Formula One news

Purnell can't guarantee 2005 season for Jaguar

Ecclestone and Purnell (right)

At a recent principals' meeting, Bernie Ecclestone turned to Tony Purnell and asked him point-blank -- 'can you guarantee you'll still be here in 2005?' The Jaguar boss replied: "No, I can't."

Since then, stories of carmaker Ford selling the grand prix outfit - perhaps to energy drink 'Red Bull' boss Dieter Mateschitz - have dominated the paddock. But Purnell thinks the 'Cat still has eight or nine lives. "I think you'll find we're ok," he said.

It emerged at the Hungaroring, though, that Jaguar had halted work on the '05 challenger and it wasn't just because next year's technical rules are unclear.

Speculation said Ford has not yet green-lighted the project. But Tony Purnell insists reports of Jaguar's demise are nothing short of "mischief making.  Too much was made of that (Nurburgring) meeting," he added.

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