Minardi M195

Minardi M195
Minardi M195B

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Minardi
Designer(s)	Aldo Costa (Technical Director) Mauro Gennaro (Chief Designer) Mariano Alperin (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor	M194
Successor	M197
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbones, pushrod
Engine	1995: mid-engine, longitudinally mounted, 2,994 cc (182.7 cu in), Ford ED, 75° V8, NA 1996: mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted, 2,994 cc (182.7 cu in), Ford ED2/ED3, 75° V8, NA
Transmission	Minardi / XTrac 6-speed semi-automatic
Power	630 hp @ 13,200 rpm
Fuel	Agip
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Minardi Scuderia Italia
Notable drivers	Pierluigi Martini Pedro Lamy Giancarlo Fisichella Tarso Marques Giovanni Lavaggi
Debut	1995 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F/Laps 33 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Minardi M195 was a Formula One car designed by Aldo Costa for Minardi team for the 1995 Formula One season. The number 24 seat was taken by Luca Badoer, with Pierluigi Martini in the number 23 seat. However, he was dropped before the German Grand Prix and his seat was taken by Pedro Lamy. The team's test driver was Giancarlo Fisichella.

Mugen-Honda legal case

The M195 had been designed to fit a Mugen-Honda engine, as Minardi had been expecting to run Mugen-Honda engines during the 1995 season. A last-minute decision from Mugen to supply Ligier left Minardi struggling to adapt their car to take a Ford Motor Company ED engine. Giancarlo Minardi, the team's owner, threatened legal action over the affair. Minardi stated, "We are very proud because we have had to design two different cars in the time normally needed to do just one. There was an agreement with Mugen Co. Ltd. but this was not respected."

Pierluigi Martini driving the M195 at the 1995 British Grand Prix.

Minardi won the lawsuit, but damages were not awarded. The court ruled that the deal between Minardi and Mugen was "reaching a point of mutual agreement so that it was legitimate to expect that the contract would have been effectively concluded." Minardi appealed the absence of damages and in a counter-move, Flavio Briatore (Ligier's owner at the time) had Minardi's equipment seized at the French Grand Prix due to Minardi owing one of his companies money for their engine deal from 1993. The matter was settled out of court. The money Minardi owed was forgotten and Briatore paid $1 million to Minardi to compensate them for the loss of the Mugen-Honda engines.

Minardi M195B

Pedro Lamy and rookie Giancarlo Fisichella driving the M195B at the 1996 San Marino Grand Prix practice session.

The car was upgraded for 1996, with the main visible difference being higher cockpit sides per new rules on driver safety. Pedro Lamy took seat 20; Giancarlo Fisichella, then Tarso Marques, and finally Giovanni Lavaggi took seat 21. The M195B scored no championship points.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Team/Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Pts.	WCC
1995	Minardi M195	Ford ED V8	G		BRA	ARG	SMR	ESP	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	EUR	PAC	JPN	AUS	1	10th
				Pierluigi Martini	DNS	Ret	12	14	7	Ret	Ret	7	Ret
				Pedro Lamy										9	10	Ret	Ret	9	13	11	6
				Luca Badoer	Ret	DNS	14	Ret	Ret	8	13	10	Ret	8	Ret	Ret	14	11	15	9	DNS
1996	Minardi M195B	Ford ED2/ED3 V8	G		AUS	BRA	ARG	EUR	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN		0	NC
				Pedro Lamy	Ret	10	Ret	12	9	Ret	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	12	Ret	10	Ret	16	12
				Giancarlo Fisichella	Ret			13	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	Ret	11
				Tarso Marques		Ret	Ret
				Giovanni Lavaggi											DNQ	10	DNQ	Ret	15	DNQ