Herbert- 'I'm still fast enough'

Now one of the most experienced drivers in Formula One, Herbert will drive for Jaguar alongside Eddie Irvine, even though the team seemed keen to replace him for much of last year.

Herbert was off the pace in the early part of 1999 and looked like he might be bought out of his contract and forced to retire, but turned his season around after changes to the car in Austria and took a famous victory at the Nurburgring.

'I've still got the desire, I think I have a lot to offer Jaguar,' he said. 'My feedback is good and I believe I've now proved that I'm still quick.'

Nevertheless, his long-term future is still uncertain. Jaguar are keen to sign a big-name driver for 2001, targeting everyone from McLaren stars Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard to Germans Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Ralf Schumacher. Newly signed test driver Luciano Burti may also be in the frame.

If Herbert loses his drive at the end of 2000, he may struggle to find a new team, having been in F1 since 1989, but the 35 year-old said that he is not ready to follow in the footsteps of Damon Hill and retire just yet.

'I believe I can still do it, and I don't need to rely on the opinions of other for that. If I lose that belief I think I can be honest enough to admit to myself that I'm no longer up to it.'