Irvine plays it cool in German heat

The Ulsterman is out of contract at Ferrari at the end of the year and
pitlane pundits say the distant attitude of team manager Jean Todt is a good signal Irvine is on his way out of the team.

But others say Irvine's stock has never been higher. His second win last weekend at the A1 Ring lifted him to within two points of championship leader Mika Hakkinen.

As Hockenheim sweltered in the heat Irvine coolly batted off questions over for whom he will be driving next year - or even what his priorities are.

'I'm in no rush. Things can only get better.

'I know they can hardly get better after Austria but if we win this weekend it will be better again. If we finish second that will be good too.

'I want to stay in touch with Hakkinen to the last three or four races and then we have a race on our hands.'

The Irishman has a good record of making the right choice: in six years he has moved just once - from Jordan to Ferrari - and made himself a championship contender.

'You look at the options and see what's available and what's best for you. I had the option to leave Ferrari at the end of last year and if I had I would be sick now in view of what has happened.

'Let's wait and see, it's not something I am really thinking about.

Enrico, my manager, knows what I want and I am leaving it with him. I want to concentrate on getting the results that are required this year.'