15 years ago: Jordan's last podium and Tiago Monteiro's joy

The 2005 United States Grand Prix entered the posterity of the Formula 1 for its ridiculously low number of participants: six drivers, all wearing Bridgestone tires. 

The 17 other single-seaters, equipped with Michelin, had given up after the warm-up lap. Their tires were not able to withstand the 73 repetitions on the Indianapolis bank. During free practice, Ralf Schumacher had exploded its left rear tire and the French manufacturer had not found a solution to increase the resistance of its product

In this debacle, won by Michael Schumacher in front of a scandalized public, he was a happy man and team. Arriving in America, Tiago Monteiro and Jordan had scored no points in the first eight innings. 

“We didn't have many chances to fight with the other cars or for points (reserved for the first eight then. Editor's note), recalls the Portuguese, today a Honda driver in the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR). So I was focusing on increasing my knowledge of Formula 1, because it was my first season and we made sure to be as professional as possible, if an opportunity presented itself. »

The Michelin tire affair was precisely the sign of destiny. “ Even though we had participated in a myriad of meetings and had not reached an agreement (between the manufacturers, the teams and F1. Editor's note), it was only in the formation lap that we started to understand what was going to happen. 

We know it could happen, of course, so my engineer was reminding me on the radio to be careful and respect my position on the grid (17e) whatever happens. During that lap, I saw very clearly that some cars were not zigzagging, it was obvious that they would not leave. On the other hand, others were warming up the tires, and I reported my observations on the radio. »

As soon as the opponents rushed into the pit lane, it didn't take long for Tiago Monteiro to realize his chance. “When I arrived on the grid, we had the two Minardi (by Cristijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher) and my teammate Narain Karthikeyan) behind. In front of me, I only saw the two Ferrari far away. The gap was immense. 

Most of the time, we fought between the Jordans and the Minardis, there was a good level between us. There was no guarantee that I could finish ahead of them every time. » Oddly enough, it was his qualification that played a determining role that weekend. “Putting myself in front of them in testing was a key factor. It gave me motivation. »

When the lights went out, the yellow and black car kept its third place, a good distance from the Ferraris. But don't think it was a walk in the park! “It was very, very hard. Back then you drove 1 hour 45 minutes flat out, which is slightly different from today's F1 with energy management. 

Halfway through, I was 20 seconds ahead and my engineer asked me to slow down because the gearbox temperature was rising sharply ! That was really the last thing I wanted to hear. I didn't want to give my pursuers any chance of catching up with me. » 

The rookie didn't really listen to his pit wall. « I kind of ignored him and attacked like crazy until the last 10 laps. These were the 10 most endless loops of my life. It's moments like this that you start to worry about everything, you listen to the noises in the cockpit and your mind makes movies.

Maybe the brakes are failing? The gearbox seems weird? In any case, it was very complicated to stay focused on my driving as I had done earlier in the race. Fortunately, everything was OK! »

The first Portuguese driver to climb onto a podium in F1, Tiago Monteiro was not going to hold back from showing his joy, unlike Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, who chose a low profile. An image which may have taken some spectators by surprise, and touched the paddock with its frankness.

« They congratulated me, we were all happy, but we were asked not to celebrate on the podium because it was the conclusion of a strange weekend; it wasn't the best Grand Prix for the fans. I wanted to follow these rules, I was okay with that. But when I walked on the podium, I saw... I always say it was a sea of ​​people dressed in yellow.

They were shouting and exulting, throwing objects in the air in celebration, and even though I saw some of them remaining serious, I decided “That doesn’t suit me, I’m going to party too”. I went back a bit on what I had decided to do. 

You have to understand that we had gone through a lot of problems this season, and that we had persevered. Out of respect for the mechanics, who worked so hard, it would not have been right not to share their joy. This was their time, and the likelihood of it happening again was very low. 

I must also point out that I did not hear the slightest whistle during the protocol ceremony. OK, it wasn't the most enthusiastic presentation ever, but I felt respect from the audience. »

This result did not, according to the main person concerned, “not changed my life, from a sporting point of view. In 2007, I almost signed for Toro Rosso, but they were more interested in my performance at Spa 2005 where I finished 8th, or my 11th place in qualifying in Brazil. »

Conversely, its notoriety has surged in Portugal. “I was on the midday and evening news, for two or three days in a row. Even today I receive messages about this race, and it has increased with the 15th anniversary. When they introduce me, they still say “This is Tiago Monteiro, driver and winner in WTCR, author of a podium in F1, etc. "It's something that will stay with me forever, and it has had a positive effect on my life. »