Alonso and Fisico say thanks to Minardi

Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella, the two stars of the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team have paid tribute to their former team Minardi which is about to embark on its last race before becoming the Red Bull 'Junior Team'. Minardi owner Paul Stoddart announced at the Belgian Grand Prix that he had sold his team to energy drinks magnate Dietrich Mateschitz, so next weekend's race in China will be its last.

Alonso and Fisico began their careers at Minardi and said they would be sorry to see it disappear.
Giancarlo Fisichella “I am very sad to see them go. My first test was there, my first F1 race too, and I have to say thank you to Giancarlo Minardi for the opportunity. The atmosphere was fantastic, with the Italian mechanics, and we laughed all the time. It is a great team, and they will always have a place in my heart.”

Fernando Alonso “I think Minardi has always been an example for a lot of people. It is not the power of money that gives them their fighting spirit, it is the power of the people. They were a good thing for F1: now, it is often all about business, but with Minardi, everything was just about motor racing.”