View source for Midland M16

{{Short description|Formula One racing car}}
{{Racing car |
  Car_name         = Midland M16<br>Spyker M16 |
  Image            = [[File:Tiago Monteiro 2006 April.jpg|260px]]|
|Caption=[[Tiago Monteiro]] driving the M16 at the [[2006 San Marino Grand Prix]]|
  Category         = [[Formula One]] |
  Constructor      = [[Midland F1 Racing]] |
  Designer         = [[James Key (Formula One)|James Key]] {{smaller|(Technical Director)}}<br />[[John McQuilliam]] {{smaller|(Chief Designer)}}<br /> Simon Phillips {{smaller|(Head of Aerodynamics)}} |
  Predecessor      = [[Jordan EJ15B]] |
  Successor        = [[Spyker F8-VII]] |
  Team             = {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Midland F1 Racing]] (Rounds 1-15)<br>{{flagicon|NED}} [[Spyker MF1 Racing]] (Rounds 16-18) |
  Drivers          = 18. {{flagicon|POR}} [[Tiago Monteiro]]<br>19. {{flagicon|NED}} [[Christijan Albers]] |
  Technical ref    = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/903/midland-toyota-m16 |title=Midland Toyota M16 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=f1technical.net |publisher=F1 Technical |access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> |
  Chassis          = [[Carbon fiber reinforced polymer|Carbon-fibre composite]] [[monocoque]] |
  Front suspension = Composite pushrods activating chassis-mounted in-line dampers and torsion bars, unequal length composite aerodynamic wishbones, front anti-roll bar and cast uprights |
  Rear suspension  = ''as front'' |
  Length           = {{convert|4610|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} |
  Width            = {{convert|1800|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} |
  Height           = {{convert|1000|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} |
  Engine name      = [[Toyota F1|Toyota]] RVX-06 |
  Capacity         = {{convert|2.4|L|cuin|0|abbr=on}} |
  Configuration    = [[V8 engine|V8]] (90°). |
  Turbo/NA         = [[Naturally-aspirated engine|Naturally-aspirated]], |
  Engine position  = [[MR layout|mid-mounted]]. |
  Gearbox name     = [[MF1 Racing|Midland]] with [[Toyota F1|Toyota]] internals |
  Gears            = 7 forward speeds + 1 reverse |
  Transmission type = [[Semi-automatic transmission|semi-automatic]] |
  Differential     = |
  Weight           = {{convert|600|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} {{smaller|(including driver and camera)}} |
  Fuel             = [[Esso]] |
  Lubricants       = [[Esso]] |
  Tyres            = [[Bridgestone]]<br />[[BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik|BBS]] wheels (front and rear) |
  Debut            = [[2006 Bahrain Grand Prix]] 
|Last_event=[[2006 Brazilian Grand Prix]]
  |Races            = 18 |
  Wins             = 0 |
  Cons_champ       = 0 |
  Drivers_champ    = 0 |
  Poles            = 0 |
  Fastest_laps     = 0 |
  Podiums = 0|
}}
The '''Midland M16''', subsequently known as the '''Spyker M16''', was the car with which the [[Midland F1 Racing|Midland]] team competed in the {{F1|2006}} [[Formula One]] season.  It was driven by [[Tiago Monteiro]], who had driven for the team in {{F1|2005}} during its [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]] guise, and [[Christijan Albers]], who moved from [[Minardi]].

==Background==
===Development and design===
Although [[Eddie Jordan]] had sold his team prior to the start of the 2005 season, 2006 marked the first year for the team under the Midland banner. Originally, [[Dallara]] were going to build the Midland car for 2006, however this did not materialise with the team utilising their wind-tunnel but building the chassis themselves in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallara Won't Build Midland's Car|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/dallara-wont-build-midlands-car-5330710/5330710/|website=autosport.com}}</ref> The M16 was launched on February 3rd, marking the first time a Russian manufacturer had entered Formula One.  The car undertook a shakedown test at Silverstone the following day, before the four day [[Circuito de Jerez|Jerez]] test which began on February 7th. [[James Key (Formula One)|James Key]] was appointed Technical Director, along with [[Adrian Sutil]], [[Markus Winkelhock]] and [[Roman Rusinov]] as test drivers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MF1 launches the M16 (with pictures)|url=https://www.pitpass.com/27026/MF1-launches-the-M16-with-pictures|website=pitpass.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MF1Racing launches M16|url=https://www.f1technical.net/news/1714|website=f1technical.net}}</ref>  Engines for the M16 were purchased from [[Toyota F1|Toyota]], and  Key noted significant aerodynamic improvements - especially around the rear of the car - from the previous seasons EJ15B.<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Key talks about M16|url=https://www.f1technical.net/news/1732|website=f1technical.net}}</ref>

