Ex-Formula 1 team owner Giancarlo Minardi would have given Antonio Giovinazzi a chance in 2021 if he was leading Ferrari.
The current Alfa Romeo driver is of course linked to the Scuderia, having spent two years as reserve driver before joining the Swiss team last year.
However, he was considered lucky by some not to be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg for this season, and with Ferrari juniors like Mick Schumacher, Robert Shwartzman, Callum Ilott and others all itching for their F1 chance, Giovinazzi is under pressure to improve again this year.
But following the news that Sebastian Vettel will depart from Maranello, Minardi believes Ferrari missed an opportunity to put an Italian back in their ranks.
“I would have given Giovinazzi a chance,” he told Italy’s Radiobox show. “It would have also protected the feeling of Italianism at this historical time.”
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Instead, Carlos Sainz was chosen to replace the outgoing four-time world champion, and that more than pleases Minardi too.
“I must also say, however, that I have always believed in Carlos Sainz,” he continued.
“Seven, eight, nine years ago, when he hadn’t yet arrived in Formula 1 and ran in the World Series Renault, I had recommended him to the Ferrari Driver Academy because I liked him very much.
“I presented Carlos as an option to Ferrari again when Kimi Raikkonen was leaving because he is a fast driver brings the car home, brings a lot of points and he has a particular character.”
Indeed, in Minardi’s view, the Spaniard reminds him of another ex-Ferrari racer…
“In the 1980s I introduced a driver similar to him called Michele Alboreto, and I told them that as a type of character and in the way he presented himself, he had all the requirements to be a Prancing Horse driver,” he added.
“Being one isn’t easy. So I have to say that although I won’t go into the details of the choice between Giovinazzi and Sainz – it is a decision that I ultimately approve.”