Irvine unlikely to leave Ferrari

Michael Schumacher yesterday rejected suggestions that he was on the lookout for a new team-mate in the wake of his supposed rift with Ferrari number two Eddie Irvine after the Ulsterman's win at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year. Speaking in Monaco in the build-up to Sunday's grand prix, Schumacher said that there was no rift in their working relationship, but admitted that Irvine's win in Melbourne had caused tension between the two.

"Yes, we had a verbal discussion, but we're human beings," he said. "We sometimes disagree, and yes had a disagreement. But we're adult enough to clarify these situations very quickly and there have been no further problems."

Irvine's win in Melbourne sparked rumours that the Ferrari number two was becoming increasingly unhappy with his subordinate role to Schumacher and was seeking a free role, if not an entirely new challenge, with a move to the Jordan team.

However, at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks ago, both Jordan and Irvine were quick to deny that a tacit agreement had been signed for his services, subject to contract renegotiations with Ferrari. Schumacher yesterday denied there was any truth in suggestions that Irvine had become too demanding. "No not at all," he said. "There are people who would like to see it that way because it makes for an attractive story, but it's not true. Not at all, not at all."

Meanwhile, McLaren team manager Ron Dennis leapt to the defence of his number two driver David Coulthard in the wake of criticism over Coulthard's performance during the Imola Grand Prix won by Schumacher. Caught out by a masterful Ferrari tactical switch, which left Schumacher in the lead, Coulthard was accused in some quarters of lacking the aggression necessary to pass back markers.

"The circumstances of Michael's race and David's race were completely different," Dennis said. "Ferrari's tactical change meant that Michael had to make up a 20-second gap to David if he wanted to win. He had to do it. David, on the hand, had only to maintain that gap. He had a significant amount of time. In the end, Michael made up probably 10 seconds of that gap and David probably lost 10 seconds due to the actions of (Olivier) Panis and (Giancarlo) Fisichella.

"I don't think it's fair or right to say that David is not aggressive enough. He was very frustrated in the car and couldn't understand how the drivers in front wouldn't move out of the way," he added. "David has had some great races in the past. He is an extremely talented driver and has his place in the team because he's competent and capable of winning."

The McLaren boss went on to accuse some drivers of deliberately ignoring the blue flags which are produced to advise slower drivers to move out of the way to allow race leaders to pass. "There are certain drivers who are lacking in grey matter, who can only see the car in front and only want to get past that. They don't care about anything else," he said.

Elsewhere, Jordan will be hoping to add to the success garnered already this season. They are currently in third place in the championship with 13 points, just three behind reigning champions McLaren. Certainly Jordan is in a healthier position than last year when they were without a single championship point and in dire straits.

"That was a dreadful weekend," recalled team owner Eddie Jordan yesterday, "but ultimately it was fantastic because it kicked me into action. I realised that unless we made some radical changes, the Jordan team would simply plod along in the lower divisions. Making the changes was hard, but they happened and the result has been significant."

Jordan pointed to the team's reliability as a key factor in their success, including a second and third in Australia and Brazil for Heinz Harald Frentzen, and a welcome fourth place for the struggling Damon Hill at Imola a fortnight ago. "Our reliability has been the key to our success so far," he said, "and on the streets of Monte Carlo, it will be crucial."