Jordan team boss Eddie Jordan recently conducted a telephone conference organized by the Australian Grand prix corporation. Jordan has been in Formula One for thirteen seasons now, starting the team back in 1991. In that time he has won a total of four Grand Prix, the latest being last year with Giancarlo Fisichella at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil.
Teams and drivers are all arriving in Melbourne to kick off the new championship season, one filled with eager anticipation and hope, and for Eddie Jordan, the new year signals a ‘fightback’. The Irishman explains…..
Eddie, what are your expectations for Jordan this year?
Nice question to start with. The situation is that Jordan seemed to have battled a bit last year. It was a fraught year, somewhat lucky win in Brazil, but nevertheless we won it. I've described this year, when I'm doing my staff talks and the commitment in trying to create a new passion that Jordan always had, and I talk extensively about the fightback. Jordan came in with very little chance of survival in 1991, and I think not because we're just a lot of Irish here, or a lot of Australians or whatever in this team, but we are fighters. And I think Formula One desperately, desperately needs the entrepreneurial end to the thing that a whole group of manufacturers, in my opinion, wouldn't create the same aurora, or in fact feeling, about the series. I'm an optimist by nature, and on that basis I feel that we can get ourselves back through this fight back into the top six. That's going to be a huge task but I'm really confident about the little car. It seems to be very quick and it's nice and nimble, we've got good partners - both with Ford with this new engine and hopefully with Bridgestone and a couple of young drivers. I've gone back to the old system: bring on young drivers, because a lot of the drivers that are in existence are never going to be Michael Schumachers. But there is always the hope that you can find... [the next superstar]. That's it in a nutshell. I hope that answers the question. Our expectation is, in a roundabout way, if I could make the top six I think you would see me doing hula hoops.
Australians, in a lot of sports, are very quick to adopt anyone who has got an Australian connection overseas; we think of 'Aussie' Kim Clijsters [partner of Australian tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt]. Now that you are sponsored by Quicksilver, to what extent should we adopt you as a team with an Australian connection?
I'd hate to tell you how many Aussies I've employed in my time. I don't know whether it's the fact they have either no bed to go home to or they needed refuge. Also with the Irish connection, because the Irish connection is strong in Aussie, so there's a compatibility there. Our own team manager, Tim Edwards, and many of the top people that we've had here have been Australians, so there's a good connection. I'm not sure that what Quiksilver will do. We looked at it as a brand, it identifies us, and Jordan and Quiksilver with the same sort of brand values: it's young, it's hip, it's fun, it's exciting, it's vibrant. They're the kind of messages that I think that Jordan has in Formula One. Sometimes we get criticised by some of my, if you like, more successful team owners in Formula One I won't mention any names but they often say to me, "Eddie, you're just not serious enough." Well, the problem is they don't know me because, yes, I like rock 'n' roll, yes I do like a bit of fun, but I tell you, you can't imagine what a steely, determined person I am behind that skin. I need those things to set me free from complete insanity, and if I don't have that little bit of energy or madness or rock 'n' roll, I think I would be a very different person.
Imagine you wouldn't want to necessarily mention names, but if we were to mention colours, would silver and blue be a fair guess.
Well, silver machine does come to mind, funnily enough. I'm not one to be criticizing, because he has won far too many races in the past and who knows that maybe he is right and I'm wrong. He is a good friend actually behind it all, but we have two diametrically opposed ideas about how we should go through life.
You had some pretty well documented problems with sponsors last year, which apparently caused most of your troubles, but these seemed to have been addressed. In turn, how imperative is it now that you produce some sort of success in terms of points or for the sponsors? Or can you gradually fight back over the next few years to get back to the form you had of five years ago?
There's a couple of ways of looking at it. Jordan is, for whatever reason, it's a bit of a higher profile team than some of the other teams. I'm not sure what the reason behind that is partly our colour, partly the way we go about it. But we get heavily criticised for doing things wrong, and we get heavily promoted for doing things right, and so therefore the mix I can live with. It's not a problem. Last year was painful, very painful. I took a lot of stick in a fairly highly-publicised court case and, in my opinion wrongly so. Certainly not to the extent... I don't believe it should have gone to the extent that it did, with a result that a number of magazines, particularly, that queried and questioned our viability as a going concern in this very difficult type business.
