Firman Will be Given Time, Says Jordan

Team boss Eddie Jordan has said Briton Ralph Firman will be given the time needed to prove himself in Formula One after a shaky start to his rookie season.

27-year old Firman, the current Formula Nippon champion, has struggled to match the pace of his Italian teammate Giancarlo Fisichella in the first four races of the year, and there have been rumours suggesting the Irish driver could be under pressure to perform if he is to keep his seat for the remainder of the season.

Jordan, however, said Firman will get the help needed and denied his place at the Silverstone-based outfit was under threat.

"The speculation about Ralph is nonsense," said Jordan in Barcelona. "He is learning and we will support him in that. It's impossible to beat a teammate who is an experienced driver like Giancarlo with over 100 Grands Prix behind him.

"We want Ralph to relax a bit more - sometimes you have to put your arm round a driver's shoulder and help him. He is under no pressure from us and I have no doubt he can perform very well.

"He needs time and we've given him that. We've also seen some indications of what he can really do, particularly in the races such as in Malaysia when he drove very well indeed."

Firman is one of four rookies this season, the other being Toyota's Cristiano da Matta, Minardi's Justin Wilson, and Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, whose position at Jaguar is under threat after the team revealed they have been negotiating with McLaren test driver Alex Wurz as a possible replacement for the remainder of the season.