Formula 1 team chief Eddie Jordan today defended his decision to sack German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the middle of the season, saying he and Frentzen no longer saw eye-to-eye. Jordan was expected to keep a low-profile at this weekend's German Grand Prix at the Hockenheim because of the controversy surrounding Frentzen's sudden dismissal on Wednesday.
However, Jordan chose not to duck the issue when confronted by the world's media and denied all the rumours suggesting that a heated row took place between himself and Frentzen following the British Grand Prix.
"It hasn't been a great season, with ups and downs for all sorts of reasons. Heinz and I talked about it a number of times, and particularly again after Silverstone. There were several things I was unhappy about and I wanted to do various things, but we just couldn't agree. People are assuming I'm the bad guy or he's the bad guy, but it was just a range of things I needed to do to go forward," explained Jordan.
"We had a difference of opinion on how things happened or would happen in the future, and on the basis of that I made a decision that the best thing for Jordan was to terminate the agreement. There was never any question of a row. In the years I have known him I have never heard Heinz raise his voice and I don't believe I have ever raised my voice to him," he added.
"But I'm disappointed it has come to this because you will never find an easier and nicer person to drive for you. He is one of the nicest people who could ever drive a racing car. It's also disappointing to lose a good friend in circumstances like this, but the future of the team is everything to me. I have to think what will deliver the best results for our sponsors, our partners, our drivers and our staff - me included," pointed out the formula 1 chief.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
