Midland

[pforrester]

Maybe it was a little naive of me, but I really didn't think Midland would be THIS bad. Their cars spent most of the race behind(!!) Sato's Super Aguri, and Monteiro was only about 16s ahead of Sato at the end. When SA get a 'proper' car to race, I can only see Midland getting cut further adrift.

Big praise for Sato today though. Superb drive. Maybe the things expected of him in the BAR made him over drive. Now nothing is expected of him because of his car, perhaps he is starting to show us exactly how well he can drive (and on a consistent basis).

[shambles]

Just what is the point of this team's existance? The only good thing about this team is the livery, and Johnny Herbert.

What do Midland (what is Midland?) hope to achieve from entering F1, I don't expect they'll be around in thier current guise for too long. Are they an investment company? If so; maybe this could be an investment, before looking to sell on at a later date? Just a thought. Maybe Midland is more of a financial plan, that anything else.

They're probably a Fisheries now or something, now I've said that haha.

[BootsOntheSide]

They're a strange team, as Alex Schnaider doesn't seem to exude enthusiasm or passion for the sport the way Dieter M does, and he has no history in racing the way Aguri and Gerhard do. The drivers are adequate journeymen whose only real value to the series is to add 2 more nations to the grid, and there's no real potential for them to advance up the grid - it wouldn't be a surprise for them to be marooned at the back once the Aguri car is in.

[ParkLife]

There's always the possibility of EJ buying the team back in 2008/9 assuming the new low cost formula comes into practice.

[CombeMarshal]

Didn't SA finish a lap down on MFI?
I'm sure Midland were lapped twice and Aruri 3 times

Malaysian Grand Prix result - 56 laps

1. FISICHELLA Renault 1h30m40.529s

2. ALONSO Renault +4.6s

3. BUTTON Honda +9.6s

4. MONTOYA McLaren +36.4s

5. MASSA Ferrari +43.3s

6. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari +43.9s

7. VILLENEUVE BMW +1m20.5s

8. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota +1m21.3s

9. TRULLI Toyota +1 lap

10. BARRICHELLO Honda +1 lap

11. LIUZZI Toro Rosso +2 laps

12. ALBERS Midland +2 laps

13. MONTEIRO Midland +2 laps

14. SATO Super Aguri +3 laps

R. HEIDFELD BMW +8 laps

R. SPEED Toro Rosso +15 laps

R. IDE Super Aguri +23 laps

R. KLIEN Red Bull +30 laps

R. WEBBER Williams +41 laps

R. COULTHARD Red Bull +46 laps

R. ROSBERG Williams +50 laps
R. RAIKKONEN McLaren +56 laps

[CombeMarshal]

It would be great to see EJ back in F1, I was Jordans biggest fan!

[shambles]

Originally Posted by CombeMarshal

Didn't SA finish a lap down on MFI?
I'm sure Midland were lapped twice and Aruri 3 times

Yeah your right, but Fisi, Alonso and Button only just pipped the Aguri on the last lap I believe.

[CombeMarshal]

Originally Posted by martin-1

Yeah your right, but Fisi, Alonso and Button only just pipped the Aguri on the last lap I believe.

Ah right, Maybe they just wanted someone to play with!

[kipper]

Originally Posted by martin-1

What is Midland?

This may answer the question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Group

Personally, I think that Midland are achieving about as much as can be expected given the fact that their drivers are never going to become world beaters, they lack any major sponsors and the fact that their facilities are unlikely to be on a par with some of the larger outfits. Also, I get the impression that Alex Schnaider is very much a businessman first and as such is reticent to spend huge amounts of cash chasing dreams. An important point to note is that the midfield of Formula 1 is becoming increasingly competitive and with outfits with the facilities and financial clout as Toyota and Red Bull struggling to achieve significant results then it is unlikely that Midland would be able to perform better.

[Matski]

I would have thought that the STR's should have been behind the MF1's - but with their 'cheatin'' V10's they're doing okay.

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

I can't help but wonder if Midland would have been better served simply getting onboard as a title sponsor. Midland-Jordan F1, or something similar.

Sometimes I get the impression they bought Jordan just because they could, and not out of any real passion (yes, I know it's just business).

[Knowlesy]

Well did anyone expect Midland to do anything even remotely notable this year.

A team owned by a disinterested man, run by a mental dentist and funded by Cristijan Albers simply cannot expect to challenge the midfield, let alone move up to it.

At least Johnny Herbert seems to be enjoying his role. Hopefully he will move up to a Formula 1 team someday.

[cds_uk]

Not so sure about EJ buying it back, what about EI, he has got russian money so it all ties in nicely, or am i just being simplistic here.

[kipper]

Whilst the idea of Eddie Irvine buying MF1 appeals, it needs to be considered that negotiations did take place last summer between the two parties, but it would appear that the asking price was higher than what Irvine's Russian backers were prepared to pay.

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

A team owned by a disinterested man, run by a mental dentist and funded by Cristijan Albers simply cannot expect to challenge the midfield, let alone move up to it.

My emphasis.

That cracked me up!

I think Midland could've ended up a lot worse than they are.