Lauda cuts Jaguar ties

Lauda was appointed in August 2001

Sacked Jaguar boss Niki Lauda has turned down the chance to stay on at the team in an advisory role.

The three-times world champion has decided to cut his ties with the Milton Keynes-based outfit after being unexpectedly ousted earlier this month.

Ford, Jaguar's parent company, had wanted Lauda to remain as an adviser, working with the drivers and unearthing new talent.

But the Austrian has declined the offer and will instead sever all links with the team he joined in August 2001.

"We decided to terminate the contract," Lauda said. "I couldn't see anything I could do there.

"Now I'm a free man but with restrictions, as I cannot give advice to any other Formula One team for one year."

Lauda sacked by Jaguar

Lauda, who also headed Ford's premier performance division, was sacked a little over a year after replacing Bobby Rahal as boss of the struggling team.

Jaguar will field two new drivers next season, having paired Australia's Mark Webber, who had a year at Minardi, with Brazilian rookie Antonio Pizzonia.

The team are still looking for a principal after axing 70 staff recently as part of a major restructuring.