Jordan won't be written off

Eddie Jordan has been in Formula One for twelve years and has said he is more determined than ever to succeed in the sport. Earlier this year Jordan made job cuts in the team under the growing financial concerns that many in F1 have been ...

Eddie Jordan has been in Formula One for twelve years and has said he is more determined than ever to succeed in the sport. Earlier this year Jordan made job cuts in the team under the growing financial concerns that many in F1 have been experiencing.

Criticized by some for his somewhat flamboyant lifestyle -- the yachts, the parties, his love of drumming in his band -- it has been suggested that Jordan doesn't pay enough attention to his team. He dismisses such claims and thinks that since he made the changes things are getting better.

Eddie Jordan.

Photo by Jordan Grand Prix.

"Already we have seen changes with points from Giancarlo Fisichella, who has the potential to be a future champion, in recent races," Jordan said in the British press. "We slipped but the fightback is on. We have a Honda engine deal until the end of 2003, we have great sponsors like DHL, Deutsche Post and Benson and Hedges. I have nothing to apologise for or justify. I live my life as I want and we all have a bit of fun. I won't stop drumming just to please some eejit who thinks it's not the right image."

In his twelve years in F1 the likes of Lotus, March, Tyrrell and Prost have fallen by the wayside but Jordan is still there. He admits it's not an easy task: "Surviving is quite an achievement but I wanted to do more than that. I wanted us to be world champions and after 1998 I thought we were in a position for that."

"It did not happen, one reason being the car manufacturers arrived in and shoved the budgets up, and now we have reached a point where the sport has to get a grip on costs."

There have been suggestions on how financial overheads can be kept down in F1 and Jordan is all for them: "I do believe we have to look closely at the best ways of spending our money. The idea of having one engine for the weekend is very welcome, as was the control on the amount of tyres that were used. I made changes not because Jordan was in trouble but to prevent that happening. There is a big difference."

Remembering his introduction to F1, Jordan said the team might not have had much but they had belief and that belief is still as strong as ever: "When I came into Formula One in 1991, we were on first name terms with the bailiffs and no one gave us a chance. Ok, we did not have a sponsor, a driver or a second car but we had belief. I'm better off now, as are a lot of people, but the main thing we still have is that belief. I am more determined than ever to succeed in Formula One. Don't dare write us off."