Super Aguri F1 has confirmed that the French Grand Prix will be Franck Montagny's last for the time being, with current third driver Sakon Yamamoto being promoted to the second race seat when the team's SA06 chassis comes online at the German Grand Prix later this month.
While speculation suggested that the Japanese driver would be promoted alongside
Takuma Sato as
Formula One returned to Europe this weekend, Montagny has been handed a stay of execution for his home event, where he and Sato will continue to run the SA05 car based on a four-year old Arrows design.
"Franck Montagny will be racing for the team in the role of second driver at the French Grand Prix, whilst Sakon Yamamoto will continue in his invaluable role as third driver for the Friday practice sessions," a pre-Magny-Cours statement confirmed, "Sakon will then be driving for the team in the position of second race driver from the German Grand Prix for the launch of the SA06."
Montagny had already revealed, via his personal website, that the French GP would be his last, for the moment, as a race driver, so the team's confirmation came as little surprise, especially as Aguri Suzuki has always insisted that his aim was to field an all-Japanese line-up. The team started the season with Yuji Ide alongside Sato, but had to draft then third driver Montagny in when the FNippon graduate had his superlicence suspended by the
FIA.
Montagny admitted that he had not been expected to remain as race driver beyond Indianapolis, despite Magny-Cours being his home event, and expressed his gratitude to Suzuki for giving him one last outing in front of his home fans.
"Our new car was originally scheduled to be launched here, but now it will be the final race for the SA05," he said, perhaps explaining the reason behind the decision, "We shall do our best and try to make a good race until we have the SA06 in Germany. I am very happy to be going to Magny-Cours, as other F1 drivers really like this circuit."
