Jordan: Willams' Cosworth Deal a Mistake

Jordan believes that Williams have done the wrong thing in deciding to go down the customer-engine route next year - and claims they should have done everything they could to keep BMW on board.

Speaking in his column in the October edition of F1 Racing, Jordan said he knows from his experience with Cosworth engines in 2003 and 2004 how difficult life is for the Northampton-based engine maker in going up against major manufacturers.

"I don't understand BMW and I certainly don't understand Frank," said Jordan. "Cosworth's last race win in about 10 years must have been with Jordan in Brazil with Fisi (Giancarlo Fisichella) in 2003.

"Bear in mind that the new Cosworth people, good as they are, can only build an engine with the cash that Williams pay them, which won't match a manufacturer's financial muscle. No doubt Cosworth will build a brilliant V8 as it's their forte but, sadly, bigger budgets will dominate.

"The rule is: the more you spend, the quicker you go. Cash is king and engine costs are huge, which restricts the quality of drivers, staff - virtually everything."

Jordan believes that Williams' owners Frank Williams and Patrick Head would have been better off opting to sell shares in their team to BMW.

"The logical move would have been for Frank and Patrick to sell part of their equity and embrace BMW as a shareholder and sporting partner, instead of allowing Sauber to sneak in and steal BMW from under their noses," added Jordan.

"In the current climate, I'd rather be a 50 percent of something that's winning than 100 percent of something that cannot win."