If you were to ask me what was one of the most pleasurable things over the last 15 years I'd say survival. Forget about wins, because this is about survival. The entrepreneur team has been squeezed out bit by bit, and I'm determined to stay there. And this reflects directly on your question. People like Benson and Hedges, who renewed a new contract [with Jordan], Ford, Bridgestone. I will announce in Australia a very, very unique and I think unbelievably exciting new deal with Bahrain, which is a new idea to it, which is special and it's going to be launched and I've spoken to Ron Walker [Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman] and he is also excited about what we are going to do with this Bahrain promotion, which will be disclosed on Thursday [March 4] at 4.30 in Melbourne, so that's an exciting thing. So to get a sovereign government to come along, we must be doing some things right but, yes, it did hurt me last year. But I was doubly determined, and they always say a wounded Paddy in a corner is a dangerous item. I suppose maybe I was wounded last year and I was determined to show everyone that I could fight back - and that's what we're doing.
How long will survival be enough?
As I said from the outset, I said I'm a total optimist, I see a complete change around in the future of Formula One. I'm that big an optimist I see things like... I have to question what is going to happen with the major manufacturers because manufacturers don't like to finish at the back, they need teams like Stoddy [Paul Stoddart's Minardi] and myself and Sauber [independent Swiss team] because for the shareholders of these major corporations total failure is not acceptable, so I wonder how long some of them will continue before entrepreneurs creep back in again. I see this business as being cyclical, like most other things in life. I see Michael Schumacher retiring. I see, in my big crystal ball, I see people like Ron Dennis [McLaren chief] retiring, and other people like that, and I'm going to stick it out until I win this championship so, I'm sorry guys, maybe I'll have to be around for a while.
We were talking to Bernie Ecclestone a couple of weeks ago and he said there was a desperate need for the costs of F1 to be reigned in, and decisions would need to be made this year to close the gap between the manufacturer-supported teams and the others. Do you see this as a sign of hope that maybe the competition element will become a little closer, bring you back more towards the top?
At the end of the day I think, and I hope, that apart from being an optimist I am a realist nevertheless, and this is all nonsense because what Bernie is saying is absolutely true, and he means it and he would like it to happen. But in the scheme of things, it's impossible. It can't happen. You're not going to tell McLaren to spend less than their US$300 million or Ferrari less than US$400 million because, when it comes to the crunch and they need an engineer from Jordan, they will pay whatever it takes to take him. They will take whatever it takes to take Michael Schumacher or Raikkonen [McLaren's Finnish star Kimi Raikkonen] or Montoya [Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, now with Williams but next year joining McLaren] or whatever it is. So I'm sorry, what he said was probably really what he would like to see happen, but in the real facts of life, in a competition as severe and as demanding as what's there, there is no chance that it could ever happen. McLaren has always gone on record that the only way that they can beat Ferrari is try to outspend them. That in recent years hasn't been possible because of the emergence of one Michael Schumacher, but I daresay that maybe things will change in that area. People are getting to a stage where maybe years will change things for them. As much as I would love to see it happen, I'm sorry, it's a no hoper.
What about cutting the costs of F1?
We have had Formula One Commission meetings until we are blue in the face. I've given up shouting. I get very passionate at these things. I say to them, "Why are we bringing all this equipment?" Everyone has the same set of this and the same that and we are hiking it, we're bringing them to Australia, it's costing us millions of pounds in freight. The person in the grandstand does not understand it, doesn't see it, and he has no benefit from it. What are we doing it for? All we are doing is making it possible to add increased costs on ourselves, make a little bit more money for the freight company, a lot of aggravation, papers, customs, Christ knows what. It is a complete waste of money. But Formula One has always had that element in it and manufacturers are such and I'm being a little bit critical of them they have budgets and their budgets and their chief executive, when they say they are going to go into Formula One they go in at whatever it costs. Budget is not set in stone at the beginning of the year because I am not sure one of them pay any attention to the budget, and [they] risk whatever is needed at the time. There is a justifiable reason as to why they spend extra each occasion. But people like Stoddart and myself and Sauber are three teams who are individuals, are very much conscious of a budget. You set out with a target at the beginning and you know you have got the money, you can only spend it once, and once it's gone, it's gone for good. There is no fairy godmother that you can go to with a crystal ball and say, "Can I have $10 million more?" because it doesn't happen - it's not there. So I don't know how we can cut the costs. I'm pretty tough on this angle, but it's a nonsense. We should stop talking about it and just get on with it.
What ingredients would you say are required for Jordan to again be regular race winners? Money?
