Mouth of Jordan in full flow

Pit Talk

Thursday, July 12

In an attempt to ward off persistent media speculation about Mika Hakkinen's future – in particular the possibility of him considering retirement at the end of the season after some less than impressive showings over the past two years, McLaren issue a press release confirming that they have an option on his services but do not require him to make a decision in the immediate future.

Eddie Jordan, who has already brought up the Battle of the Boyne while discussing whether he feels British or Irish at the grand prix that takes place across the road from his factory, wins Quote of the Week and Good Taste Award hands down. Responding to a question about the manners of wearing baseball caps while indoors, posed by veteran journalist Mike Doodson at the regular afternoon press conference, he says: "You are a dickbrain! What a question!" Oh the wit of F1 team owners.

In the same conference, Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello gets his own back on motormouth Eddie Irvine, who has recently cast aspersions on his value as Michael Schumacher's team-mate. The Brazilian, who partnered Irvine at Jordan in 1993-95 and replaced him at Ferrari in 2000, says: "He should just shut up and concentrate on his job and remember that when I was sitting in that car and it was white instead of green [when it was still a Stewart-Ford and not a Jaguar] I had a lot more points than him, so it's just silly to be going on." Irvine has the last word. "I was just asked questions and gave logical, correct answers and the truth hurts some-times, I guess."

Friday, July 13

Motor racing pays tribute to Murray Walker, commentating on his last British Grand Prix. ITV plans to kick off its broadcast with a raft of famous personalities reminding viewers of their favourite one-line Murrayisms.

Fresh from supporting Eric Clapton in Guildford the previous weekend with his band The Conrods, Damon Hill metamorphoses into a journalist to interview BMW-Williams technical director Patrick Head, the man who sacked him in 1996.

Sir Jackie Stewart braves the uncertain weather, mild compared to what he faced during the previous week's sailing tour in his native Scotland, and is in full flow in his battle to regenerate Silverstone as a centre of excellence. Earlier he had had to smooth troubled waters at the British Racing Drivers' Club – of which he is president – when it transpired Eddie Irvine was technically ineligible to enter the opulent clubhouse after failing to pay his £40 annual subscription.

Saturday, July 14

Orange Arrows invites Hear'Say pop band to their enclosure, just in time for the rain. There are smiles up and down the pit lane as practice starts. Having sneaked a lap the previous day on intermediate tyres during a late shower, when the track had not officially been declared "wet", Michael Schumacher spins off as the day's proceedings kick off and has to sit out the first 45 minutes. "Nice to see the biter bitten for once," says one team owner whose drivers had not been allowed out on intermediate tyres the previous day.