Jordan Mercedes?

[Super Tourer]

Story from www.pitpass.com

http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=6472

Interesting angle which may account for EJ's uncharacteristic slience at 'the' press conference during the Canadian GP......

[Mark Webber]

I wonder which side of the bed EJ sleeps on I suppose you would have to ask Ron D

[Super Tourer]

More on this rumour from www.grandprix.com

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns11359.html

Wurz/Albers Jordan Mercedes in 2004 with Paffett as test driver?

[steve nielsen]

Wurz maybe, but Albers is'nt F1 material.......

[ASCII Man]

Wurz/Leinders or Saelens then maybe??

[Mark Webber]

Maybe Nick H and Wurz to Jordan next year? with Firman as tester

[Stephen Green]

Nick H was always very well regarded by McLaren when he was the test driver there. Likewise they have similar views about Wurtz so who there may be more truth than we realise behind the rumours?

[Testure]

It seems like the Sauber/Ferrari arrangement is the only way for smaller private teams to survive these days. There were rumours about Sauber using Mercedes engines in the future though, right? Perhaps that long-standing Ferrari link would put somebody like Mercedes off...

[Stephen Green]

Possibly but you have to remember that Sauber ran Schumacher etc in Group C Sports Cars for Mercedes.

[Tom Fuller]

Read this in F1 Racing Magazine:

Jordan and Sauber are in talks with Mercedes-Benz about a supply of customer engines for 2004.
Their interest in the Ilmor-built V10s is driven by their bargain (by Formula 1 standards) $11 million price tag which is significantly cheaper than any other customer engine.
Both teams were cryptic when asked if they had approched Mercedes - but neither denied it.
"We talk to everyone in the course of doing business," said Eddie Jordan, "but we've made no formal approach to Mercedes-Benz." Translation: They have made an approach.
Peter Sauber whose Mercedes ties go back almost 20 years, said: "I've exchanged thoughts with Ron Dennis on different topics, one of them being subsidised engines in genereal, and for Sauber in particular." Translation: his links with Mercedes are strong, so he wants Ron to green-light Merc engines for Sauber.
Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug, meanwhile, said the price of a year's engine supply had not been finalised but confimed the offer is genuine - and that he had spoken "informally" to Jordan and Sauber about 2004. "The cost could be $11 million or $12 million," he said. "These are difficult times for F1 financially and we;ve made this offer for the good of the sport."
Laudable stuff, but a cynic might question these apparently noble motives. Mercedes, in common with F1's other engine suppliers, are wary of the FIA's desire to make engines last an entire race weeken from 2004 (and even longer thereafter).
The FIA maintain long-life engines will save money. The engine makers, however, believe they will, in fact, be extremely costly to make reliable. Better, say Mercedes, to offer cheap engines in an attempt to keep the FIA's cost-saving faction quiet.
By the way of tact acknowledgement of the politics surrounding this issue, the FIA issued this statement over the Spanish GP weekend: "If fully affordable engines were indeed available to all teams from 2004 onwards, the proposals for multi-race engines in 2005 and 2006 would be withdrawn. Translation: the FIA are going to play hardball over one engine per weekend for 2004, but if the engine manufacturers show willing over making cheaper engines available next year, they will not be forced to make one engine last six races, as has been mooted.
As things stand, Mercedes' offer is very attractive. Jordan pay $18 million for their Ford-logoed Cosworth CR-4s; Sauber pay $24 million for their Petronas branded 2002 Ferraris and both fear increased engine bills next year. Why? Because with one engine per weekend agreed for 2004 (as it was in Barcelona) year-old engines will not be credible as they are now - 2003 engines will not be able to last a wekeend unless they are dramatically detuned. And with Ferrari expected to charge $30 million for a years supply of 2004 spec motors, cheaper options are most welcome...
Sauber are fortunate to have major sponsore Petronas footing their engine bill, so their need to save cash is less pressing than is Jordans, who have to fork out from the teams annual budget. No one therefore should be surprised if EJ jumps at the chance to (almost) halve this particularly hefty bill.

Hope that was helpful...

[Testure]

The FIA seem pretty determined to cut costs, presumably to both keep the current 10 teams and to attract new one(s). So it looks like they're using their control over rules to strong-arm/blackmail the manufacturers into providing cheaper engines. The "one engine for six races" being an example.

Ron Dennis and Eddie Jordan have been looking very pally all year, so I'd vote for Jordan getting these cheaper engines over Sauber, who Ferrari might not want to let go of. Good arrangement for Jordan, who'll get a closer relationship with a manufacturer than Ford can seemingly offer them, if that talk of driver placements is true. Might not see Jordan-Mercedes, but how about Jordan-Ilmor next year?