Jaguar keeps sights low for season-opener

The Milton Keynes-based squad begins the year with a line-up of rookie Antonio Pizzonia and ex-Minardi ace Mark Webber. Its new, 90-degree Cosworth CR5 powerplant is also a new variable for the team to contend with.

"The winter testing tells us very little about the competition we face," he said. "Until we begin racing on Sunday afternoon, it is impossible to make any predictions about our performance. We still have issues and gremlins to address on the car and while we are reasonably pleased with our progress thus far, we are far from completely satisfied."

Pizzonia is relishing the prospect of making his grand prix debut this weekend, which will begin when he takes to the track in private testing on Friday.

"Your first race with a new team at a new circuit is always going to give you some butterflies, but you use it to totally focus the mind," said Pizzonia. "The two-hour Friday morning testing format will help accelerate my knowledge of the circuit and the need to maximise upon this cannot be overstated given the one-lap qualifying session."