Jan.26 (GMM) Former F1 team founder, owner and boss Gian Carlo Minardi is vying to enter the world of politics.

A report at Brazil's globoestporte.com said the 62-year-old Italian, who sold his Faenza based team to Paul Stoddart in 2001 before it became Toro Rosso in 2006, wants to be the next mayor of the Italian city southeast of Bologna.

With the slogan 'Faenza torna a correre' (Faenza races again), Minardi is said to have the support of centre-right coalition parties.

"It was a difficult decision," he is quoted as telling the Il Resto del Carlino newspaper. "I'm 62 and have never been interested in politics.

"I have always lived in the sporting world, but you learn a lot there. I made the decision because I have the support and Faenza is in an extremely difficult time.

"I know people nationwide and I can use it for the city. I need to change my way of working, but that does not scare me. I will bring a team of young professionals and want to deploy the methods used in the sport with Minardi," he added.

Minardi was born and still lives in Faenza, having brought his team into F1 in 1985.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version