Minardi M02

Minardi M02

Gastón Mazzacane in the M02
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Minardi
Designer(s)	Gustav Brunner (Technical Director) Gabriele Tredozi (Chief Engineer) George Ryton (Chief Designer) Jean-Claude Migeot (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor	M01
Successor	PS01
Technical specifications
Chassis	Monocoque body in carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite
Suspension (front)	In carbon push-rod with torsion bars; steel wishbones; F/S shock absorbers
Suspension (rear)	As front
Length	4,420 mm (174 in)
Width	1,800 mm (71 in)
Height	950 mm (37 in)
Axle track	Front: 1,452  mm (57  in) Rear: 1,420.7  mm (56  in)
Wheelbase	3,050  mm (120  in)
Engine	1998-spec Ford Zetec-R (badged as Fondmetal) 3.0 L (183 cu in) V10 (72°) naturally-aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission	Minardi titanium 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Power	770 hp @ 15,800 rpm [1]
Weight	600 kg (1,323 lb)
Fuel	Elf
Lubricants	Elf
Brakes	Brembo 6-piston calipers, carbon discs and pads
Tyres	Bridgestone Potenza
Competition history
Notable entrants	Telefónica Minardi Fondmetal
Notable drivers	20. Marc Gené 21. Gastón Mazzacane
Debut	2000 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	2000 Malaysian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F/Laps 17 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Minardi M02 was the car with which the Minardi Formula One team competed in the 2000 Formula One World Championship.

Development

The M02 was designed by Gustav Brunner. The car was a clear development from the M01 featuring new pointed nose cone, compact sides and high exhausts. The M02 developed the titanium cased gearbox from 1999 even further, which helped with weight. The M02 was the first F1 car to adopt set down brake callipers in a seasonal development. The M02 continued using the Ford Cosworth V10 engine which was the same power unit from 1998. It was badged Fondmetal. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Drivers

For 2000, Marc Gene was retained by Minardi and began his second season with the team. Brazilian driver Max Wilson was signed as the second driver, but was replaced with Gastón Mazzacane before the season started as the Argentine brought more sponsor money to the team. ^[5] Reigning Euro Open by Nissan champion Fernando Alonso was the teams test driver. ^{[6] [7]} Ahead of the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, Giorgio Vinella was recruited as an additional test driver to support development of the M02. ^[8]

Racing history

The M02 was launched on 16 February, 2000 at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. ^{[9] [10]} Testing work began on the car in January with Gene and Mazzacane running new parts on the M01 chassis at Fiorano Circuit. In February, Minardi joined tests at Barcelona and showed good pace, Gene securing a fastest lap time of the week that put him in 9th place overall, ahead of Jordan, Jaguar and Prost. Mazzacane was consistently around 1 second slower than his team mate. ^{[11] [12]}

The season began well for Gene, qualifying the M02 in 18th place and finishing the race in 8th. Mazzacane qualified last and retired on lap 40 with gearbox failure. The M02 would not finish the next two races for Gene, and Mazzacane finished four Grand Prix before breaking into the top 10 for the first time at the 2000 European Grand Prix. By Monaco, a race in which both cars failed to finish, the M02 had chalked up six race retirements. ^[13]

The remainder of the season was a myriad of retirements and disappointments for the M02, it was firmly off the pace. At Belgium, Minardi celebrated their 250th Grand Prix. ^[14] A highlight of the season was at the 2000 United States Grand Prix USA Grand Prix in Indianapolis, when Mazzacane managed to find himself in third position early on in the race ahead of reigning world champion Mika Hakkinen. He would however ultimately retire due to engine problems. ^{[15] [16]}

The M02 eventually finished a de facto tenth in the Constructors' Championship, with no points but ahead of Prost due to a better finishing record. ^[17] The team therefore qualified for some of the sport's television revenues in 2001.

Following the conclusion of the season, Gabriele Rumi was looking to sell his 70 percent stake in the team. Sponsor PSN were announced as purchasing this in September 2000, which would have tied in with their driver Mazzacane remaining with the team. ^[18] However by November they had pulled out of the deal. ^[19] PSN and Mazzacane would ultimately switch to Prost Grand Prix for 2001. ^{[20] [16]} Gene also left for Williams, along with key sponsor Telefonica. ^{[21] [22]} Paul Stoddart purchased Minardi from Rumi, and the M02 would be the last car produced under his leadership of the team. ^{[4] [23]}

Livery

For 2000, Minardi had extensive financial backing from Telefonica, which became the title sponsors for the season. The cars were painted in a bold fluorescent yellow finish to reference the partnership. ^[24]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (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
2000	Minardi	Fondmetal RV10 V10*	B		AUS	BRA	SMR	GBR	ESP	EUR	MON	CAN	FRA	AUT	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	USA	JPN	MAL	0	NC
				Marc Gené	8	Ret	Ret	14	14	Ret	Ret	16†	15	8	Ret	15	14	9	12	Ret	Ret
				Gastón Mazzacane	Ret	10	13	15	15	8	Ret	12	Ret	12	11	Ret	17	10	Ret	15	13†
Sources: [25] [26]

* Denotes Cosworth-built engines, badged as Fondmetal. ^[2]

References

1. "Engine Fondmetal • STATS F1".
2. "MINARDI M02 NEW TECHNOLICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ATTAINING 250 GP". Minardi. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
3. "Minardi M02". F1 Technical. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
4. Vigar, Simon (24 April 2008). Forza Minardi!: The Inside Story of the Little Team That Took on the Giants of F1. Veloce Publishing Ltd. p. 61. ISBN   978-1845841607.
5. "Max Wilson - Part 2". Rusty's Garage. 14 March 2024.
6. "Mazzacane and Alonso join Gene at Minardi". grandprix.com. 2000-02-21. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
7. "Mazzacane For Minardi". crash.net. 14 February 2000. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
8. "Minardi signs tester Vinella". crash.net. 20 May 2000. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
9. "Minardi to Unveil Car at Bilbao's Guggenheim". Atlas F1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
10. "February 2000". FedeF1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
11. "January Test Times Analysis". Atlas F1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
12. "February Test Times Analysis". Atlas F1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
13. "Minardi M02". StatsF1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
14. "2000 Belgian Grand Prix". GP Racing Stats. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
15. "The United States GP Review". Atlas F1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
16. "Gaston Mazzacane". Forza Minardi. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
17. "Formula 1 results archive". FIA. Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
18. "Minardi Chairman Leaves F1; Sells Stake to PSN". Autosport. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
19. "PSN interested in continuing Mazzacane backing despite Minardi dispute". grandprix.com. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
20. "Prost Sign Mazzacane as Second Driver". Autosport. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
21. "Minardi loses Telefonica backing". Autosport. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
22. "Gene Joins Williams as Test Driver". Autosport. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
23. "Australian tycoon buys Formula One team Minardi" . The Independent . 2001-01-30. Archived from the original on 2022-05-15. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
24. "Telefonica Still Interested in Buying Minardi". Atlas F1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
25. "All championship race entries, in an Minardi M02". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
26. "Minardi M02". StatsF1. Retrieved 20 January 2025.