Formula 1: Irvine will go out fighting

If Eddie Irvine departs the Formula One scene this year it will be not with a bang, but a whimper.

Irvine blazed into the sport with Jordan in the penultimate race of 1993 in Japan finishing a superb sixth - only to be punched on the nose by triple world champion Ayrton Senna, who was irate after being repassed as he lapped the rookie.