`You do try to maximise the situation`
MF1 Team Principal Colin Kolles has admitted that the team delayed announcing Tiago Monteiro`s 2006 race seat as a negotiating ploy.
The Midland-owned squad`s managing director told Motorsport Aktuell that - while having the option of retaining the Portuguese rookie - other teams were also interested in signing him.
Williams, for one, enquired about 29-year-old Monteiro - sponsored by the Portuguese government - for a test seat this year.

"Naturally you do try to maximise the situation," Kolles admitted. He also rejected criticism that Midland`s priorities are all wrong, because - out of the twenty confirmed 2006 pilots - only Monteiro and Christijan Albers are what could be described as traditional pay-drivers.
Kolles insisted that MF1 boasts a `quality` line-up.

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