Having lost the opportunity to use Mugen engines for 1995, the Minardi team signed a last-minute agreement with Ford for the V8 type ED engine. Short on power, the M195 was still a car with some good specs. Luca Badoer and Pierluigi Martini were the designated drivers, with Martini being replaced by Pedro Lamy from the Hungarian GP. It was thanks to a sixth place in the final GP in Australia that Minardi won 10th place in the constructors' championship, securing the precious financial support of FOCA.