Minardi PS04
The Minardi PS04 was a Formula 1 racing car of the Italian racing team Minardi , which was developed in autumn 2003, but was not used in this form in any Formula 1 races. Instead, the team contested the 2004 season with the Minardi PS04B , which was a completely independent construction and had no relationship to the PS04.
Model history
The PS04 had no technical relationship to the Minardi PS01 , PS02 and PS03 models developed and used between 2001 and 2003 . Rather, it was largely identical to the Arrows A23 , which the British Formula 1 team Arrows had used in the 2002 Formula 1 season for Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi .
After the bankruptcy proceedings had opened against Arrows, the equipment of the racing team was auctioned off to the public in the early summer of 2003. Paul Stoddart , the owner of the Minardi team, acquired five Arrows A23 vehicles in addition to some items of equipment. Initially, Stoddart pursued the goal of having the cars examined by Minardi's design department so that they could draw conclusions for the development of their own future models.
In September 2003, however, several comparative tests were carried out between the Arrows and the current Minardi PS03. For this purpose, Minardi's mechanics completed an Arrows chassis using Minardis electronics, their own suspension parts and a few other components. This vehicle was named Minardi PS04.
A first test was carried out in Mugello by Minardi's regular driver Nicolas Kiesa . Although the test team had no experience with the Arrows chassis, the PS04 painted in the Minardi colors was no slower than Minardi's own, identically motorized PS03 ; Kiesa particularly praised the significantly better downforce of the PS04. Two weeks later, Minardi's second driver, Jos Verstappen, did another test. The Dutchman, who deeply loathed the PS03, was also positive about the Arrows construction.
At the end of 2003 Minardi was considering contesting the 2004 season with the PS04. Ultimately, however, Paul Stoddart decided against using this model. Most sources give the reason for this that the Arrows chassis did not harmonize well with the Bridgestone tires; In addition, some regulatory-related changes should have been made to the A23. Instead, Minardi used its own design again in 2004, which was named Minardi PS04B . Apart from a few aerodynamic details, the PS04B had nothing in common with the PS04; Rather, it was a further development of the Minardi PS03, which basically went back to 2001.
Paul Stoddart sold the Arrows chassis in winter 2005/2006 to Aguri Suzuki , who developed the first models for his new Formula 1 team, Super Aguri , from them. The cars entered the 2006 Formula 1 season temporarily as Super Aguri SA05 . The SA06 , which was presented a little later, also used the chassis of the Arrows A23.
Individual evidence
- ^ Motorsport aktuell , issue 27, 2003, p. 5.
- ^ Motorsport aktuell , issue 12, 2004, p. 10.
- ↑ See for example Formula 1. Season 2004. All teams, all dates, all routes, all rules (= car, motor and sport. Extra. ZDB -ID 2149347-9 ). Vereinigte Motor-Verlage, Stuttgart 2004, p. 46. However, this is doubtful insofar as Arrows was already using Bridgestone tires in 2002.
- ↑ Motorsport news. Issue 1/3, 2004, p. 4.