Jordan loses temper with Ford

Although Jordan has previously been reluctant to criticise his engine partner, he has now opted not to hold back and claimed that its behaviour in F1 over recent years had been 'appalling'.

"To say I am disappointed with Ford is an understatement," said Jordan in an interview with The Guardian newspaper. "I have been trying to keep my total dismay under control. I am angered that after a long relationship I should get seven minutes' notice that they were pulling out. It's now almost too late to build a sophisticated car around a new engine.

"We already had an agreement and we'd agreed to design and build a car for next year. Ford said they would find a way of making an offer. And do you know what they suggested? They doubled the price for engines, which were not going to be subject to any development. You cannot believe their behaviour and believe me, I am only scratching the surface. Ford have behaved appallingly, I kid you not. I can't get an appointment to talk to anybody to talk about it. This is a very sad state of affairs."

Jordan had been courting Toyota about a replacement engine deal for next year, but those plans have now collapsed with team principal Tsutomo Tomita confirming at Suzuka on Friday that his outfit will not provide any customer engines next year.

It is not clear what Jordan's options are now, beyond hoping that any potential buyer for Cosworth Racing can continue to supply his team.

Jordan's long-term future in F1 is far from guaranteed, with the team boss believed to be reluctant to fight on if there was a risk of going bankrupt, and he is open to offers of selling the team or merging it with another outfit if that could improve his chances.

"All of those things are possible and it's better than going bust, so if I have to I will," added Jordan. "I would be happy to join a partnership if it means I can live to fight again another day.

"I believe that F1 is in danger of having an ageing population in key positions. People believe in themselves too much. There is no form of succession. There is no obvious succession for Bernie Ecclestone, for Frank Williams or for Ron Dennis. When I came into formula one I was in my late 30s and now I'm in my 50s. It's also just too expensive to come into this business."