Irvine: I am committed

Irvine - rumours that his deal will be terminated

Eddie Irvine has refuted claims that his commitment to the Jaguar team is questionable.

The 35-year-old has become annoyed by suggestions that his love of the Formula One driver lifestyle is more important than success on the track.

Fellow Ulsterman John Watson has accused Irvine of 'cruising to collect' while there have been suggestions in the media that his popularity in the Jaguar team is at a low.

"I have a nice life and if that means I am a playboy then I am guilty of all charges - and happy to be guilty," said Irvine, ahead of Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix at Zeltweg.

"There may be someone within the team (who dislikes him) but I know what I am doing with the team and some people probably do not like the way we are going to get to the top.

"They can either join us or not, but let's put it this way - it won't be me that is leaving next year."

we're not going to turn into Ferrari overnight

  Eddie Irvine

But the driver is still struggling to secure Jaguar's first points of the season after five races.

And there are rumours that Jaguar are looking at ways of getting out of their contract with Irvine at the end of the season, 12 months before the end of the deal, worth £21m for three years.

For now, Irvine is guardedly optimistic that the breakthrough can be made sooner rather than later.

"Cosworth have made good steps forward with the engine but the team really hasn't made steps forward with the car and that's why we are consistently where we are.

"The next couple of races we have a big step coming and hopefully that will leapfrog us from where we are in amongst the next batch. But we're not going to turn into Ferrari overnight."

All we can do at the moment is improve things step by step, focusing especially on aerodynamics

  Niki Lauda

One of Irvine's bosses, former world champion Niki Lauda, has admitted that Jaguar's performances this year have not been good enough.

"As head of race activities, I am not satisfied at all," said Lauda, who is spearheading Jaguar's challenge with team principal Bobby Rahal.

"Up to now we have not been performing well. No World Championship points equals no success, it is as easy as that."

Lauda, chief executive of Ford's Premier Performance Division of which Jaguar is a part, believes it will not be until 2003 when the team can think about winning races.

"In qualifying we are putting in performances that see us in approximately 12th place," added the Austrian.

"That is not good enough as it is very hard to get into the points starting from this far back on the grid.

"But all we can do at the moment is improve things step by step, focusing especially on aerodynamics.

"Bobby and the team are working relentlessly on a new aero package and that should put us into contention for points very soon I hope.

"We are discussing various concepts for next year's car and my ambition is to win races in year three."