Irvine: Jaguar move was no mistake

Irvine went from being a world championship contender with Ferrari in 1999, scoring 74 points, to notching up just four points this year with Jaguar. But the Ulsterman insists that 2000 has been less frustrating than last year at Maranello.

"I'm enjoying it," Irvine told Autosport magazine. "It was more frustrating at Ferrari. When the engine was good, the car felt good but at certain places we couldn't do the lap times. I didn't know why. Here [at Jaguar] there's problems I can see which we can fix."

Irvine has received much criticism this year for his lack of performance, not least from Jaguar director and three-time world champion Jackie Stewart who said the 35-year-old lacked focus.

But Jaguar chairman Neil Ressler has hit back at Irvine's critics who claim the four-time Grand Prix winner is not capable of leading the team's recovery.

"My view is that there are two Eddie Irvines," said Ressler. "There is the public image and, to some extent, he promotes that so there is confusion. That is because he likes the image of the lighthearted playboy, but inside the team he isn't like that at all.

"He is determined serious and he wants to do better. He has brought a lot of good ideas to the team. I think that maybe people don't believe that, but they are wrong."