By Huw Alban
September 24 2006

This one has been a tad confusing since news first broke that Christian Klien was leaving Red Bull. The media immediately linked him with a Spyker MF1 drive, then there was a mysterious press release from the Austrian claiming that he had visited the team.

After a huge amount of hunting around, I've managed to find the press release statement.

"At various meetings and talks during the past two weeks I have had the chance to learn more about my options with F1", the statement starts.

"My main goal during these talks was not so much to become a Friday test driver in the three remaining races of 2006, but to find a solution for my near future. A seat as an F1 driver and a test driver position with one of the factory teams are among the options available to me.

"As of now, the teams have different interpretations regarding the testing kilometres allowed (30.000 km per season). The role and the duties for the test and replacement drivers are not clearly defined. This obviously also effects my decisions."

Now we get to the juicy bit, and frankly the bit that I have been trying so hard to find confirmation of. "(On) September 20th I had a meeting in Silverstone with the new Spyker team. Team Manager Colin Kolles personally showed me around the Midland/Spyker factory. This visit gave me the opportunity to check on the progress for 2007 Spyker MF1. I also could see the 2007 car being tested at the wind-tunnel in Brackley. In the concept stage, the car looks very good. In a short time the team will also select an engine for 2007. Ferrari and the V8 from Cosworth are among the possible engine suppliers.

"At the Italian GP in Monza I had the opportunity to meet with Mike Gascoyne, who will be the new Chief Technology officer at Spyker beginning November 1st. In my opinion, his views for the future of the Spyker F1 team were very convincing and realistic.Under the leadership of the new owners, the entire Spyker team impressed me as very ambitious and positive. The basic idea and philosophy of Team Manager Colin Kolles, to reach a maximum of performance with lean and efficient structures, could be clearly seen and felt in the various departments and with all the employees."

The unavailability of this statement and the fact that it had been so poorly picked up by the media put a lot of doubt into its validity. However, we here at Spyker F1 Fans Online have been able to secure confirmation that the visit to the Silverstone factory did take place. A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, initially denied to us here that there had been a visit but shortly returned to confirm that it had taken place. The words used in the confirmation strongly suggest that the visit was a low key affair conducted without any ceremony, and away from the prying eyes of the media.

What this means is anyones guess. Klein quite clearly wants to race in 2007 and with so much uncertainty with regard to the seat status at Spyker it seems only natural that he should want to consider a possible future with the team. Current race driver Christijan Albers has already stated that he will confirm his position at the Japanese Grand Prix, and team mate Tiago Monteiro has confirmed that he is in talks with the team about next year. "We have been talking more with Michiel Mol and Spyker, and they have been pretty clear they want to keep the driver line-up the same and get one single test driver," the popular Portuguese driver stated recently.

In related news there had been talk that Klien's drive with the new Spyker MF1 team would be funded by current sponsor Superfund. This has since been rejected by the company. ''These reports are incorrect,'' a spokesman reportedly told the broadcaster ORF, ''Superfund is not putting money at Mr. Klien's disposal for (formula one) test runs.''

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