Eddie Irvine leads F1 drivers - in terms of age

EDDIE IRVINE turns 36 today and with the retirement from Formula 1 of Jean Alesi, the Jaguar racing driver looks set to become the doyen of the sport next year. Irvine is nearly a year older than Olivier Panis and 18 months more senior than Heinz-Harald Frentzen. All three men have won races in F1.

This next season will be Irvine's last year of his three-year contract with Jaguar and with money likely to be short in 2003 it is unlikely that he will stay at Jaguar - unless he takes a serious pay cut.