I wonder if anybody remembers that Scuderia Torro Rosso is actually based on Minardi. Well, we can conclude that Minardi is on pole! Fantastic!

I guess Giancarlo Minardi and Paul Stoddart are happy now, even though they don't take part in the STR management.

They are slightly happier than me. It's not really Minardi anymore.



Anyhow, the grid should make for a great race, wet or dry.

Most of the team personnel are the same and it comes from the same background so no matter what the name on the trucks say, Minardi has pole

that was one of my first thought after qualifying, sure that's not much of minardi left there, but its still enough to make you chuckle

I assume that makes Alonso a Toleman driver...

and Rubens drives for Tyrrell

Paul Stoddart should be very much embarrassed, scuderia Toro Rosso shows nowadays what can happen if you really invest money into a team, while PS only whined, bitched and asked others for handouts

Very happy for TR and Minardi but please leave that Stoddart tosser out of it.

.

It's a lot easier and cheaper when you don't have to design and build your own cars.

3rd race in a row that both drivers have made Q3.

fantastic progress . . .

Which is why I support customer cars.

No, it's not a Minardi, it's a Stewart and it's there second pole!

More serious, it's not a Minardi or a Stewart, it's a Torro Rosso. It's been 4 years since it was Minardi, if it happens the year after a take over then it's "ok" to say its also the other team (unless its a take over like Tyrrell->BAR), after that it's just the new team for me.

It's not even a Torro Rosso.

I'm not against them either, but I can see why teams like Williams are.

The drivers deserve the praise today, but I can't look at it in the same way and say STR have done well.

The difference between Toro Rosso and Minardi is not greater than between Cassius Clay and Muhammed Ali. So congrats to Minardi, well deserved.

Ferrari engines.

That said, all the best for the race to Toro Rosso!

Yeah sure the budget of scuderia Toro Rosso now is a lot lower than it was when Paul S was begging for handouts

Seriously, there's no need to rain on their parade today. Did you see the mechanics in the pit jumping and screaming out of excitement today? They are working as hard as anyone else is. They have been backmarkers for a very long time. Hell, i suppose most of them were there celebrating the point scoring results of Webber and Alonso back in the days. I believe they truly deserve to celebrate THEIR success here.

Because it subsidises their continuing mediocrity?

Alonso never scored a point for Minardi. (Not his fault of course, he was great in 2001, but no point)

Oh well, you're right. But i guess you got my point.

edit: and make that Justin Wilson then. I think it was him who scored points in a Minardi.
edit2: mh no it wasn't Wilson either. I fail.

Gene Nürburgring 1999? And lets not forget Badoer in the same race.

I'm still annoyed that Toleman are struggling after some glorious championship seasons.

Newey car, Red Bull backing, Ferrari engine, Minardi pit crew. Yeah, they are almost Minardi

I agree. However I don't think they should receive the same amout of T.V. money, due to the fact it's 'easier' for them.

He also didn't think it was fair that the richest team had payments weighted in their favour against the other teams.

Well done to Vettel, he's doing a fantastic job and he deserves it!!
The team's completely changed since the minardi times... good for them!

Minardi ran Ferrari engines in 1991...

at least williams are struggling on. customer cars are the ultimate 'handout' which paul stoddart kept crying for.

There is a lot of Minardi DNA remaining in there - enough for me to offer congratulations, as I would to any out of position mid to back field team.

Oh, and Risil - would that be the "continuing mediocrity" of the third most successful constructor in the history of the WCC you're talking about?

Sempre Minardi.

IMO, the Minardi spirit is now with Force India. Small team always on the back of the grid who can't even get lucky breaks. Toro Rosso has clearly moved foward and left them behind.

Honda is trying hard to get some of that back of the field sympathy, but they haven't been successful at that as well.

I like this picture.

http://image.ig.com.br/v5/midias/1327001-1327500/1327341.jpg

To me, that photo captures the Minardi spirit.

All teams do pictures like that. They usually wait until they've won the a race though

As far as the team formerly known as Minardi are concerned - I'm happy for the people employed there that they have something to celebrate, but to me Toro Rosso are just a GP2 team now.

Fisichella made it into Q2. I think it's a first for Force India, and the press makes very little notice of it. Can't be Minardi spirit. No celebration for even a small achievement?

The Minardi spirit clearly continues at Toro Rosso, as they are celebrating a qualifying P1 P4. No wonder when many people in the team are still the same.

It also showcases the wisdom of Gerhard Berger keeping the team at Faenza and most of the personel.

Compare that with some of Craig Pollock's decisions after taking over Tyrrell...

Minardi spirit was at Super Aguri. It's not in F1 right now, but could (should) come back.

I'm happy for the people at the team, but it's not Minardi. Just like Force India is not Jordan, Honda is not Tyrrell, Renault is not Toleman...

There's a lot more of Sauber at BMW than of Minardi at Toro Rosso. Starting by the name.

Baumgartner scored a point in 2004 USGP. and, of course, both Albers and Friesacher scored in that disgraceful 2005 USGP, but that doesnt really count.

Pedro Lamy scored a point in 1995 Australian GP.

Prior to that season, Minardi was a somewhat regular point scorer. (15 times from 1988 to 1994).

Most of the components are manufactured in the Minardi factory to Red Bull Technology designs...

Sounds like a Minardi-made car to me.

Just as a Mercedes China C-Class, Epiphone Les Paul or Chinese assembled ASUS computer can have pride from Mercedes China factory, Gibson China factory or computer assembly contractor company even though it was manufactured it was simply manufactured to German, USA or USA specs but with an inferior level of tolerances and lower price point.

Congratulations, Mr Giancarlo Minardi! You really deserved it!