Ecclestone Questions Jordan, Minardi's F1 Future

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has said he doubts whether struggling teams Jordan and Minardi will be around next year.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart responded by saying his team would definitely compete, while Eddie Jordan promised he would "fight tooth and nail" to be on the grid for the start of the 2005 season.

Commercial supremo Ecclestone said at the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix that he thought there would be fewer than 10 teams in 2005 with the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Williams having to run three cars each to make up the numbers.

Jaguar and Ford-owned engine maker Cosworth, who supply Minardi and Jordan, are for sale after the US car giant announced last week that they were pulling out when the season ends next month.

Asked about Jordan and Minardi's prospects, Ecclestone told reporters: "I think in the end they are going to find it not easy to survive. It doesn't look too healthy at the moment."

Stoddart countered: "I think he has no right to say that. What happens to Jordan and Minardi is Jordan and Minardi's decision alone.

"Yes, recent announcements with Cosworth have made it very, very difficult but I can assure you that Minardi will be on the grid in 2005 in Melbourne, even if we have to do our own engine," he told Reuters. "In 2001 we ran our own engine. If we have to do it in 2005, so be it."

Fighting Talk

Asked at a news conference whether his team would be at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Jordan replied: "Well, it's a difficult one to answer."

However the Irish entrepreneur, who has battled back from the brink before and who handed Ford their last win as an engine provider in Brazil last season, said he would not go down without a fight.

"If one has to be realistic about the situation, I'm an absolute fighter ... I will fight tooth and nail to be on the grid in Australia next year. But can I guarantee anything? I'm not prepared to discuss that at the moment but for sure I won't go down without a big fight," added Jordan.

Jordan said that while Ford vice-president Richard Parry-Jones had suggested Cosworth might be able to continue supplying engines, the cost would have to double to around $38 million a year.

"I can't see how that would work," he declared.

Formula One's engine rules are changing next year under plans to cut costs and make racing more competitive, with the units having to last for two races each rather than one at present. Teams must submit their entries by mid-November.

Under Formula One's 'Concorde Agreement', they must make up the shortfall if the starting grid falls below 20 cars. Ecclestone said the teams would have to sort it out among themselves but suggested that any third car should be able to score points for both the driver and constructor.

"It's got to be I think," he said. "Why not? Otherwise its good news and bad news - you've won the race but don't get any points for anything."