F1 Must Put on a Better Show, Says Jordan

Formula One fans cannot expect to see Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in a Minardi next season but teams must do something to spice up their tired sport, according to Eddie Jordan.

"We are in the entertainment business and doing nothing is not an option," Jordan told reporters at the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday. "Our show is not good enough."

The domination of Ferrari, gunning for a record-equalling 15th win in 17 races this weekend, has caused television audiences to fall as spectators tire of watching World Champion Schumacher and his team triumph.

Teams were this week presented with a package of proposals to be discussed at an International Automobile Federation (FIA) Formula One commission meeting later this month. They range from the extreme - a suggestion that drivers compete for every team during a season - to less eye-catching technical measures governing aerodynamics and engines.

In theory the proposals would envisage five times World Champion Schumacher driving for tail-enders Minardi while other drivers get a chance to race his faultless Ferrari. Jaguar's Eddie Irvine called that idea a non-starter on Thursday and some suggest the proposal is more of a bargaining tactic to make other options on the agenda look more attractive.

Jordan said he could not imagine the driver swap idea happening and believed another proposal to introduce horse racing-style weight handicaps was more likely to succeed.

Deeply Concerned

The Irish entrepreneur said there was no doubt that Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who turns 72 this month, was determined to act to boost flagging ratings.

"I am convinced beyond doubt, certainly in recent weeks with the number of calls that Bernie has made personally to all the teams, that he is very concerned about the show," said Jordan. "Remember, television is his lifeblood. He created this."

Formula One's commercial future is up in the air, with teams seeking control of the revenues once the existing Concorde Agreement governing the sport expires in 2007.

The leading carmakers, who own several of the teams, are also threatening to run their own championship from that date. Jordan said the proposed racing changes had to be seen as separate from those issues.

"I really believe this is not an issue about money, about shareholdings and who owns what. I think he (Ecclestone) is passionately keen to make sure the show is right."

British American Racing (BAR) boss David Richards said entertainment was now a more important issue than saving costs in a difficult economic climate.

"We need the teams and the manufacturers all to acknowledge that we can't just sit on our hands and do nothing," he said. "We do need to do something.

"But in doing that, we also need to be very careful what we do. In a sport steeped in heritage with great success to date, you can't do radical changes overnight without thinking about the consequences very carefully."

"And that's really about spicing it all up for the audience. I think that must be the number one priority about how we improve the show."