European Minardi (2001–2005)
Mark Webber driving the
Minardi PS02 at the
2002 French Grand Prix.The team, near collapse, was purchased by
Australian businessman
Paul Stoddart in early
2001, merging it with his European Racing
Formula 3000 team. During its final years, the Minardi team was almost as famous for its politics as its racing. Stoddart was described as the Formula One teams' unofficial shop steward. During his time as team principal, Stoddart campaigned for reduced costs in the sport. He appealed to the competing car manufacturers for an agreement where the independent (and, on the whole, financially weaker) teams in Formula One would get cheaper engine deals than at present. In return, the team principals who would benefit from this would support the works teams when it came to opposing new rule changes enforced by the
FIA, such as the proposed ban on traction control.Before the start of the 2004 season, he threatened to withdraw his support against the ban on traction control, but later withdrew this threat. Before the
2005 Australian Grand Prix Stoddart initially threatened to withdraw his cars if they were made to comply with the revised regulations for 2005. Stoddart claimed that Minardi could not afford to adapt their cars. Once again Stoddart ended up withdrawing his threat. Stoddart has also repeatedly called for the resignation of the FIA's President,
Max Mosley, particularly in the aftermath of the
2005 United States Grand Prix where the majority of teams boycotted the race due to safety concerns about their
Michelin tyres. While Minardi had run
Bridgestone tyres, Stoddart had offered to compromise with the Michelin teams but Mosley had rejected it.One of Minardi's most famous performances came at the
2002 Australian Grand Prix. It was Australian driver
Mark Webber's first Formula One race. At his and Stoddart's home grand prix he brought the car home in fifth place to score two World Championship points — a rare occurrence for Minardi.
Zsolt Baumgartner driving at the
2004 United States GP.Minardi was represented in 2004 by two rookies,
Italian Gianmaria "Gimmi" Bruni and
Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner. During the year, they celebrated their 20th season in F1. Baumgartner scored Minardi's first point in more than 2 years at the
United States Grand Prix, finishing 8th (only 8 cars finished the 2004 USGP). Baumgartner was also the first Hungarian to score a point in a World Championship F1 race.
Patrick Friesacher driving the
Minardi PS05, the last Minardi chassis to be produced, at
Silverstone.In 2005, Minardi's drivers were
Christijan Albers and
Patrick Friesacher. They amassed a comparatively astronomical total of 7 points following the debacle of the
2005 United States Grand Prix, in which they finished fifth and sixth (of six runners) respectively. After his sponsors stopped paying him before the
2005 German Grand Prix,
Patrick Friesacher was to be replaced by Dutch Jordan test driver
Robert Doornbos to create the first ever all-Dutch driver line-up in Formula One history.
