Friday 3rd February 2006

Midland launched the first Russian Formula One car, the M16. Billionaire Alex Schnaider bought the team in 2005 but ran it under the Jordan name and a British license in his debut season. However, for 2006 the team ran under the Midland banner and, for the first time in F1 history, the Russian flag. Towards the end of the season, the team was sold to Spyker Cars and raced in its last three grands prix under the official name “Spyker MF1 Racing”.