Jacques Villeneuve’s return to Formula 1 at Renault for the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in 2004 was a seminal moment in Franck Montagny’s career. Then a test driver for Renault, he had been the logical choice for the seat vacated by Toyota-bound Jarno Trulli. But instead it was 1997 world champion Villeneuve who got the nod for the final three races of 2004 alongside Fernando Alonso.
Montagny says his contract “was clear that I was getting in the car” if one of the regular drivers needed replacing. But it didn’t play out that way. He had to wait until mid-2006, when he made his F1 race debut at the tail-end Super Aguri outfit, after being overlooked for the cameo at Renault and then for a drive at Sauber also taken by Villeneuve for 2005.
