Yuji has been demoted at the request of the FIA

By nGO
May 10 2006

A sudden announcement states Ide will be dropped from race duties, spurred on from his lack of pace and the Albers incident.

Ide who has struggled in F1 so far, has been replaced by Montagny for the European Grand Prix at the FIA's request. He has now been demoted to the third driver role participating only in testing.

Commenting on this shock announcement, Aguri Suzuki said, ""We accept the advice offered by the FIA to allow Yuji to accrue the mileage he requires to improve in Formula One during our testing days only. The team has made every effort to ensure that Yuji settled into his new F1 surroundings and I think that he has coped incredibly well under the circumstances."

Aguri continued, ""I wish that I could have given Yuji more time in the car before the start of the season, but with the team being put together so rapidly we were unable to allow him the proper testing that he should have experienced. I will continue to look after Yuji's interests and support his continuing efforts within the team, including his path back to a Formula One race seat. As a result, Franck Montagny will drive for us in the second race seat at the European Grand Prix."