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Eddie Jordan Q&A


In the first edition, pundit Eddie Jordan is on the rack. Thank you for all your e-mails, a selection of which the former team boss answers below.

BBC Sport Formula 1 pundit Eddie Jordan
By Eddie Jordan
BBC Sport in Bahrain

Do you think Lewis Hamilton will out-qualify Jenson Button at every race?
Darren Sloan, England

No, I think that would be very silly. No driver who is as competitive as those two will out-do the other on each occasion. If Jenson were to out-qualify Lewis 10-9 then Jenson is the winner but that's not important, what matters is who wins at the end of the race. I happen to believe because of the continuity within the team that Lewis should be able to win the internal battle at McLaren.

What do you think the podium will look like on Sunday after the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Charlie, UK

Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, in that order.

Why have you picked Lewis Hamilton and not Fernando Alonso to win the 2010 title?
Jamie De Freitas, England

Alonso is with a new team and, even as a double world champion, he has to learn. The Spaniard also has a strong team-mate at Ferrari in the shape of Felipe Massa, who was chosen over their 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen to prove how much the team support him. I've gone for Hamilton as I think he has the extra ability to pull something out the bag when he needs to.

Which driver pairing do you think has the greatest potential to boil over and create unrest?
Alistair, England

We're all told that the Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa partnership at Ferrari has potential for fireworks. They have had little spats in previous seasons and have a little bit of Latin blood in each of them.

"But I'm sure that Ferrari are mindful that any undercurrent between the drivers could escalate within the team as a whole and they will be careful to keep a handle on it. The teams are too professional now and Ferrari won't let aggravation affect the team.

If you could pick one more world champion to line up against the four we already have in 2010 who would it be?
Alastair Conway, Scotland

I'd pick the late Jim Clarke, who won the title in 1963 and 1965. He was a big hero of mine.

Why is Nico Rosberg being pegged as the underdog to Michael Schumacher at Mercedes?
Jake Foreman, England

Maybe he won't be for very long. Nico's father Keke has been very careful and is a wily old world champion. Keke knew well that Nico was the choice of Mercedes and that that meant he would have headed to McLaren until Mercedes took over at Brawn.

The fact that a high-profile driver such as Michael Schumacher is in the other seat is unbelievably lucky for Nico as he won't be under any pressure, there's no spotlight and no requirement for him to beat Schumacher. The perception is that the seven-time world champion will walk all over him - but that's not going to be the case.

Why are you dismissing Michael Schumacher's chances of an eighth world championship when the season has only just begun?"
Jonathan Evans, Wales

I didn't say that. I just said that if I was his father I would discourage him from returning to F1. I think that he could win it in 2011 but I think 2010 is a very big ask. But I've been wrong many times before and if he wins the title this season, it will be because he is a worthy champion.

Last season you said that the McLaren was the worst car they had ever made - what do you think about the 2010 car's chances?
Haze Evans, England

I also said last year that I thought the greatest turnaround that I can recall was McLarens coming from the dog of the thing that they came out with at the start of the season to what they finished up with in Abu Dhabi. It was remarkable how they changed it into a race winning car.

The new McLaren looks great and they've stolen a march on a lot of the other teams with their controversial rear wing design and engine cover set-up, which has been proved to be legal.

I believe McLaren will be strong all season long. I'm quite sure they will be in the mix for victories for the opening races.

You and David Coulthard often wear similar clothes when you are on TV, do you share the same wardrobe consultant?
Justin Hall, Sheffield

I don't share anything with David and certainly not in the wardrobe department. He's the perfect model and anything seems to look good on him. I would like to think I'm more rock 'n' roll than him.

Will the ban on in-race refuelling take away some of the excitement?
Graham, Swindon

It probably will take away some of the excitement but it will also take away some of the danger. I've seen too many near-fatal accidents - Jos Verstappen set ablaze at the 1994 German Grand Prix and Eddie Irvine at Spa in 1995 - because of fuel hose issues and it's quite frightening.

