Eddie Irvine Q&A

"We have to move up the grid next year and if we can't expect to do that, then we might as well not even bother turning up for work to be honest. We've combined the 2000 and 2001 cars and taken the qualifying strengths of one and the race strengths of the other and if this car can match up to that, then we've done a good job and we'll get a lot more points. Despite the conservatism of last year's car, the reliability was still nowhere near good enough."



"To be honest we're not 100 percent sure what the problems were in qualifying. We don't understand it. We've just designed this car trying to make it quicker overall, in qualifying and in the race as well. That's all we can do. This year's car is lighter, it has more downforce, it's more efficient, it has more power and with the wind tunnel coming on board all the pieces are in place to perform. I don't think we're going to turn up in Melbourne and set the world on fire, but I think this is the car that is going to move the team up the grid and up the points table at the end of the year."



"The car is much towards the Ferrari of 1999, it has a much higher nose, and it is obviously going to put more load on my back and we know that from the Ferrari days. I think we've gone in all the right directions, but we've got to wait and see how good a job other people have done. We have more work to do before the first race. This is the first proper Jaguar and I think you are going to see it evolve into a better and better car."



"If the reliability problems of the car come out [in testing] and it takes us until the first race to solve them then that is a good thing, but if there are speed problems it is another matter. Maybe we would have been better to leave it and bring it out later, but you never know with these things. All I can say is that it is a new team that put this car together and each year they work together they learn more and more and will make a better judgement on everything. I think there is a good management team to take the team forward."



"I think it is good being able to drive the car and feel what is going on out there and know what we are talking about."



"I really don't know. If you look at what they have in place they should be a big threat to us because they've got everything they need to be a top Formula 1 team, except maybe experienced personnel. You have to assume that they are not going to be on the pace of McLaren or Ferrari, but they have their own wind tunnel and I'm sure that will be running all day and night, so their development potential is going to be fast."



"Every year is crucial. I've got to keep performing and if I don't then I stay and if not then I go. That's how Formula 1 works. It's up to Niki [Lauda]. If he thinks I'm good enough then I'll stay and if he doesn't, then I won't."