By Huw Alban
January 4 2006

Before the Christmas break we carried a story reporting that Midland had participated in engine tests that showed a distinct advantage to those teams using a detuned and restricted V10 this season. Unfortunately we were not able to ascertain the source for this new information, however Toyota themselves release a statement several days later confirming that V10 engines had an advantage. The key fact for me was whether the FIA were aware and what they intended to do about it.

We checked the story out with our sources at Midland. "As you know, Midland conducted additional tests on behalf of Toyota at our test in Jerez earlier this month (December 2005)," we were told. "It was based on this combined data that Toyota engine chief Luca Marmorini made his remarks to the FIA about V8s being disadvantaged vis-à-vis restricted V10s."

"The FIA has promised to redress the issue prior to the start of the season, so we’ll see what happens. I don’t have to tell you there will be plenty of disgruntled parties in the paddock if last year’s de-tuned V10 embarrasses the spanking-new V8s the manufacturers have invested so much time and money in developing."

It'll be interesting to see how this particular story develops as we enter the 2006 season.