JUNE 29, 2000

Stewart blasts Jaguar's Irvine

JAGUAR DIRECTOR JACKIE STEWART has hit out at driver Eddie Irvine after claiming he is not focussed on the job in hand.

Irvine opted to join the Formula One newcomers in the close-season after finishing runner-up in the championship with Ferrari last year.

But Stewart has blasted the Ulsterman, who he admits can win grands prix races still, for his attitude and insisted he has got to spend more time with the team than he does in order to achieve the right results.

"Eddie's come out of a very successful season with Ferrari," Stewart said. "He chose to come to us - he approached us - and I think he's got the making of a driver who can win motor races.

"But he's got to focus more. He's got to spend more time on the job than he does right now.

"I think we've got things we have to do to make ourselves more competitive but also must our drivers."