Tiago Monteiro fought hard to make it to the finish of yesterday's French Grand Prix but his efforts were ruined when his Midland F1 car developed a hydraulic problem which caused him to retire on lap eleven. The team now heads to Jerez, Spain, for three days of testing from July 19-21 before returning to competition in two weeks' time at Hockenheim for the German Grand Prix.

Tiago Monteiro commented: "It's been a tough, tough weekend, to say the least. I've been fighting to find the right set-up for my car ­ we tried everything and just couldn't get the balance right. I started from 18th position and got squeezed wide and passed by two cars, so I was stuck behind Montagny for a few laps. I was fighting to overtake him, and then, all of a sudden, I had no more hydraulic pressure. The car spun at the first high-speed chicane and I went flying over the kerb very violently. I barely made it back to the pits and the car died. It’s a real shame and the first time in my F1 career I’ve had to retire from two straight races.”

“Now we have a major test in Jerez, and we'll have to work hard to tune the set-up and get ready for Hockenheim. The hydraulic problem is frustrating, but I understand that that's how racing goes sometimes."