MF1-TOYOTA

RR: Midland F1, the first team with a Russian racing license, and I expect 2006 to be a much more competitive year  for them than 2005, when they ran as Jordan.

NDR: I question Midland, I really do, and I’m not the only sharing such an opinion. Even Bernie and Eddie Jordan are regretting the selling of Jordan now. 

RR: Well I admit they lacked the character of Jordan last year, but on the F1 track its results that count, and I tell you Monteiro did that last year,

NDR: Monteiro has impressed me last year. I had heard of his reputation in Champ Car and saw him in race once too, although I can't say he stood out to me. But he managed a pole position that season, in a less than competitive car. He was steady, and when the opportunity came to get the podium, it was he that performed, and not Karthikeyan. He stepped up to the game when the challenge was presented. I was impressed, and I liked the fact that he celebrated on the podium, despite all that was going on.

RR: Albers has joined from Minardi, is he capable of running Monteiro close?

NDR: Albers. I don’t know enough really. Good, but Friesacher was the guy that impressed me more. Albers was good in DTM though, and he has been on F1 books for a while, particularly Jordan and Minardi. Albers would have been in the Minardi in 2001 for example, although Tarso Marques beat him to the ride.

RR: Will the Toyota power plant be competitive for them? Its certainly been going well in the works car, but the Midland has been around 1.5 or more seconds off the pace of the works Toyotas in testing.

NDR: Well, lots of people in the paddock believe that Jordan - or Midland, under-utilised the potential of that Toyota last year. They are going to be the same as last year, with a little more money than before. The testing difference is probably chassis and driver deficiencies, and Toyota are well prepared this year. That would explain the difference, although it is rather much though isn't it?

RR: It is a bit much, but you have to remember that it is in essence a new team, with new personnel etc. Eddie Jordan, and many of the senior members of the team who structured the glory years of 1998-1999 have gone now. Finally then, what will their targets be for this year?

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