula Two and...
, but it was hamstrung by a lack of testing and horsepower from an elderly engine (which was badged "European
European Aviation Air Charter
European Aviation Air Charter was an airline based in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. It operated ad hoc charter services, VIP flights, and inclusive-tour and sub-charter flights, as well as ACMI wet leases for other airlines. Its main base was Bournemouth Airport...
", after Stoddart's aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
company).
Despite this lack of preparation, the cars were surprisingly competitive, with Marques only failing to qualify once and future champion Alonso able to compete in the lower reaches of the midfield. However, the team scored no points and were hit hard when Brunner defected to the fledgling Toyota F1
Toyota F1
Panasonic Toyota Racing was a Formula One team owned by Japanese car manufacturer Toyota and based in Cologne, Germany. Toyota announced their plans to participate in F1 in 1999, and after extensive testing with their initial car, dubbed the TF101, the team made their debut in 2002...
team mid-season. As the season drew to a close, the frustrated Marques agreed to leave the team, allowing the well-funded Alex Yoong
Alex Yoong
Alexander Charles Yoong Loong , is a Malaysian race car driver of European and Asian parentage. His mother, Joanna Bean, is from England. His father, Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah , a Malaysian Chinese, is a former racer and manager of the Shah Alam circuit between 1988 and 1998...
to become Malaysia's first F1 driver.
The team also raced an updated car, featuring a revised rear end and gearbox, from the Belgian GP onwards. This chassis was designated as the Minardi PS01B.
The team were unclassified in the Constructors' Championship, with no points.
Complete Formula One results
(results in bold indicate pole position)Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minardi Minardi Minardi was an automobile racing team and constructor founded in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi. It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans... |
European European Aviation Air Charter European Aviation Air Charter was an airline based in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. It operated ad hoc charter services, VIP flights, and inclusive-tour and sub-charter flights, as well as ACMI wet leases for other airlines. Its main base was Bournemouth Airport... V10 V10 engine A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinders in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note.- Mechanics :The V10 is essentially the result of mating two even-firing straight-5 engines together. The straight-5 engine shows first and second order rocking motion... * |
AUS 2001 Australian Grand Prix The 2001 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 4 March 2001 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. It was the 66th running of the Australian Grand Prix and the first race of the 2001 Formula One season... |
MAL 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix The 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at theSepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia on March 18, 2001. The race, contested over 55 laps, was won by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher... |
BRA 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix The 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at the Interlagos Circuit on April 1, 2001.This exciting Grand Prix had three notable incidents, two of them being overtaking moves, both on Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, and both taking place at the "Senna S" corner of the track.The... |
SMR | ESP | AUT | MON 2001 Monaco Grand Prix The 2001 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monaco on May 27, 2001.- Classification :- Notes :*David Coulthard started this race at the back of the grid, having stalled on pole.*This race gave the Jaguar team their first podium finish.... |
CAN 2001 Canadian Grand Prix The 2001 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 10, 2001. It was the 8th round of the 2001 Formula One season.-Race:... |
EUR 2001 European Grand Prix The 2001 European Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Nürburgring on June 24, 2001.After an exciting qualifying session, it was Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari who grabbed pole position from brother Ralf Schumacher and Juan-Pablo Montoya in the Williams-BMWs. This proved to be an... |
FRA 2001 French Grand Prix The 2001 French Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Magny-Cours on July 1, 2001.- Classification :- Notes :*Lap leaders: Ralf Schumacher 23 , Michael Schumacher 39 , David Coulthard 1 , Juan Pablo Montoya 9 *Fastest Lap: David Coulthard 1m 16.088s*Pole Position: Ralf Schumacher 1m... |
GBR 2001 British Grand Prix The 2001 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on July 15, 2001 at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, England. It was the eleventh race of the 2001 Formula One season... |
GER | HUN 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix The 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Hungaroring on August 19, 2001. This race saw Michael Schumacher win his fourth World Championship and equal Alain Prost's record of 51 Grand Prix victories.- Classification :- Notes :... |
BEL | ITA 2001 Italian Grand Prix The 2001 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monza on September 16, 2001.This was the first F1 race held after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. As a mark of respect, several teams altered their cars' liveries. The Ferraris ran without any sponsorship livery and... |
USA 2001 United States Grand Prix The 2001 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on September 30, 2001 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. This was the first international sport/race event held in USA after the September 11, 2001 attacks.__FORCETOC__... |
JPN 2001 Japanese Grand Prix The 2001 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 14, 2001 at the Suzuka Circuit. The race was won by Michael Schumacher who started from pole position.... |
0 | NC | |||
Tarso Marques Tarso Marques Tarso Anibal Santanna Marques is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 24 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 31, 1996... |
Ret | 14 | 9 | Ret | 16 | Ret | Ret | 9 | Ret | 15 | DNQ | Ret | Ret | 13 | |||||||||
Alex Yoong Alex Yoong Alexander Charles Yoong Loong , is a Malaysian race car driver of European and Asian parentage. His mother, Joanna Bean, is from England. His father, Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah , a Malaysian Chinese, is a former racer and manager of the Shah Alam circuit between 1988 and 1998... |
Ret | Ret | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion, who is currently racing for Ferrari.... |
12 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 13 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 14 | 17 | 16 | 10 | Ret | Ret | 13 | Ret | 11 |
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...