02/02/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of the launch of its first car, Midland F1 has announced two driver signings.
First off, the Russian team announced the signing of 22-year-old Adrian Sutil from Munich, Germany, as the team's official Junior Driver for 2006.
Sutil, runner-up in the 2005 F3 Euroseries Championship, becomes the sixth German to be involved in F1 in 2006.
MF1 Racing Managing Director Colin Kolles commented, "Adrian drove for my F3 team in his rookie Euroseries season. When he earned pole position in just his third race, I was more than just impressed - I was convinced that he was a talent for the future. As MF1's Junior Driver in 2006, he will have the opportunity to mature professionally in a Formula 1 environment and prepare himself thoroughly for what I believe will be a great F1 career."
Sutil will share testing duties for the team and will also participate in some of the Friday Grand Prix practice days.
A gifted pianist, Sutil was expected to follow his violinist father, Jorge, into a musical career but at the age of 14, he discovered karting.
"From that moment on, Formula 1 has been my goal," said the aspiring Junior Driver. "This opportunity with MF1, at an early stage in my development as a driver, is a dream come true. I know that if I work really hard, I can repay the confidence that has been shown in me and earn a place among the top drivers in the world."
In addition to Sutil, the Silverstone-based outfit announced that 25-year-old Swiss driver Giorgio Mondini will participate in nine Friday Grand Prix test days this season.
Mondini, from Geneva, was a relatively late starter to racing, competing in his first Formula Renault Championship in 2001. A graduate of the famous Henry Morough Racing School in Italy, He quickly showed speed but 2004 was when it all started to come together for him and he won the Renault V6 Championship.
Mondini graduated to World Series by Renault for the start of the 2005 but things really took off when he was invited to join David Price Racing's GP2 team for the second half of the season. His performances earned him a test driver the World Championship winning Renault team at Barcelona last December: 'That test whetted my appetite for Formula1 and I am delighted to have this opportunity with MF1 Racing. The new car looks really good and I can't wait to drive it.'