Lauda: No immediate upturn for Jag

Following Rahal's sacking last Friday, Lauda has taken complete control of the underachieving Milton Keynes-based team, but believes it will take him until next season to get fully up to speed.

"It will take me some time to completely understand the requirements of running a modern-day Formula 1 team," said Lauda. "And with that in mind, you won't see a noticeable difference in the team's performance over the next four races."

The last of Jaguar Racing's development steps was introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix 10 days ago, with no more add-ons expected for this year's R2 as the team's attention is turned to its successor the R3.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit has scored just five championship points so far this year, and with the R2 chassis' dislike of high-speed corners, the Austrian is expecting another tough weekend in Belgium.

"Spa will be tough on us," said Lauda. "We'll have to fight every inch of the way to be in with a points-scoring chance. It is famous for fast corners and wet weather - not our favourite conditions to say the least."

Rahal, who has returned to his Champ Car team in the US, and Lauda are thought to have been at loggerheads over their differing management styles. But Lauda has defended his and Jaguar Cars chairman Wolfgang Reitzle's decision to get rid of the American.

"The change was necessary because Bobby realised the big operational differences between his CART business in America and his commitments to Jaguar Racing," said Lauda. "We concluded that his priorities were in the US and that's what he has gone back to concentrate on."

According to Jaguar, Lauda's position as team principal is for the 'immediate future', but despite the fact that he took the job due to a lack of suitable alternatives, the triple F1 world champ is unlikely to be replaced.

"In my capacity as CEO of the Premiere Performance Divivsion," he said, "I already have control over Cosworth Racing and Pi Research and it therefore made sense to extend the responsibility to include completely the running of Jaguar Racing. Besides, who else was there?"

Adding to Lauda's pessimism towards the Spa race, Jaguar Racing's number one Eddie Irvine, who spun out at the first corner in Hungary, is not looking forward to this weekend either.

"I know it goes against the general view about this circuit, but I am not a huge fan of the Spa track," said Irvine. "I appreciate the fact that it is a real road circuit with plenty of fast corners, but speed alone is not very challenging. On top of that it is dangerous when it's wet."

Irvine's team mate Pedro de la Rosa has scored only one point so far this year, but has outqualified Irvine at the last three Grands Prix. However the Spaniard too, is not optimistic about his chances this weekend.

"Spa will be a difficult race for us because of the nature of this circuit and the unpredictable weather conditions," he said. "Low downforce configuration has not exactly been our strength this year."