Irvine future in doubt

Eddie Irvine was battling to save his Formula One career today after losing his place at Jaguar Racing for next season.

Irvine has not been retained following the end of his three-year deal while Spanish team-mate Pedro de la Rosa has been axed with a year left to run on his contract and is consulting his lawyers.

Australia’s Mark Webber, who raced for Minardi last year, and 22-year-old Brazilian newcomer Antonio Pizzonia will be named as Jaguar’s two drivers for 2003 on Monday.

Irvine insisted after being told the news at his Miami home by Jaguar boss Niki Lauda that the decision will not affect his plans for next season.

The Northern Irishman, who will be 37 next week, has been linked with a return to former team Jordan although it is understood there is no likelihood of a deal being signed at the moment.

“This doesn’t really affect my plans for the future,” said Irvine, who joined Jaguar from Ferrari where he came within a whisker of winning the drivers’ title in 1999.

Jordan have continued to insist that Japan’s Takuma Sato, who scored his maiden points after finishing fifth in the final race of last season, will again partner Italy’s Giancarlo Fisichella next season.

F1 sources revealed today that Irvine’s management met with team boss Eddie Jordan last Tuesday but even though the driver is believed to have reduced his pay demands to around €1m, no deal was agreed.

Irvine, who made his debut in 1993 and competed in 192 races winning four of them, will have few other options if he cannot find a way in at Jordan.

Only Minardi have seats available for 2003 but Irvine has always said that if he cannot get a competitive drive then he will walk away from the sport.

Irvine’s pay demands were part of the reason why Jaguar did not retain his services but the Milton Keynes-based team also felt it was time for a completely fresh approach.

“There is no bad feeling with Eddie and the team know they have not given him a great car for the past three years, it was just felt that new blood was needed to carry the team on,” said a source.

“With de la Rosa, it just has not worked out. He hasn’t come up to expectations. The team believe that Webber and Pizzonia will complement each other and spur each other on.

“Pizzonia did an astonishing test in Barcelona. He was producing times you would have expected after four days in the car in just one afternoon.

“He will really shake up the grid next year and take no prisoners. He is an even more aggressive version of Juan Pablo Montoya.”

Irvine, who scored all Jaguar’s eight points last year including a memorable third place in Italy, warned the team they were making a mistake in going for a young pairing particularly with the new one-lap only qualifying rule for next year.

“If I were a team boss, I wouldn’t be happy fielding two inexperienced drivers,” said Irvine. “With the new qualifying rules, drivers have just one flying lap to gain grid position and the experienced men will have an advantage.”

But 26-year-old Webber impressed during his maiden season with Minardi scoring their only points when he finished fifth on his debut in his home race in Australia last March.

Pizzonia, who has been a test driver for Williams, is being hailed as a serious talent for the future and clearly impressed Jaguar during a test in Barcelona.