Vodafone Case Damaged Team, Says Jordan

Team boss Eddie Jordan has said his Silverstone-based squad have been harmed by their legal battle against mobile phone giants Vodafone.

But the Irish entrepreneur says they must put that behind them and concentrate on racing.

"Now is the time to forget about it, learn from our mistakes and concentrate on the team because the team has suffered as a result of this court case," Jordan told BBC Radio Five Live. "I really thought I had a very solid case. The judge obviously didn't concur with that and was quite scathing about our side.

"When you're an entrepreneurial team and when you're in F1 as a private team, you have to be a good fighter, and if you're not a good fighter, you better pack up your bags."

Jordan launched a 150 million pound ($241.7 million) claim back in June saying Vodafone wrongly pulled out of a three-year deal to sponsor their cars. A British judge, however, said Jordan's case was "contrived and unsustainable".

Sources close to the team said that Jordan himself could end up with a legal bill of about three million pounds after the case.

Despite scoring a fortunate win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, the team have struggled this season and are currently in eighth position in the Constructors' Championship, having scored only one point since the Interlagos win back in April.

Jordan, however, has vowed to turn the situation around.

"Jordan has fought all its life and it will never stop fighting. It's a culture. And when you're a streetfighter you have to keep going, and we will keep going," Jordan added. "I will turn this around.

"Every time Jordan is written off it is the best thing, because we inevitably bounce back. Whether it's divine intervention or just good luck, I don't know, but we always come back smelling of roses."