By Huw Alban
December 5 2005

Let's be honest. Midland F1's public image is not good at the moment, but changes are happening despite the reasons as to why Midland is in the sport in the first place. Last year Midland ran Jordan (as Jordan) and the fans slated them - and they deserved it. Correspondance that this site's publishers have enjoyed over the last few weeks shows that the team recognise those mistakes and the signs are there that change is coming.

Despite this fans are still going to ask those questions - Are they serious ? Can they win ? Are they bothered ? What about the fans ? What about the integrity of the sport ? Why don't they just sell up and go away ? We've read them all time and time again. Alex Shnaider has made no secret of the fact that he's here to make money - at least he had the guts to say so right from the start - but arent' Red Bull in the sport to sell more cans of a certain fizzy drink ? Aren't Toyota in it in order to break into other markets and sell more cars ?

Every team (with the possible exception of Williams now) are in it for a reason, and the most common is to make money. How is this any different to Midland ?

"We have a different approach to this (than Red Bull)," team boss Colin Kolles has been quoted as saying today. "Being financially successful is one of the important things for us because we have to generate money. It is not as if a manufacturer is paying us."

Midland got slated this year for not investing in the team or the car. Some news sources speculate that this was completely deliberate as it is possible that just a team called Midland is enough to generate revenue (for Midland).

Kolles has swept that sentiment aside. "It is a completely different approach for next year -- more testing, a new look, everything is changed."

Do the team want to suceed and win in Formula One ? "Yes," Kolles insists, "but you have to be realistic. Right now it's almost impossible (to win) because in normal circumstances you can't really compete with the manufacturers."

I'll leave you all to discuss that one on the forum...