Engine troubles for Jordan

Team boss Eddie Jordan is not happy with the way negotiations have been going for securing an engine deal for next season. Currently supplied by Ford, Jordan is reportedly trying to finalize a deal with Mercedes but the price the Irishman expected apparently changed before contracts were signed.

"I just hate the fact that we were led to believe the engines would be priced at ?6.95million or less," Jordan was quoted as saying by British tabloid The People. "It's frustrating because we agreed a figure and then it changes by the time the contracts were drawn up."

Ford is reluctant to give up its deal with the team but Jordan couldn't agree to its terms either: "As regards Ford and the deal they came to us with, it's more than the ?6.95 million," he said. "They wanted to use the Jordan name and have space on the car but I'm afraid we don't just give space away for free."

The team has not yet revealed a driver line up for 2004. Italian Giancarlo Fisichella announced his decision to move to Sauber next year before the end of this season but Jordan thinks the Swiss squad is not an improvement from his own team -- he expects to be beating Sauber in 2004.

"I don't consider the Sauber team any better than Jordan, although they have a little more money," Jordan commented. "I wanted Giancarlo in a top three or four team because invariably Jordan bounces back from its reverses. I would expect that next season we will be stuffing Sauber."

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