What is the best thing that Bernie Ecclestone could do to improve the sport?
Peter Street,UK

Maybe I'm not quite as close as I used to be but one has to give credit where it's due. Every year there has been something going forward, whether it's the ban on refuelling, the smaller front tyres or some other facet to try to improve overtaking - which was never a guaranteed part of grand prix racing so it's almost reinventing the wheel really.

The three new teams that have arrived in 2010 would not be here if it wasn't for a handout from Bernie. Behind this ultra-hard, tough entrepreneurial exterior there is a soft side to him which we don't often see.

A lot of the manufacturers have pulled out of F1 but we now have 24 cars on the grid, which is more than we've seen in a long time, and Bernie has to take the credit for that.

How do you think Jean Todt will cope with his new job as FIA president if his old team Ferrari cause controversy?
Thomas, England

Jean Todt is a remarkably observant man. His integrity is beyond doubt and if Ferrari or McLaren or any of his friends need to be chastised then, have no fear, Todt will inflict punishment.

He will run F1 in a tough, hard way with zero compromise for any form of cheating or underhand behaviour.

How much of a danger are the newcomers and new teams going to be to the other drivers?
Stuart Guy, UK

I don't think the new drivers will be a danger on the track. They've all got super-licences and they should be experienced drivers. I don't have the same concerns as others do about the new cars being slower. Their drivers will be mindful of the faster cars in their mirrors and will have been told by race steward Charlie Whiting that they have to get out of the way. This season has all the hallmarks of being a classic, classic season.

What's your advice to the small teams who have entered the sport in 2010?"
Gianni Fasulo, United Kingdom

I've always said that my best achievement was to survive Formula 1 - and I believe it even more now.

There is no substitute for financial stability because you can develop the car, you can employ people and you can plan. So my advice is to please run an F1 team as if it was your own business and your own money. Cash runs out very quickly and engineers are inclined to spend on their pet projects rather than a concerted effort as to how the team should go forward.

Is there any chance Jordan Grand Prix could make a comeback in the near future?
Christopher, Ireland

I don't think so. I've made a commitment to the BBC and I'm enjoying it. Michael Schumacher has made a comeback and I question it - if I came back I'd have to question it too. I don't think it's very sensible for either of us to be doing what we used to.

You've worked closely with Lotus technical director Mike Gascoyne at Jordan, do you think he has what it takes to develop the Lotus?
Matthew Sheader

Mike was part of my team when we won races and then went on to Renault, so he has a wealth of experience. But Lotus started quite late and it's going to take him a while to get the team to gel.

Everyone wants the new Lotus team to do well, especially because of the historic value that the team have but nevertheless I did think that they would start off a little closer to the existing teams.

How come you were so certain that Stefan GP would be allowed to race in Bahrain and why aren't they there?
Gavin Brown, UK

What I said was that Jacques Villeneuve had had a seat fitting with the team and I believe that to be true.

I also believed that the FIA would allow Stefan GP to take US F1's place on the grid but I don't know why the opportunity has been taken away from them.

How does an F1 team make any money?
Paul, England

In a very short paragraph, you have your resources, your income from drivers' sponsors, television money and all sorts of alignments and associations with sponsors. For me I used to take 10% out of all revenues and put it to one side as a slush fund for the day when we knew we would need it for whatever reason.

Eddie Jordan is the former owner of the Jordan Grand Prix team and a BBC F1 pundit. He was talking to Sarah Holt.

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see also
Schumacher keen to 'raise game'
12 Mar 10 |  Formula 1
Bahrain Grand Prix practice photos
12 Mar 10 |  Formula 1
Bahrain Grand Prix practice results
13 Mar 10 |  Results
Bahrain GP practice as it happened
12 Mar 10 |  Formula 1
Winning start is vital - Button
11 Mar 10 |  Formula 1
All-clear for McLaren wing design
12 Mar 10 |  Formula 1
Brawn thrilled by new F1 season
09 Mar 10 |  Formula 1
Campos change name to Hispania F1
03 Mar 10 |  Formula 1

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