Irvine: We are not fast enough

Irvine could manage no better than eighth and team-mate Mika Salo was sixth, while Mika Hakkinen sped to his 11th pole in 13 races.

The Ulsterman said it was now down to fate to keep his title hopes alive after his worse dry weather qualifying performance of the season.

'I don't believe the championship is slipping away,' insisted Irvine. 'If Hakkinen outbrakes himself at the first bend and ends up in the sand then everything is still on.

'I really don't know what is wrong with the car today.

'We are not going to make up the difference overnight for the race but we've got to find something for the next race.

'I could improve a couple of tenths maybe but not a full second.

'I had a better engine and a better car today and I did basically the same time as I did at the test last week with more fuel onboard.

'There is a chance to do something at the start of the race and after that we will have to see. We are just not there. We are not fast enough.

'We have aerodynamic improvements coming for the next race but we have been basically in the same position for the last four or five races.

'Hopefully at the next race we will make a step forward.

'The car is more consistent but just not fast enough. We are not up there and haven't been for several races.'

In the absence of injured Michael Schumacher, Irvine is relying on another to push the
McLarens to the limts of their endurance.

'It's good that Heinz-Harald [Frentzen] is up there and mixing it with McLaren in the race.'

Even though Hakkinen has refused to rule out Irvine's victory hopes Coulthard said the odds were against it.

'I'd be surprised if they didn't improve on where they are on the grid but then again I don't think Eddie will be racing through to the front,' he said.

'But the championship is not over until it is over. We haven't done much to the car in the last few races, but Ferrari have lost their way.'