There's a couple of things that I must be fair to our other competitors on. I have the same chance as Ferrari, Williams, McLaren, Toyota perhaps. They have the same amount of skin colour and coloration on their car as we have. If I'm not able to attract the same amount of money and budget and income as they are, then I feel that personally that I have let my company down because I am, at the end of the day, fully responsible for the commercial aspect of the team. We can have all sorts of excuses and we can say, you know, they received this from a budget inside a manufacturer's, and the manufacturers are going to place orders with other companies and people like Allianz, or whoever it is, come because of BMW. Look, at the end of the day, the world is the world, and my obligation is to my team and it is not in any constructive form that I am critical about other people having more money than Jordan. In my opinion that is a negative argument. I have to get my butt up and get out there and rip into everything and find as much money. What we have done, despite a lot of pessimistic views going through the season at the end of last year, I have found a very different approach in the commercial world whereby Jordan seem to be still very good value for money. Formula One is good value for money. All of these openings of new areas... going to Melbourne was a bonus, now going to China is a bonus, going to the Middle East is a bonus. These new open markets hopefully we can add to that, maybe less in Europe and more into places like Russia, India and new markets where all of the people can participate as perhaps the greatest combination of shows. Eighteen races throughout the world like this has to be a benefit, but it's a very big benefit to Australia to have the first race every year because everybody talks about that.
Just in light of what you've said about all of that, you say you should stop talking about the money and just get on with it, but for yourself what is the answer? Are you going to have to rely on some of the manufacturer teams losing their enthusiasm to be back up the front? What is the real answer for you in terms of getting back on top?
My opinion is... I think I've said it without repeating much in this crystal ball I see three, maybe four, hard core manufacturers in the years to come. I see new teams coming in, people like the Davis Sears and other teams that are going to come in and [indistinct]. I can see maybe two or three engine manufacturers where the engines will be much more sensible in terms of the cost. I don't think the people sitting in the grandstand in Melbourne on Sunday week will really give a toss one way or another whether a BMW has 10 horsepower more than its rival Mercedes. Of course, the different names are important because that's what sells cars and hopefully operate a marketing platform. But what I think we should do, and what I really think we should do, is people should make their own cars, absolutely granted. But there should be some form of a limit on the engine where, for example, there is 800 or 900 horsepower and that's as much as you can go, so therefore once all of that development is done that the costs it is preposterous to think that some of these manufacturers are spending $300 million US or Australian - doesn't matter (which currency), it's still a frightening figure - on the development of an engine that goes in a car that is exclusive for one team. My view is that some of these shareholders will say, "Hey, enough is enough, stop it," and there will be three major manufacturers. I really do believe you will see the emergence of the entrepreneur teams; in other words, the private teams again which at the end of the day provide and we must be very careful, I'm not blowing our own trumpet here but if you look at the likes of Rory Byrne [Ferrari chief designer], Adrian Newey [McLaren technical director], Sam Michael [Williams chief operations engineer and an Australian] and these people who have come all from the private teams. If you look at your own [Mark] Webber, if you look at Michael Schumacher, [Rubens] Barrichello, I can go on forever, they've all come from [the likes of] Jordan, and people like that seem to be joined at the hip with Ferrari these days and I don't want to get too involved in that. The reality is that these teams like Jordan provide such a necessary part of the infrastructure going forward of these major teams. But the major teams need us a little bit, because they always have to have a whipping boy and in this case we mustn't feel bad about that. I feel a very important part of the Formula One structure. My performances in the last couple of years, apart from winning in Brazil, have been pretty appalling, but I'm in the part of a major Fightback and, believe me, we will start to show it. Hopefully you will see some difference of attitude, passion and a commitment that hasn't maybe been there for the last couple of years. And I think you will start to see it in Australia this year. Hopefully that's the case.
Are you looking to forward to coming to Melbourne?
