Rahal feels the pressure at Jaguar

Paddock sources have suggested that Rahal's position is under threat after a disastrous start to the Formula 1 season. Neither Eddie Irvine or Luciano Burti have managed to score a point in the four races so far - only minnows European Minardi have a worse finishing record.

The speculation is seen as a move by the German element within to company, which is eager to see a dramatic upturn in form, to have more influence on the way the F1 team is run. The German group is led by Jaguar chairman Wolfgang Reitzle, who recruited Austrian Niki Lauda to liase between Ford and the racing team's management.

Despite the rumours of friction between the team's head figures, Lauda has discounted any threat to Rahal's position.

"Bobby and I have had many long and constructive debates about how to move forward," said Lauda. "We have set ourselves clear targets, and we will continue to operate as a partnership in an effort to achieve them."

At the start of the season, Rahal said the team's aim for 2001 was to "achieve respectability". He was instrumental in hiring design ace Steve Nichols and aerodynamicist Mark Handford, whose efforts should become more apparent as the year progresses.

Lead driver Irvine, meanwhile, says his Cosworth-powered R2 chassis urgently needs more tweaks to move Jaguar up the grid.

"It is not as quick as last year's car, but the engine side has got better," he said. "The team has done a solid job - nothing more and nothing less. We are waiting on the new aerodynamic features, which are going to [help us] make a big step forward. That is what we need, because the car is just too slow."