Small but perfectly formed

Thank you so much for the Minardi interview in the June issue. In 1993 I was very impressed with Christian Fittipaldi’s drives, so transferred my loyalty to Minardi and maintained it until the team was sold. How could anyone desert the team that gave Mark Webber a fifth place on his debut, acted as a nursery to so many drivers and distributed some of the most delicious ice cream in F1 history?

My own happiest memory was being invited to join Minardi on the Thursday before the 1997 British Grand Prix. Our group was entertained with spaghettini washed down with grappa, followed by a grand tour of the Minardi garage and photographs with Ukyo Katayama and Tarso Marques. How many teams invite their fans into the pitlane? Before Minardi I followed Ensign, so I must be the longest-standing jinx in F1… Michael Schwartz, Toronto, Canada