Jordan have fallen a long way since the heady days of 1999, when Heinz-Harald Frentzen won races and even briefly challenged for the title. This year and last have been a battle to survive poor reliability and amend a poorly-realised car.
Things got so bad over the winter that Jordan needed to be bailed out by an injection of funding from Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.
 | TEAM HISTORY Nationality: UK/Ireland Years in F1: 13 2003 position: 9th Drivers' titles: 0 Constructors' titles: 0 Team principal: Eddie Jordan |
Perhaps unsuprisingly, then, 2003 has been a year to endure. Finances were tight, and the EJ13 was probably the poorest car the team have ever produced, lacking grip and downforce in alarming quantities.
Despite a well-worked but somewhat fortunate victory in Brazil for Giancarlo Fisichella, it emerged as the season progressed that Jordan were ahead only of the Minardis on pace.
All of this has meant that this season has turned into a cruel waste of Fisichella's talent, a superb driver who would make things happen for them given half a chance.
So it was no surprise when the Italian's patience ran out and he moved to Sauber for 2004. Hardly a massive improvement, you might think, but he hopes there might be a Ferrari drive at the end of it.
Meanwhile, signs of progress for Jordan are even harder to spot, but one thing is certain - the team need to move on as quickly as possible if they are to keep their heads above water in F1.
MMIX
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