By Huw Alban
November 22 2005

Despite not being confirmed for the 2006 season with Midland, Tiago Monteiro is still talking as if he’s going to be with the team. In his latest statement he reveals that he’s seen the 2006 Midland race car… In an interview with Speed TV the Portuguese driver stated that he was hopeful that the team could take positive steps away from the back of the grid next season. "That's my hope," he has been quoted as saying, "and that's what they've guaranteed me."

Paddock talk, and to a certain extent fan talk also, suggested throughout 2005 that new Jordan owner Alex Shnaider was none too keen to spend out on a team bearing someone else’s name. "Next year Alex's name will be on the car," Monteiro confirmed, "and he wants it to be really good and perfect.

"The new car, from what I've seen, looks quite nice. They learned a lot this year with some mistakes they made and with more budget we'll have development and everything."

Proof for sure will come when the M16 takes to the track amongst the other contenders for 2006. We can only hope …