Q & A with Franck Montagny

The deal came about after he was loaned to the Japanese manufacturer for a test at Silverstone over the summer, when it became clear to Toyota that they needed to find a replacement for the Renault-bound Ricardo Zonta.

Autosport.com caught up with Montagny at Jerez this week, where the Frenchman officially began work with his new employer."

Q: How was your first day?

Franck Montagny: "It was quite good. I have done a few laps and it is not too bad. I planned to do a bit more, but I had a small problem in the end. The test was a lot better for the team compared to last week.

"We started with what Ralf (Schumacher) found out at the end from last week, and I had the same problem as Ralf, with some degradation of the rear tyres. I did not like it so much.

"We were not able to do consistent laps, so we thought about it and we found a solution, which was good. Then the car was very consistent. We were quick, although the circuit was not as quick as last week.

"When there are only two cars you pick up a lot of graining, but it was fast and I am happy about what we found on the car. We hope to continue like this."

Q: With the car more balanced, is it more to your liking then?

Montagny: "I have started to be comfortable with the set-up of the car, although I am not comfortable with the car yet. The seat is Ralf's and it is not for me (Schumacher is wider). I am also touching on the shoulder, which is not very nice.

"But the thing that is important is that we improved the car. We worked and we found the solution. And it was quick to find the solution. I am happy about that. The team responded quite well and for me it is good to see the people are able to resolve the problems."

Q: Did you modify the set-up much throughout the day?

Montagny: "Quite a lot actually, which was not the case last week. It was very difficult to make changes last week. Today the set-up was good and we were able to work well and pick up the temperature. It was cold in the morning, and that was why we started at 10.30am. After that we went better and better."

Q: When will you get your own seat?

Montagny: "It is for the new car. It is done already but it doesn't fit in this car. I was originally not planned to run before the end of 2006, so it was a bonus for me. It was good for me."

Q: Have you seen the new car?

Montagny: "Yes. It will be a very good car. And everybody says that! I did sit in the new monocoque and it is a new thing, which is always better. It gave me a smile. In January I will get a chance to drive it. And I will do most of the testing."

Q: Are you enjoying the new Bridgestones?

Montagny: "I do enjoy them. For everybody it is the same. Every year we change the regulations and we all complain, but everyone works on it and find a solution.

"And by the end of the year we are all faster. So I have got no worries. We just have to work at it. The tyres are consistent, which is good.

"For us test drivers we complain a lot in the GPDA as we do 150 laps in a lap, but now we get just three sets of tyres and we have to focus a lot. Everybody has to focus and we have to work on it.

"It is quite a good change for F1 and it is better for the sport. It might even be cheaper."