The Jaguar Formula One team issued on Thursday a High Court injunction in an attempt to prevent McLaren employing Newey after the end of his current contract, which runs out at the end of July 2002.

But McLaren have responded by issuing a statement saying that Jaguar's claims are misleading. They said that the injunction only stood until next Tuesday, when the next court hearing takes place.

"Jaguar Racing has obtained a 'without notice' injunction, which applies only until Tuesday 12th June 2001 when there will be a further hearing at which McLaren will be represented for the first time," the McLaren statement said.

"The lawyers acting for Jaguar Racing had previously established contact with those acting for McLaren but unusually chose not to inform them of their intentions or invite their contribution before the judge.

"The statement issued by Jaguar Racing implies that the injunction prevents Adrian Newey from continuing in the employment of McLaren International after 31st July 2002 under a contract already signed.

"This is inaccurate. In fact the injunction granted only prevents McLaren entering into a new or further agreement with Adrian Newey before Tuesday 12th June 2001 and has no effect on the existing extension.

"The team is confident that when the facts of the case are heard on Tuesday, the injunction will be lifted."

Newey last week signed a contract to join Jaguar in August next year, but then decided to stay with McLaren a matter of hours after Jaguar announced their coup.

A Jaguar statement said: "The terms of this injunction restrain McLaren International from entering into or continuing any contract of employment with Adrian Newey post 31 July 2002."

Undermining

As the dispute between the teams rumbles on, Jaguar boss Bobby Rahal has accused his opposite number at McLaren of hypocrisy.

Rahal used words spoken by McLaren boss Ron Dennis in Austria last month to telling effect in supporting his own point of view and undermining his rival's position.

Rahal reminded a news conference of Dennis' views when he was discussing Toyota's swoop for Minardi technical director Gustav Brunner.

"There's an interesting quote here from Ron," Rahal said.