Dallara laments Midland's late decision

Giampaolo Dallara says only time will tell if the Midland team took the right decision about the design of their car for next season

The Italian constructor was hired by the Midland Group to design their first Formula One car for 2006, but a change of plans in June ditched the project and the team will build their car themselves, using the resources bought from the Jordan squad.

Dallara said the entire project had already been developed and lamented Midland's late change of mind.

"We put our best efforts and plenty of energy in this," Dallara told Autosprint magazine. "Within a couple of years we'll be able to know whether [Midland owner Alex] Shnaider's choice was right or not.

"The anomalous thing is that the re-defining of the agreement came at such an advanced working state, after having done some 4,000 hours in the wind tunnel. Today, anyway, our relationship is correct, but I can't deny we would have liked to do more."

Dallara said his company will still work with Midland until the end of the year, and revealed their contract includes an option to extend it for 2006.

"Our job, until the end of 2005, concerns the aerodynamic development and a supply of the activities supporting the design," he added. "The car that will race in 2006 will anyway be designed and built by Jordan."

The Italian, however, has no regrets about having embarked in the project and believes his company will benefit from it.

"It will have been a fantastic chance to increase our knowledge level," Dallara said. "The working methods needed to design an F1 car are a lot more refined compared to what's needed to win in other series.