 Tiago Monteiro driving the M16 at the2006 San Marino Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Midland F1 Racing | ||||||||||
| Designers | James Key(Technical Director) John McQuilliam(Chief Designer) Simon Phillips(Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Jordan EJ15B | ||||||||||
| Successor | Spyker F8-VII | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibre compositemonocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Composite pushrods activating chassis-mounted in-line dampers and torsion bars, unequal length composite aerodynamic wishbones, front anti-roll bar and cast uprights | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | as front | ||||||||||
| Length | 4,610 mm (181 in) | ||||||||||
| Width | 1,800 mm (71 in) | ||||||||||
| Height | 1,000 mm (39 in) | ||||||||||
| Engine | Toyota RVX-06 2.4 L (146 cu in)V8 (90°).Naturally-aspirated,mid-mounted. | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Midland withToyota internals 7 forward speeds + 1 reversesemi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Weight | 600 kg (1,323 lb)(including driver and camera) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Esso | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Esso | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone BBS wheels (front and rear) | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants |  Midland F1 Racing (Rounds 1-15) Spyker MF1 Racing (Rounds 16-18) | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 18. Tiago Monteiro19. Christijan Albers | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
TheMidland M16, subsequently known as theSpyker M16, was the car with which theMidland team competed in the2006Formula One season. It was driven byTiago Monteiro, who had driven for the team in2005 during itsJordan guise, andChristijan Albers, who moved fromMinardi.
The M16 would be the last Silverstone-basedFormula One car to utilize a Japanese-licensed engine manufacturer until theAston Martin AMR26 withHonda engines in2026 as well as the last Silverstone-basedFormula One car to utilizeToyota engines to date.
AlthoughEddie Jordan had sold his team prior to the start of the 2005 season, 2006 marked the first year for the team under the Midland banner. Originally,Dallara were going to build the Midland car for 2006, however this did not materialise with the team utilising their wind-tunnel but building the chassis themselves in the UK.[2] The M16 was launched on February 3rd, marking the first time a Russian manufacturer had entered Formula One. The car undertook a shakedown test at Silverstone the following day, before the four dayJerez test which began on February 7th.James Key was appointed Technical Director, along withAdrian Sutil,Markus Winkelhock andRoman Rusinov as test drivers.[3][4] Engines for the M16 were purchased fromToyota, and Key noted significant aerodynamic improvements - especially around the rear of the car - from the previous seasons EJ15B.[5]
During the early tests, the M16 posted strong reliability, however it was noted the car had some unique handling characteristics for the drivers to get used to before the season opened inBahrain.[6] By day 3, the drivers were posting 1.20.6 laps of Jerez, running both the M16 and oldEJ15B chassis. This was an improvement of their first tests with the Toyota V8 in December 2005, where Albers andThomas Biagi were lapping between 1.21-1.23.[7][8]
The season was not a success for Midland. Early results were poor, with significant numbers of retirements that only worsened as the season progressed, despite positive comments from the Midland technical team.[9] At the2006 German Grand Prix, both cars were disqualified for running flexible wings that failed FIA testing.[10] The following race inHungary was the M16's best results - Monteiro and Albers finishing 9th and 10th respectively.
In September, the Midland team was sold by Alex Shnaider toDutch car manufacturerSpyker Cars just before theItalian GP. The livery was changed to orange and silver, however results did not improve and the team finished 10th in the Constructors' Championship with 0 points.[11][12] Over the course of the season the car scored a median qualifying performance of 19th and median fastest lap performance of 18th.[13]
Christijan Albers wore a special helmet at theCanadian Grand Prix to cheer on theNetherlands team at the2006 FIFA World Cup in Berlin.[14]
In 2011, the M16 made a brief appearance in the third episode of the first season of the Americanlegal drama television seriesSuits.[15]
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(key) (results inbold indicate pole position)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Midland F1 Racing Spyker MF1 Racing | ToyotaV8 | B | BHR | MAL | AUS | SMR | EUR | ESP | MON | GBR | CAN | USA | FRA | GER | HUN | TUR | ITA | CHN | JPN | BRA | 0 | NC | |
| Tiago Monteiro | 17 | 13 | Ret | 16 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | Ret | Ret | DSQ | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 16 | 15 | ||||||
| Christijan Albers | Ret | 12 | 11 | Ret | 13 | Ret | 12 | 15 | Ret | Ret | 15 | DSQ | 10 | Ret | 17 | 15 | Ret | 14 |
