Minardi PS02

The PS02 was designed by technical director Gabriele Tredozi and chief aerodynamicist Loic Bigois, who had joined the team from the now defunct Prost team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorsport/minardi-hopes-to-step-up-a-gear-20020224-gdtzvf.html|title=Minardi hopes to step up a gear|date=24 February 2002|website=The Age|access-date=26 January 2020}} The car was recognised as a significant step forward from the PS01, and the team utilised extensive wind tunnel testing in Italy and the United Kingdom. The car utilised the Minardi's unique titanium cased gearbox, and changed to a pushrod from pullrod suspension for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/858/minardi-ps02|title=Minardi PS02 - F1technical.net|website=www.f1technical.net|access-date=26 January 2020}} The PS02 featured the new Asiatech AT02 V10 engine which would be dropped for the 2003 season in favour of Cosworth.{{cite web|url=https://www.unracedf1.com/asiatech-forgotten-f1-team/|title=Asiatech 's forgotten Formula One Team|date=20 January 2019 |publisher=unracedF1|access-date=25 March 2022}} The sidepod area design of the PS02 was quite similar to that of the Arrows A23.

The PS02 was launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in February 2002. Owing to support from the state tourism authority and lottery, Magnum.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/41217/1/minardi-launches-new-campaign-in-kl|title=Minardi launches new campaign in KL.|publisher=crash.net|date=22 February 2002|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/kuala-lumpur-to-back-minardi-in-2002-5058579/5058579/|title=Kuala Lumpur to Back Minardi in 2002|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}} The shakedown took place at Imola Circuit, with Alex Yoong at the wheel.{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/minardi-shake-down-new-ps02-at-imola-5058836/5058836/|title=Minardi Shake Down New PS02 at Imola|publisher=Autosport|date=1 February 2002|access-date=25 March 2022}}

File:Mark Webber (5894543244).jpg

The season started well for the team. New driver Mark Webber scoring two points finishing fifth at the season opening Australian Grand Prix. Ahead of the significantly higher funded Toyota team. This was Minardi's first points scoring car since 1999, when Marc Gené scored one point at the European Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=http://www.minardi.it/en/minardi-ps02-marks-debut-welcomed-on-the-podium/|title=MARK'S DEBUT WELCOMED ON THE PODIUM|date=8 May 2020 |publisher=Minardi|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.grandprix.com.au/fan-zone/news/magic-melbourne-moments-webbers-dream-debut-in-2002|title=Magic Melbourne Moments: Webber's dream debut in 2002|publisher=Australian Grand Prix|date=7 March 2022|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/historics/live-text/1999-european-grand-prix-19660/19660/|title=1999 European Grand Prix|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}}

However, Australia was a highlight of an otherwise poor season for Minardi. The PS02 suffered from a total of 14 race retirements, of which 4 were related to the Asiatech V10.F1 FIA official race statistics, Asiatech statistical analysis Additionally, rookie Yoong failed to qualify the car on three separate occasions, falling foul of the 107% rule.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/42758/1/yoong-fails-to-qualify|title=Yoong fails to qualify|date=6 July 2002 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/yoong-fails-to-qualify-for-minardis-home-race-5059522/5059522/|title=Yoong Fails to Qualify for Minardi's Home Race|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/yoong-expects-to-step-down-5060747/5060747/|title=Yoong Expects to Step Down|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}} This caused Minardi to replace him for two races with British American Racing test driver, Anthony Davidson. Ultimately, Davidson, would retire from both races.{{cite web|url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/stoddart-denies-yoong-being-dropped/988511/|title=Stoddart denies Yoong being dropped|publisher=Motorsport|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/bar-happy-to-let-davidson-race-5038754/5038754/|title=BAR 'happy' to let Davidson race|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}}

In Spain, neither car started the Grand Prix. A manufacturing error in the front wing caused Webber's to fail during qualifying, meanwhile team mate Yoong had an incident that caused a red flag. Whilst repairs were made overnight, including flying the wing between Catalunya and Faenza, owner Paul Stoddart withdrew both cars from Sunday's Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/41981/1/minardi-to-compete-in-spain-after-failures|title=Minardi to compete in Spain after failures.

|date=28 April 2002

|publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/41982/1/minardi-withdraws-from-spanish-gp|title=Minardi withdraws from Spanish GP|date=28 April 2002 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2002/0428/163799-minardi/|title=Safety first as Minardi pull out of Spanish GP|date=28 April 2002 |publisher=RTE|access-date=25 March 2022}}

Minardi struggled for finance throughout the season. Before the season even began, owner Stoddart legally challenged the French court over a decision to sell Prost Grand Prix to fellow team owner Tom Walkinshaw, in order to protect his team's television rights money.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/mar/02/formulaone.alanhenry|title=Stoddart steams at Prost fire sale|work=The Guardian|date=2 March 2002 |access-date=25 March 2022|last1=Henry |first1=Alan }} In August, British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported that Stoddart was due to sell the team to a consortium led by Irish businessman Brendan McGuinness and Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. However this did not materialise.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/43091/1/minardi-to-be-bought-out|title=Minardi to be bought out?|date=2 August 2002 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}} By the season close, Stoddart's business European Aviation who also sponsored the team in 2002, was on the verge of sale although it was not to fund the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/43970/1/stoddart-to-sell-airline-but-not-to-help-minardi|title=Stoddart to sell airline, but not to help Minardi|date=November 2002 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}} Financial difficulties from 2002, followed the team into 2003 where Stoddart was suing three sponsors for non-payment and Yoong chased $200,000 in unpaid wages.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2003/06/29/minardi-suing-malaysian-firms-for-us15mil|title=Minardi suing Malaysian firms for US$1.5mil|work=The Star|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/yoong-demands-overdue-wages-from-minardi-5063493/5063493/|title=Yoong Demands Overdue Wages from Minardi

|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}}

Minardi finished the season 9th in the Constructors' Championship, equal on points with Toyota team and now defunct Arrows Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/team.html|title=2002 Constructors Standing|publisher=F1|access-date=25 March 2022}}

The PS02 kept the black colour scheme of its predecessor, with minor portions of red. The car featured sponsorship from the Malaysian government, displaying Go KL logos on the sidepods and engine covers. European Aviation and Magnum also remained as major sponsors.

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• [http://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/858 Technical details for the Minardi PS02]

{{Minardi}}

{{F1 cars 2002}}

Category:Minardi Formula One cars

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