Hugh
26-11-2002, 11:44
LAUDA LATEST JAG CASUALTY?
2002-11-26 09:57:00
http://itv-f1.fp.sandpiper.net/media/imagelibrary/7069_1.jpg
Jaguar have called a press conference in London this morning amid speculation that Niki Lauda is on his way out.
The Jaguar team boss has been at the team for less than two years after taking over from the previous incumbent, ChampCar legend Bobby Rahal.
Lauda will not attend the conference which will instead be hosted by Richard Parry Jones, the man who looks after the Jaguar F1 programme for parent company Ford, and Jackie Stewart.
The team confirmed last week that it is to cut between 40 and 60 jobs from its workforce as part of programme to cut costs as the global recession continues to hit Formula 1 hard. It is possible that the conference may be to give the official line on the job cuts but Lauda's absence is unusual if this is the case.
If Lauda is replaced it will mean Jaguar will have its fourth teams boss in as many years. Stewart's presence at the conference could suggest that Ford is planning to hand control of the team back to the three-times world champion, who sold Stewart Grand Prix to Ford back in 1999.
Since making the transformation from Stewart into Jaguar Racing the team has gone backwards in performance terms. As Stewart in 1999 the outfit won a grand prix and finished fourth in the constructors championship. Jaguar's best finish has been third places scored by Eddie Irvine in the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix and last season's Italian Grand Prix.
2002-11-26 09:57:00
http://itv-f1.fp.sandpiper.net/media/imagelibrary/7069_1.jpg
Jaguar have called a press conference in London this morning amid speculation that Niki Lauda is on his way out.
The Jaguar team boss has been at the team for less than two years after taking over from the previous incumbent, ChampCar legend Bobby Rahal.
Lauda will not attend the conference which will instead be hosted by Richard Parry Jones, the man who looks after the Jaguar F1 programme for parent company Ford, and Jackie Stewart.
The team confirmed last week that it is to cut between 40 and 60 jobs from its workforce as part of programme to cut costs as the global recession continues to hit Formula 1 hard. It is possible that the conference may be to give the official line on the job cuts but Lauda's absence is unusual if this is the case.
If Lauda is replaced it will mean Jaguar will have its fourth teams boss in as many years. Stewart's presence at the conference could suggest that Ford is planning to hand control of the team back to the three-times world champion, who sold Stewart Grand Prix to Ford back in 1999.
Since making the transformation from Stewart into Jaguar Racing the team has gone backwards in performance terms. As Stewart in 1999 the outfit won a grand prix and finished fourth in the constructors championship. Jaguar's best finish has been third places scored by Eddie Irvine in the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix and last season's Italian Grand Prix.