Grapevine: Ford in Line for F1 Return with Jordan

American car giant Ford is set to return to Formula One under its own name next season, according to a report by British weekly Autosport.

According to the publication, Ford will join forces with the Jordan team in 2003, with the Silverstone-based squad changing their name to Ford-Jordan and the American company supplying engines to them. The reported three-year deal is currently being finalised and is expected to be announced at the Hungarian Grand Prix next month.

Jordan, who are currently using Honda engines, have one year of their contract with the Japanese manufacturer to run, but it is expected that they will part ways at the end of this season, as Honda want to concentrate their efforts on the British American Racing team, with who they have a long-term deal.

At last weekend's German Grand Prix, Honda's vice-president Otmar Szafnauer admitted that they were still considering supplying to only one team.

"That hasn't been 100 per cent decided yet," said Szafnauer of supplying to only one team. "We have a three-year contract with British American Racing and a further year to go with Jordan. We're in the midst now of discussing that with Jordan Grand Prix and a joint decision between us and Jordan will be forthcoming in the near future."

Ford bought the Stewart team at the end of the 1999 season and rename them to Jaguar, but the Milton Keynes team have failed to shine and have only scored three points this season. The company's chief financial officer Allan Gilmour admitted recently that top executives at Ford are being forced to consider the future of their involvement.

"If you want to raise blood pressure around here, you'll do it when you discuss Formula One because there are no neutral people" Gilmour said. "This is a high visibility sport related to automotive products. The other view is no, we don't need to be doing this. It is interesting and exciting, but it's terribly expensive."