Jaguar's troubles

[eff1 0]

With the Jordan-Ford deal looking more likely, this is not good news for Jaguar. Ford has gotten very little out of their efforts with Jaguar F1, and they would probably benefit more by concentrating on supplying engines only, to the better teams. Jaguar is generally regarded to be short of quality technical and support personnel, as well as facilities. One reason for this is likely the fact that no-one wants to work for an a**hole like Lauda. JYS should have never sold Stewart, they were on the verge of reaching the next level.

Would Ford drop the Jag program entirely? What do you think?

[nichosnz 0]

Apparently FORD have now stated that they are unlikely to supply Jordan with engines in 2003 in a works capacity.

That is hardly a full and complete denial, now is it.

Can't help thinking that FORD are disenchanted with the whole Jaguar debacle, it has been a sorry affair since the day JYS relinquished control.

[daz 0]

I reckon that they're thinking along that line. I heard that they're spending around $160m a season and obviously getting very little return for it. Ford's management is also very unhappy because F1 is not big news in the States and thats where one of their key markets is. Personally I think they'll probably see out next season, and make a decision based on those results. But if it's anything like the last couple of years then Jaguar is going to be canned and they'll concentrate just on engines.

[renmax 0]

just a cynical look at Jaguar...

maybe their biggest Liability in my opinion would be Eddie the Leprachaun Irvine, the mouth, like he never performed at Ferrari and has not done so at Jag, or if my memory serves me correct at any other team.....

Just a thought

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Jaguar are in a mess. I think a team with such a name should do a little better, but I dont think Lauda will get it done soon. He needs an Adrian Newey or a Ron Dennis to show him how its done, hopefully he can snatch a new hopeful straight from Oxford to design a nice car for him.

[nichosnz 0]

To be perfectly honest and cynical...

Way back in the Stewart Racing days I read that Ford were looking to buy the team. And whilst sad that the Stewart team were leaving, when they hadn't been given a proper chance yet. I was thinking cool another team that should be hanging around the top of the grid.

Then a little while later I discovered that Ford were going to call the team either Jaguar or Jaguar-Cosworth, in reference to Jaguar's racing history. My first thought on this matter was "Now you've gone and jinxed the whole thing".

Sometimes you just wish you could be proven wrong don't you.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hahhahah! Wonder what would've happened if the team had been called just plain old Ford?

[nichosnz 0]

They probably would be (at worst) battling McLaren, Renault, and Sauber this year.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I dont think Mclaren would be part of that group. Mclaren have raised their performance level by a lot since the start of the season, and are now able to challenge the podium. Maybe even a win. Look at Magny Cours, it was Kimi's race until the mistake at Adelaide, and Schumacher passed under a yellow...

[nichosnz 0]

We've alredy discussed that incident whilst you were away. No-one strongly opposed my view(at least not in posts) so I feel we concluded that MS made a legitimate pass.

The reason I included McLaren in that group was that, although yes they have improved they are still a little inconsistant (although even that is improving slowly, I must admit).

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

True, they are still improving. I think 2003 will be better...

[nichosnz 0]

Niki must be livid!!!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Does anyone think that with Jackie Stewart leading the team, Jaguar could be better?

[nichosnz 0]

Yes I do.

Why?

Well to cut a very long-detailed-anaylitical story short... They couldn't be any worse... could they?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hahhah! But also I think Jackie Stewart has the knowhow to make a team do well, not Lauda.

[nichosnz 0]

JYS is a rarity amongst former champions becoming team owners, along with Jack Brabham. Prost got it all wrong too, and Fittipaldi.

McLaren was never a champ and his team did well.

Ecclestone didn't even qualify and Brabham won 2 DWC with him at the helm.

Dan Gurney didn't win a championship but his team won a few races and then crossed successfully over to american racing.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Do you think any of the current drivers will look into team ownership? I think it would be quite different to have team Schumacher or Fisichella...

[daz 0]

Yeah I agree - JYS would be a 10x better leader than NL ever is... It will be very interesting to see how Jordan do next year with (most likely) the same spec engines as the Jaguar boys. If as I suspect they totally outclass Jag, then I think that NL & co will be looking for new employment come 2004...

On the topic of one of the current drivers becoming a team owner. I think it would be great fun to see how they would do but highly unlikely. I feel that the drivers are great at driving cars but have got absolutely no idea when it comes to the business & logistical side of runnning a GP team...

[nichosnz 0]

Its a wonder really that NL is so useless, one would at worst expect him to be slightly uselss. Considering his past with LaudaAir.

I think MS would do a similar job to Alain Prost, they both seem to be of far superior intellect in regards to racing, but about average in other respects. Although contrary to that MS seems to be better at getting who he wants, witness the mass exodus from Benetton to Ferrari in 96-97. That could work to his advantage.

Fisichella seems to be a real racer so he could be in the mould of McLaren/Williams/Brabham.

About the others I have absolutly no idea.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well if Kimi Raikkonen started his own team I'll bet it would be a quiet, mumbling bunch of people! Keke Rosberg talked about the subject a few years back that he might buy into one of the current teams and rename it team Rosberg, because he had an outlying sponsorship deal from Nokia in Finland if it went through. Also a heavy sponsor backing from Finland was helping Rosberg, with Finnish beer companies looking to export further than Sweden. That's all I remember on this subject, there was a lot more.

I dont think any of the drivers will do it though, F1 is starting to be more manufacturer owned, there aren't too many private teams anymore... Mclaren is with Mercedes, Williams is BMW, BAR is Honda.. Sauber, Minardi, Jordan, and Arrows are really the only ones without manufacturer ownership.

[nichosnz 0]

There are now denials concerning the Red Bull buy in offer. But given the Jaguar teams record with issuing denials, should we actually believe them.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Remember the whole Neweygate thing last summer? Hehe!

[nichosnz 0]

Closely followed by the attempted Irvine/Jordan swap deal.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Which all ended up with Rahal leaving the team. I still think that Rahal achieved more than Lauda has, I mean at least he TRIED to get Newey etc.

[nichosnz 0]

Getting rid of Rahal was yet another denial from Jag that they backtracked on. As well as being one of the worst in a gaggle of bad choices made by Jaguar.