Jaguar
| |
| Full Name | Jaguar Racing F1 Team |
| Base | Milton Keynes, United Kingdom |
| Founder(s) |  Wolfgang Reitzle
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| Team Principal(s) | Template:USA Bobby Rahal Template:GBR Tony Purnell Template:GBR David Pitchforth |
| Technical Director | |
| Noted Former Drivers | |
| Template:GBR Dario Franchitti Template:GBR Eddie Irvine  Pedro de la Rosa Template:AUS Mark Webber André Lotterer Template:GBR David Coulthard |
Formula One |
Jaguar are a British automotive manufacturer who have been in operation since 1936.
Jaguar have been involved in motorsport since the 1950s, racing in Sportscars and Formula One. In 1953 and 1954, Jaguar, in co-operation with Aston Martin completed a hat-trick of title wins - winning the Driver's Championship (with B. Bira and Tony Bettenhausen), the Constructor's Championship and the Entrant's Championship.
Jaguar returned to F1 in 2000 and raced with little success until the team was sold to Austrian energy drinks giant Red Bull in 2005.
Formula One
See Stewart Grand Prix for pre-2000 history.
2000
Following the conclusion of the 1999 season, the Ford Motor Company completed the purchase of the former Stewart Grand Prix team and re-branded it as Jaguar Racing. The team retained the services of 1999 driving personnel Dario Franchitti and Jan Magnussen - although Magnussen was demoted to reserve driver status. Franchitti would be joined by hot-headed Northern Irish driver Eddie Irvine, whom had had an impressive few seasons with the likes of Sauber and Minardi in the years prior.
Jaguar's first point would come from Irvine at the Brazilian Grand Prix after the exclusion of McLaren's Mika Häkkinen. Irvine would follow this points score up four races later with Jaguar's first podium; a third place at the European Grand Prix. However, this would be the last cause for celebration at Jaguar in 2000 - as neither Irvine, Franchitti or reserve driver Luciano Burti (whom replaced Irvine in Belgium) were able to score any more points.
2001
2001 came around and Franchitti would fly the nest from Jaguar, citing a lack of harmony between him and the car as the main reason for his departure. Irvine remained and it seemed as if reserve driver Burti was the most likely candidate for the second seat, but developments at Ferrari meant that two-time race winner Pedro de la Rosa was on the market, and as such he would sign for Jaguar.
However, it transpired that this would be another season where Irvine would be the solitary points scorer, with a best result of fourth place in Spain.
2002
Despite being a regular points scorer for Jaguar in 2001, Irvine decided that enough was enough and took a sabbatical from F1 ahead of the 2002 season. This promoted De la Rosa to team-leader for the first time, with former reserve Mark Webber making his F1 debut in the second seat.
Webber would bed himself into the team well early on, having played a key role in the R3's development, and would take his first point with a sixth place in the San Marino Grand Prix. De la Rosa, however, would struggle with the R3 - eventually being sacked by the team ahead of the French Grand Prix - allowing German rookie André Lotterer to take the seat. Lotterer would score a point in his first race with the team but neither driver would score any other points in 2002.
2003
Ford would break the bank again in 2003, bringing in former World Championship runner-up David Coulthard in to partner Lotterer after Webber departed to Renault. Coulthard's experience would pay off early, with the Scotsman taking a sixth place in the Spanish Grand Prix early on. However, it would be yet another fairly average campaign - the only bright spot coming in the Italian Grand Prix - where Lotterer and Coulthard finished in second and fourth respectively due to the Michelin pullout.
2004
Coulthard remained in what would be Jaguar's final season in Formula One and was joined by Argentinian driver José María López after Lotterer left F1 to pursue other opportunities. Coulthard took the team's only podium at the Canadian Grand Prix with a third place finish. This would be Jaguar's last podium.
In the off-season, Ford announced a withdrawal from Formula One - with Cosworth and Jaguar F1 both being sold off. Jaguar was purchased by Austrian drinks manufacturer Red Bull for a nominal fee, saving over 300 jobs and keeping the former Stewart team on the F1 grid.