Tiago Monteiro raced in Formula One during the 2005 and 2006 seasons for Jordan and Midland. These days, he spends his time behind the wheel of a World Tour Car Championship car. Despite his rather busy schedule, Tiago was in contact with Racing Clothesline and agreed to answer some questions for us.
You had your first and only Formula One podium at the 2005 United States Grand Prix. This was the race in which all of the drivers Michelin tyres withdrew, leaving only six cars to start the race. Does that take away from the joy of your achievement?
Not really. You know that in F1 to win races and fight for podiums you need to be in a top team and obviously at that time Jordan was having a hard time and we didn´t had the weapons to fight with the top teams. In that weekend after all things that happened I knew that was probably my only chance to finish in the podium but I had 3 other guys thinking the same so I had to fight hard, stay calm and focused and attack as much as possible to open a gap to them. I did it and I don’t take any joy from the situation because in the end that was my chance and I took it.
During the 2005 season, you drove for Jordan Grand Prix, owned by Eddie Jordan. Can you describe Eddie?
Eddie is a very passionate person. He is a legend and it was a great team for me to start my F1 career. Obviously I was closer to Trevor Carlin who was in charge of Jordan that year, but I only have good things to say about Eddie.
The Jordan team was sold for 2006 to the Midland Group. How much of an effect did this change of ownership have on the team and its employees?
In terms of motivation of the employees it didn´t changed anything, but obviously it affected the way things were moving and in three years the team changed ownership three times which is never good, especially in F1 where stability is crucial. But we made it and I was lucky to be part of it for those two years. I did my job as best I could and I think in a very positive and professional way to get my respect in that strict and tough world of F1.
Why did you not continue your Formula One career past 2006?
I had it all sorted to continue in F1 with Toro Rosso, but things sometimes are not easy as they seem. But I am happy where I am and I think in my two years of F1 I did what I should and that helped me a lot to be where I am now.
Why did you decide to move on to the World Touring Car Championship after your Formula One career was over?
That was actually not the plan. My aim was to stay in F1 so I didn´t even have an option B, so when things didn´t happen to continue in F1 I had to be fast to get a good place in a competitive and important championship. Seat made an offer to join them in WTCC, so I said “yes” without even knowing the championship that well. Now after almost ten years I think I made the right choice!
In WTCC, your current teammate is Gabriele Tarquini. How well do you get along with him?
Gabriele is a very good driver, probably one of the drivers that I worked with better technical feedback and we work very well together. As a human we are very close. We travel together and have dinner together, so we are friends outside the track. It is a very good relationship and I couldn´t have a better team mate in WTCC at this stage.
Obviously, teammates spend quite a bit of time when you’re at a race weekend. How much time would you say that teammates spend together during the off-season or in between races?
We always stay in touch because we both want to improve and push Honda to the front. Me and Gabriele both have the same approach in terms of motivating our team and the way we work with them, so even when the championship is finished we always keep them busy with more ideas.
How much of a difference is it to have two races in a weekend, instead of just one like we see in Formula One?
It´s just a matter of getting used to it. In F1 we travel on Monday or Tuesday to races and in WTCC only on Wednesday or even Thursday, but in F1 we have lots and lots of meetings and team debriefings. In WTCC it´s not so many people as in F1, but the level of professionalism is also high and I use a lot my f1 knowledge in WTCC.
Do you think that this style of race weekend could work for a sport like Formula One?
Not really. I think in F1 having only one race is a good thing because you work hard for that race and, for the crowd, Sunday is always the big day with the fans getting crazy day by day until it gets Sunday. I wouldn´t change anything in terms of that.
Is there any particular point in your career that has a special spot in your memory?
Obviously, my F1 podium will always stay in my heart, but also my World Series year with Carlin is a very high moment for me and I have to thank Trevor for what he did for me in that year pushing my name back to the F1 route.
Do you have any plans for the future?
My plan and my ultimate goal at the moment is to win the World Touring Car Championship. This is what I work for every day and I think that I am in the right stage of my career to do it, so I must do it!
