By Huw Alban
May 17 2006

Several fans on this sites forum have expressed concern that the team are not testing with the rest of their competitors. Some have added that this has overshadowed the good news that the team are building up their staff and knowledge base, so we decided to try and find out what the team were up to.

It's no secret that Monaco is a unique circuit on the Formula One calendar, and each year one or more of the teams gather at a test circuit specifically to test for this race. In previous years it has also been common for the test circuit to be marked out with bollards mimiking the tight characteristics of a street circuit. The advantage of bollards is that they do not bite back - armco barriers tend to be less forgiving.

At the beginning of May the team published an article on their official website featuring a Question and Answer session with Technical Director James Key. Even this early in the month it was obvious that the team were not keen to take to the test track.

Q: Are you planning to test between Barcelona and Monaco?

JK: “The shunt in Imola didn’t really help us out in that respect – the chassis was OK, but we lost all four corners, the bodywork, and the gearbox as well. It set us back a bit, so we’re leaving our options open, in terms of how things come back from Spain. But we may end up running across the road at Silverstone.”

Q: Have you been able to test the Monaco spec yet?

JK: “Only in the wind tunnel so far, and that’s really why we want to get a run in before Monaco. It’s not a massive issue, though, because things like steering we do for Monaco year after year, so we know to expect with that. With the aero, it tends to be total downforce generating devices, so providing you can balance it with the front wing, it’s not normally an issue.”

Quotes above used with the kind permission of Midland F1 Racing

As the majority of the Formula One grid get back to the business of testing, concern and anxiety has been expressed by some fans. We are all concerned about where Midland F1 and it's drivers are in the development game, and see publically at each Grand Prix how much the team struggle with qualifying pace and race starts. We all want to see Midland F1 move up the grid and do better, and we all passionately hope for it every two weeks. If the team are not out there developing then how can they hope to move forward?

"Monaco is a very specialized circuit that requires different aero and suspension set-ups than any other race," our sources with the team told us today.

"As such, the team is focusing on simulations at the factory and wind tunnel. If a test is deemed necessary, we can always run across the road to Silverstone for a shake down of any new components, but that will be done on an impromptu basis as per James Key’s instructions (see above).

"MF1 is pushing forward and although we might not have the resources at this point to test as much as other teams, things are proceeding according to plan. The installation of the wind tunnel will begin very shortly and there will be more tests booked to make up for the cancellation of the Vallelunga session."

That last sentence alone is enough to settle my nervous brow. Whatever the reasons are for Midland F1 to cancel the test this week, they intend to make up for the lack of track time. Hopefully they'll do that at Silverstone so that we can be there and tell you all about it.

If we here of any "impromptu" testing taking place "across the road" as James put it, then we'll be sure to let you know.

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