Kolles Denies Rift with Carlin

"I never had an argument with Trevor Carlin, that is for sure, never," Kolles told reporters in Montreal. "He called me on Monday, very calm, and he asked me if I would allow him not to come to Canada.

"Then he told me it was for personal reasons, he explained the situation."

Kolles acknowledged that Carlin's departure "does create a void" but the Briton would retain an advisory role with the team owned by Russian-born Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider.

Shnaider plans to rename the team Midland next year.

Kolles also denied Carlin had been sacked: "No, and you will see he is still a consultant, he will still work with us, but in a different way, not in a daily basis. For how long? There is no limit. He will still be involved, but not in a daily business way.

"I was a bit (surprised). I could see he was not very happy, so, for sure, the situation is not pleasant, because we have enough things to solve, but first of all I told him I cannot force you, and that is the situation. He was maybe a little bit stressed, maybe he will decide to come back in the same way, but he just wants to have time.

"He was never at home, when he was at home he got back late, and if you do that every day, then have to fly away, that is difficult. In addition he has to look over another project and it is too much.

"I never had a problem with Trevor, we never had an argument, I could see at Nurburgring that he was not very happy."

Jordan, with Indian rookie Narain Karthikeyan and Portugal's Tiago Monteiro, have yet to score a point in seven races so far this year and there has been speculation about the team's future.