There is a couple of things I love about Melbourne. One, I love the Royal Melbourne Golf Course. I love the hard core rock 'n' roll because I go at least on the Thursday night down to Stokehouse or across the road from that place, I think it's called the Esplanade, is one of my favourite little watering holes for a drink and some rock 'n' roll. Of course the music is important, but we are there with a main function and the main function is to start the season off well, so that's the key objective and we always have a huge amount of sponsors come. I think people get into hibernation in Europe, although it has been a fairly mild winter here. Australia for me is the kick start of [the northern] spring and summer and everything that's good about it. I personally adore Australia; I just wish it was a little closer, so as we could go on more holidays there - but that's a personal opinion. Yes, of course, Melbourne is great. And I think it's the people. I don't want to say too much about Ron Walker, giving him an even bigger head than he already has, but he's a stunning promoter and I think what he has done for Melbourne, not just on the Grand Prix but the Commonwealth Games and a whole variety of other things, because a lot of people in Formula One are inclined to be blinkered and just see what they want to see for themselves. I would hope that I am able to see bigger things and a bigger picture than that, and I think Melbourne has improved dramatically. Just talking about one city, for example, I think what the Australian Grand Prix brought to Adelaide was huge exposure and it made a new life to them, but I think also Melbourne has dramatically improved, from my visits annually, Melbourne has made a huge stride, so good luck to you guys for bringing the Grand Prix there. I think it was very important for you.
How do you find the Albert Park track compares to others around the world?
What's nice is that it's difficult, it's a permanent track but it's inside the park, people can still enjoy it. What I love about it is the atmosphere and the way it's very unique insofar as you don't often get a racing track inside a city. People in Australia seem to be able to do that, bring the main stadiums... if you look at the main sporting stadiums inside Melbourne, they all seem to be very close to the interior. I like that idea. I hate to have to travel an hour outside, which a lot of cities in Europe now are putting their airports or sporting venues so far out of the touch that it makes it such a bind. For me, the park scenario sure, it had its problems at the beginning but I think generally the good minded people of Melbourne realised what a success it has been for their city and what it has brought them and the value and the credibility throughout the world. Remember that there will be 450 million people all looking at a race which will say across the track 'Melbourne'. In terms of marketing concept, it's been an absolute whizzo. You couldn't have done a better thing in terms of marketing. Once a year, the whole world is focussed on you for not just the four days of the Grand Prix, but the lead-up to it, which is two weeks. It's a fantastic opportunity for you.
Have you got a prediction on who might win the drivers' world championship this year?
You know, I have a funny idea about this. I'm sure that it would really miff Frank Williams, but I have a feeling that Montoya can pull it this year. The only thing is that Frank, whatever it is, there seems to be upheaval in the camp with what is going on with Ralf Schumacher and money - which is a big surprise to Jordan, I might tell you. But anyway, let's not gloat on things like that, but I know the Schumacher family very well. Jordan has brought both of them into Formula One, so let's say we are not necessarily surprised with what is going on there. Montoya, he is a quality boy. He does make mistakes, but if he gets out of the blocks quickly and he does a big job in Australia and he gets his momentum going, I would say personally he is the one that can challenge Michael Schumacher. However, there is no doubt that Michael Schumacher, in my opinion, is the greatest driver who ever lived and [it's] got to be hard to knock him off his block, but I think if they do he should retire - and he should retire with as much dignity as he can because he has been a truly outstanding champion. But the guy who beats him will win the world championship, and I'm sure, the only one in my opinion, is Montoya.
We've talked quite a bit about the perception that your team has been on the ropes, but you must be pretty pleased with the two drivers that you've come up with, in the sense that there was a picture painted that you were going to need pay-drivers, and presumably one of them is a pay-driver, but certainly Heidfeld is a quality driver who some people would think is unlucky not to be at McLaren and Pantano, we notice, is coming into Formula One with 50 per cent more wins in Formula 3000 than Mark Webber, so he's obviously got some ability?
