Lauda happy with drivers' efforts

De la Rosa nursed his car to fifth after a storming start that saw the Spaniard jump from ninth to sixth by the end of the first lap. Irvine was seventh until his R2 lost power and he drove into the garage and retirement.

"I am very happy because today we have been very competitive and I know the drivers put everything into the race," said the team principal. "We had the right race strategy and Pedro did a perfect job to finish fifth. And we didn't finish fifth because other people dropped out - we finished fifth because we deserved to.

"But I am unhappy because Eddie had an engine problem which prevented him from perhaps finishing in the points," continued the Austrian. "Eddie did a good job, but experienced a power loss which prevented him from taking full advantage. It is a shame, but fifth is better than nothing."

And Lauda has urged his team to keep up the good work to climb up the constructors' championship ladder with just two races remaining.

"We must now look to take this strength and apply it to getting ahead of Benetton in the constructors' championship," he said. "We have got to keep on fighting."

Jaguar remain eighth in the world championship, but only trail Benetton by three points. De la Rosa however jumps up a place to 16th in the drivers' title with three points.