Frank Montagny replaces Yuji Ide from the European GP

[Ed]

Announcement from the Super Aguri Team:

Following advice received from the FIA this week, SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM confirms that Yuji Ide will be participating in the team?s testing days only with immediate effect. Franck Montagny will therefore undertake the role of SAF1 Team second driver at the European Grand Prix this weekend.

Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal

We accept the advice offered by the FIA to allow Yuji to accrue the mileage he requires to improve in Formula One during our testing days only. The team has made every effort to ensure that Yuji settled into his new F1 surroundings and I think that he has coped incredibly well under the circumstances. I wish that I could have given Yuji more time in the car before the start of the season, but with the team being put together so rapidly we were unable to allow him the proper testing that he should have experienced. I will continue to look after Yuji's interests and support his continuing efforts within the team, including his path back to a Formula One race seat. As a result, Franck Montagny will drive for us in the second race seat at the European Grand Prix.

[Julian Mayo]

If you say it quickly his name sounds like "Antony" as in Davison

[Snowy]

If you say it quickly his name sounds like "Antony" as in Davison

It hurts when I talk that quickly! Why would you make me do this? Don't make me do this again! What exactly are you saying anyway? That Franck and Antony are the same person?! There is getting to be a bit of a theme running across these threads...isn't there Amshad?

Ide has been replaced very quickly shows just how devilishly cruel F1 can be.

[Julian Mayo]

1 race too late, imho.

[rah]

Ok put your predictions here. Who is the faster driver? Frank or Sato?

My vote: Sato for this GP, Frank for the rest.

[JayVee]

I think this is Montagny's chance to impress and possible get a permanent drive. I think he will be faster than Sato

[Julian Mayo]

Sato is a litte faster....Frank finishes. Frank will be faster. IMHO.

[rah]

Love to know what FIA said to Aguri to get him to drop Ide. Has the FIA ever done this before Ed? He only got a reprimand from the stewards, not even a suspension.

I wonder what impact this will have back in Japan.

[Ed]

Love to know what FIA said to Aguri to get him to drop Ide. Has the FIA ever done this before Ed? He only got a reprimand from the stewards, not even a suspension.

I wonder what impact this will have back in Japan.

Not as publicly as this but remember it was Super Aguri who said this and not the FIA. I am sure they have done the same in the past but the team may have reacted differently. For example when Alex Yoong drove for Minardi and failed to qualify a number of times before dropping him for a few races.

What is also interesting to note is that Montagny was first signed to be the team's 3rd driver from the European Grand Prix then was promoted to race driver but Ide wasn't given the role of 3rd driver but only a test driver on test days. Looks like they don't have much faith in his abilities!

[<T-K>]

Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal

We accept the advice offered by the FIA to allow Yuji to accrue the mileage he requires to improve in Formula One during our testing days only. The team has made every effort to ensure that Yuji settled into his new F1 surroundings and I think that he has coped incredibly well under the circumstances. I wish that I could have given Yuji more time in the car before the start of the season, but with the team being put together so rapidly we were unable to allow him the proper testing that he should have experienced. I will continue to look after Yuji's interests and support his continuing efforts within the team, including his path back to a Formula One race seat. As a result, Franck Montagny will drive for us in the second race seat at the European Grand Prix.

Very diplomatic response..........I think they are a little relieved that he is no longer in the race seat, but they are being very diplomatic saying how they fully support him etc.......they are just trying to hide their mistakes......

[<T-K>]

It wasnt that he got told not to race...it was that he had his superlicnce taken away

The FIA have rescinded Yuji Ide's Super Licence, the document required to compete in Formula One, the Super Aguri Honda team has confirmed. The Japanese driver will therefore not be participating in any further events this year...

Full story:
http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/headlin ... 2532.shtml

[Julian Mayo]

It wasnt that he got told not to race...it was that he had his superlicnce taken away

The FIA have rescinded Yuji Ide's Super Licence, the document required to compete in Formula One, the Super Aguri Honda team has confirmed. The Japanese driver will therefore not be participating in any further events this year...

Full story:
http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/headlin ... 32.shtm l[/quote

Did he take out more drivers than Sato did last year ?

[<T-K>]

No where near.....but I think he makes up for it with his lack of pace.....

[rah]

Very harsh in my opinion. The poor bloke gets put in an F1 seat with bugger all testing and no experience in F1 and is expected to go fast on tracks he has never seen before. All they are doing is screwing the poor blokes career up. He has done well in Formula Nippon and given enough time I reckon he may have done ok. At least he was agressive and not just following everyone else around like midland do.

[Ed]

Thanks <T-K>,

The Super Aguri team has confirmed that the Formula One Permanent Bureau has decided to withdraw the 2006 Super Licence of Yuji Ide. He will not be taking part in any official Formula 1 events this year.

Super Aguri have also confirmed that Franck Montagny will drive for the team in Spain and Monaco while negotiations continue with a number of parties to secure permanent positions for their second and third drivers.