I think Heidfeld is lucky not to be at McLaren, personally, but that's just my opinion. He enjoys his life. Having said that, let's not rule out Mark Webber in terms of... I think he is a high quality guy and if he can get himself into Williams, and that's not being disrespectful to Jaguar, but Jaguar is not at the same level as Williams, and he can do that. Mark came here [spoke to the Jordan team] as a starry eyed guy in F3000 when Stoddy was our sponsor and part of the settlement agreement was that Stoddy would look after Webber for me, so Mark and Jordan are still very close. One thing I would just say about Jordan, without blowing our own trumpet: there's actually only four teams, which is an interesting little statistic … there's only four teams lining up in Melbourne in 10 days' time that have won multiple GPs in the last five years. We mustn't forget that and, of course, it's Ferrari, McLaren and Williams, but Jordan has won four - and no other team has won more than one race currently in Formula One. From that point of view, with regard to pay-drivers, I'd also add a little bit of an addition to what you were saying. Michael Schumacher had his first drive in 1991 with us and, believe me, no one gets away without paying at Jordan - and Michael Schumacher was no exception. He paid. And make sure that there is no disrespect or there is no smear about a driver having to pay or do something about getting themselves into Formula One, because if you are a brilliant driver and you haven't got the money or you haven't got the push or the credibility or the marketing commonsense to get you somewhere, then you're equally missing out on something. So I think the talent is not just what is required anymore. You need to be talented, good PR, marketing, bringing sponsors and bringing things with you. So Giorgio, as you rightly say, Pantano has been world karting champion, he went to Germany and won in his first year the German Formula Three Championship and a lot of Formula 3000 races [six in the International F3000 Championship]. He deserves his chance in Formula One. Sadly, we haven't been able to give him, because of the lateness in signing a contract, as much testing as we would have liked. But believe me, I think when we get back to Europe after the first three races, which will be really difficult for him, I think you will see the emergence of a really youthful and exciting team again, which I'm talking about the Fightback. Part of that Fightback is not just Pantano but Nick Heidfeld, who I believe is a very talented driver. But my third driver, which will be the Friday driver, which is Timo Glock [young German] also needs to be looked at because as far as I'm concerned these are my drivers for the future. Whilst I may have made mistakes letting Michael Schumacher go at a very early stage Â… Bernie Ecclestone gloats how he nicked him from me, but that is a little bit of a fun game we have between each other because that won't happen again. These drivers will be part of Jordan's structure over the long term, and I mean long term two or three years, which will bring us back to greatness, that I'm absolutely convinced we can do.
It wasn't that long ago when Jordan was a genuine contender and now you're always mentioned along with Minardi in that group. How frustrating is it that people talk about Minardi and Jordan in the same breath? And how long will you put up with being at that end of the field?
I actually have a lot of respect for Paul Stoddart. Stoddy, for me, is a real tough nut. I promise you. I'm not sure that I know many people who could have withstood the kind of, not abuse, but the aggravation, the pain, the hurt, that he has gone through in the last number of years. But having said that, for me to be associated with Paul Stoddart in some ways is not a bad thing, because it just makes me fight that bit harder. And that's not in any way being disrespectful to Paul. Yes, we have won GPs, but we can't live on our past glory. What we need to do is to show people that, hey, Eddie Jordan isn't asleep, he's gone back to where his grass roots were, bringing on young talent, and moulding and cajoling the people that he has got, in the environment and within the budget system that he has got, to make them win races. Because we win races and have done a lot of people may say luckily, because usually when they have to write about winning in Brazil or in Spa [Belgium] years gone by or in France, Ron Dennis has gone on record as saying, "The only race that Eddie Jordan ever won really was in Monza" [1999 Italian GP, with German Heinz-Harald Frentzen the victorious driver], but he's referring to the fact that it was the only race that was dry. But we still have to race in the wet in our game, and if you have to do very strange strategies for putting races together in the wet, good luck to us, that's part of the game. If we think whacky strategies to win a race then that's part of the game as well. Linking us to Minardi is not a problem. I have a lot of respect for Paul. I really was so excited a couple of years ago in Melbourne and this is for sure not a disrespect, but it was like Minardi winning a race for him to do what Mark [Webber] did in Melbourne (finish fifth on his F1 debut in 2002), and I will always remember that. Just as easy as I will we winning a race in Brazil last year. He [Paul Stoddart] was the first to come and congratulate us, we were the first to go and congratulate him in Melbourne. People don't mention Sauber in the same light as what they do with Paul or I, and the reason is because I have to worry about Sauber because I don't know where their balls are. I know where Paul's are - and they're right out in front of him. He's gone for it and he's not going to capitulate. Nor will Jordan. The thing is I don't think I could go into a season with a set of rules and regulations which control and guide me as being second fiddle to Ferrari and doing all their testing. How can you ever win a race in that capacity? And I don't know where the motivation or the objectives are of a team like that. For me, I'd rather stop. I really would. I don't think I could continue in that way of going racing. For me, I need to take the chance and to take everyone on as it is. If I'm good enough, fantastic. If I'm not good enough, I will make sure I'm good enough. For me, being in the same category as Paul makes me more determined that Paul and I should get ourselves out of that situation.
If it's too hard to get up the grid because of the money situation, obviously you're trying to work on that. Can you see a point where you get tired of it and give up?
