The Jaguar Formula One team competed in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship from 2000 to 2004. It was formed from the purchase by the Ford of Jackie Stewart's Stewart Formula One team in June 1999.

The team in 2000 was managed by Wolfgang Reitzle, who was then head of Ford's Premier Automotive Group. In 2000 however, the results that season did not reflect the results that Stewart had been able to achieve in 1999. Reitzle stepped down and was replaced by American Racing champion and successful team owner Bobby Rahal for 2001.

2001 did not see an improvement in results, and appointment of 3 time FIA F1 World Champion Niki Lauda in the middle of the year did not help team morale, with the team sliding further back in the field. An abortive attempt to bring Mclaren's current technical director Adrian Newey to Jaguar further destabilised the team, and conflict between both Rahal and Lauda led to Rahal's resignation.

2002 was even worse under Lauda's stewardship, with only a resurgence later in the year in terms of results. Ford's board of directors were beginning to have major issues with the costs and benefits of running the team in Formula 1, especially as it did not feature the parent company brand. Funding was reduced for 2003. Lauda and 70 other staff were made redundant, and a 2 year timeframe was given to show possible benefits.

2003 saw an improvement of form for the team, as it benefitted from good management and a more efficient usage of resources (in particular, using a wind tunnel near the factory compared to one in California). 2004 saw a stabilisation of results, but the team was unable to challenge for points on a consistent basis. Ford stated that they were to stop funding the team at the end of 2004. In mid-November 2004, energy drink company Red Bull confirmed that they had purchased the the Jaguar Formula One team from Ford as an ongoing outfit. The new team is named Red Bull Racing, using the chassis and engine that would have been Jaguar's 2005 Formula 1 challenger.

Ironically, in Jaguar's final season, the team received the most publicity when two of the team's mechanics, having won an inflatable donkey from the movie Shrek from a giveaway on a soda bottle, photographed it around the paddock at several races and set up a website (donkeydoesf1.co.uk) for the pictures. After the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix, Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley, much of the sport's management, and every driver except Michael Schumacher signed the donkey, and the mechanics announced their intention to auction it on eBay and donate the proceeds to charity.

In summary, Jaguar's attempt at Formula 1 on the track was below standard for reported amount of money that Ford put in. Zero wins, zero pole positions, two podiums, a small handful of points. Off the track the team attracted publicity for moreso the wrong reasons (in particular the political infighting between Rahal and Lauda in 2001, the attempt to bring Adrian Newey to the team, the inconsistent management and technical teams with 3 differing techical directors in 3 years).

Drivers included Eddie Irvine from 2000 - 2002, Johnny Herbert in 2000, Luciano Burti for a few races in 2001, Pedro de la Rosa in 2001, Antonio Pizzonia in 2003, Mark Webber in 2003 and 2004 Justin Wilson in 2003 and Christian Klien in 2004

Formula One results

• 2000 — 4 points — 9th place
• 2001 — 9 points — 8th place
• 2002 — 8 points — 7th place
• 2003 — 18 points — 7th place
• 2004 — 10 points — 7th place

See also

• Jaguar

External link

• Red Bull buys Jaguar Racing (AFP)