===Testing===
During the early tests, the M16 posted strong reliability, however it was noted the car had some unique handling characteristics for the drivers to get used to before the season opened in [[Bahrain International Circuit|Bahrain]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The KEY to unlocking the M16’s performance|url=https://www.f1technical.net/news/1810|website=f1technical.net}}</ref> By day 3, the drivers were posting 1.20.6 laps of Jerez, running both the M16 and old [[Jordan_EJ15#EJ15B|EJ15B]] chassis. This was an improvement of their first tests with the Toyota V8 in December 2005, where Albers and [[Thomas Biagi]] were lapping between 1.21-1.23.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Midland F1 started testing|url=https://www.f1technical.net/news/1433|website=f1technical.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Day 3 for Midland|url=https://www.f1technical.net/news/1769|website=f1technical.net}}</ref>

==Season overview==
The season was not a success for Midland.  Early results were poor, with significant numbers of retirements that only worsened as the season progressed, despite positive comments from the Midland technical team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keeping up the pace|url=https://www.f1technical.net/news/3013|website=f1technical.net}}</ref>  At the [[2006 German Grand Prix]], both cars were disqualified for running flexible wings that failed FIA testing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Midland disqualified over flexi wings|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/midland-disqualified-over-flexi-wings-4404539/4404539/|website=autosport.com}}</ref> The following race in [[2006 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungary]] was the M16's best results - Monteiro and Albers finishing 9th and 10th respectively.  

In September, the Midland team was sold by Alex Shnaider to [[Netherlands|Dutch]] car manufacturer [[Spyker Cars]] just before the [[2006 Italian Grand Prix|Italian GP]].  The livery was changed to orange and silver, however results did not improve and the team finished 10th in the Constructors' Championship with 0 points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Midland F1 team sold to Spyker|url=https://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/10/midland-f1-team-sold-to-spyker/|website=autoblog.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spyker buys Midland F1 team|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/spyker-buys-midland-f1-team|website=autocar.co.uk}}</ref> Over the course of the season the car scored a median qualifying performance of 19th and median fastest lap performance of 18th.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Midland M16|url=https://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Midland%20M16&type=M|website=chicanef1.com}}</ref>

==Other appearances==
The M16 also made a brief appearance in the third episode of the first season of the American [[legal drama]] television series ''[[Suits (American TV series)|Suits]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Christijan_Albers_USA_2006.jpg|Albers driving the M16 at Indianapolis
Albers Monaco2006.jpg| The M16 at Monaco
MF1 Collision (crop2 Tbone).PNG|The two M16s crashed into each other at the Canadian Grand Prix
Spyker M16 Christijan Albers September 2006.jpg| The rebranded M16 under Spyker ownership for the final three races
</gallery>

==Complete Formula One results==
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) (results in '''bold''' indicate pole position) 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! Year
! Entrant
! Engine
! Tyres
! Drivers
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! 17
! 18
! Points
! WCC
|-
!rowspan="3"| {{F1|2006}}
|rowspan="3"| [[Midland F1 Racing]]<br>[[Spyker MF1 Racing]]
|rowspan="3"| [[Toyota F1|Toyota]] [[V8 engine|V8]]
|rowspan="3"| {{Bridgestone}}
|  
| [[2006 Bahrain Grand Prix|BHR]]
| [[2006 Malaysian Grand Prix|MAL]]
| [[2006 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]
| [[2006 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]
| [[2006 European Grand Prix|EUR]]
| [[2006 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[2006 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[2006 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[2006 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[2006 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
| [[2006 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[2006 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[2006 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]
| [[2006 Turkish Grand Prix|TUR]]
| [[2006 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[2006 Chinese Grand Prix|CHN]]
| [[2006 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]
| [[2006 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
!rowspan="3"| 0
!rowspan="3"| NC
|-
| {{flagicon|POR}} [[Tiago Monteiro]]
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 13
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 16
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 16
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 16
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 14
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 16 
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15
|-
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Christijan Albers]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 11
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 13
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15 
|style="background:#000000; color:white"| DSQ
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 10
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 14 
|}

==References==
{{commons category|Midland M16}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book| editor-last =Henry| editor-first =Alan| editor-link =Alan Henry| title =[[AUTOCOURSE]] 2006-2007| publisher =Crash Media Group| year =2006| pages =80–81| isbn =1-905334-15-X}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}

{{Midland F1 Racing}}
{{F1 cars 2006}}

[[Category:Formula One cars]]
[[Category:2006 Formula One season cars]]