I don't know. At the moment, a variety of reasons. I don't know anything else I could do. I still believe I have a huge lot to give in myself to this sport. I am totally passionate about it. My wife of 26 years or 27 years tells me that she is walking out the door the day that I give up because I would be unliveable. That's another reason, I suppose. I don't see how I can give it up, but I do need to be sure that the reality check is there every year, or every couple of months, and to make sure that I'm not just living a fantasy or a dream and making sure that I actually am making a big contribution to this team. The day that I feel that I'm not I will hand it over to someone who is more capable, I promise you that.
Much has been made of the tyre war. How much confidence have you got in Bridgestone [Jordan's tyre supplier] this year because many people almost said Michelin were the dominant tyre last year?
A little bit like the Jordan story. I feel that Bridgestone is probably a little bit of a wounded giant. They've had a fair bit of criticism lashed at them and, you know, remember that they won six races last year; they won the championship with Michael Schumacher, and people sort of disregard that. Perception is a very strange thing in many respects, and the perception that Jordan was a disaster, the perception perhaps that Bridgestone was, that it was seen to be a very difficult year. But please analyse what they did do. I have no doubt Bridgestone will be right there, and anyone who rules out Ferrari or Bridgestone or whatever going forward, I think it would be a foolhardy thing to do. Sure, all the PR and all the messages coming from the teams like McLaren, Williams blah, blah, blah that Michelin are the top tyre. Of course, it's in their interest to say that, just like it is in my interest to say that I have signed willingly and happily a new contract with Bridgestone, because I know what they brought to me in the past and I believe they can do the same in the future, so I have no problem about the Bridgestone. To be honest, it's one of those easy things. From the day I started racing in 1970, or whatever it was, and that seems an awful long time ago, a racing driver always blamed the engine or the car, but if he was talking to the people from the team he would blame the engine and he blamed the tyres. So it's an inherent thing in our business, you've got to find a scapegoat, and I don't think Bridgestone are a scapegoat in this area.
Just following up on that tyre situation. Is it a good thing that Michael Schumacher is continuing after six world titles, in the sense that a couple of times when Bridgestone's dominance seems to have been waning, as soon as Schumacher snapped his fingers Bridgestone seemed to lift its game. Could that be to the benefit of not only Ferrari but the other Bridgestone runners in 2004?
Like any prudent person, your key operator is Michael Schumacher - and Bridgestone would be crazy not to devote extra special attention to Michael, because he knows what is happening with the car and he knows what is happening and what is needed and required, technically, from the tyre. That then goes on as soon as possible within a race, two races back to teams like us. But now, thankfully, Bridgestone have asked us to do more testing ourselves, for ourselves, but also for the common good of Bridgestone runners, so hopefully we can share and be part of that process. As far as I'm concerned, Michael clicking his fingers well… I think when you have been six times world champion I think you have a good idea what is going on within a racing car. That begs a question: do I think Michael Schumacher should have continued? Me personally, he still enjoys it, that's his call, but I feel to go out on an absolute high is vital because, in life, you need to know when to come into something but the most important thing is to know when to go out. This is particularly applying to my own life as well, and as far as I'm concerned Michael cannot make it any better than it already is and my argument is that maybe at the end of 2003, which was a huge result for him to win that championship, maybe he should have gone. Who's to know? But he is still enjoying it, so he's there. With regard to Bridgestone, he is with Bridgestone and he is continuing in racing because he has a sixth sense that Bridgestone will still provide the goods for him to win that championship. I have no doubt about it that he and Montoya will be the leading lights at the end of the day.
Bernie Ecclestone has more or less challenged Ford a couple of times recently to get serious about Formula One, and obviously Jaguar is Ford's factory team. What chance do you think there is this year that your team, with a similar Ford Cosworth engine, can beat Jaguar?
You're asking me to answer a very politically incentive question, but of course we're going to beat the pants off Jaguar. Why shouldn't we? They're neighbours, and we think we're better. We have to be careful about my friend Mark [Webber] there, but I think we have got a very good group of drivers, so I don't have any silly court cases to distract me this year so, Jaguar, you be on your guard because I'm coming for you.
Eddie, thanks very much for your time; we really appreciate it. All the best with the next few days in getting ready to come to Australia and obviously we look forward to seeing you down here.
It's been an absolute joy and pleasure. Thanks for making this possible and I'm sure I will see most of you there over the weekend. Everyone knows it's a little bit further to walk to the Jordan pit this year after last year, but those guys better come down and see us or I will get upset with them.
;)
