It's said that although Niki Lauda had already begun talks with Eddie Jordan regarding an engine deal for 2003, the Ford Premier Performance Division boss was caught out when the deal was confirmed on Sunday morning.

It's believed that Lauda began negotiations in earnest with Jordan last Friday (16) advising the Irishman that he would need to 'drop' Honda, a process that would leave his team in a precarious position.

For much of Saturday Jordan was involved in desperate talks with Ford's management including Richard Parry-Jones, the deal being done late that evening.

On Sunday morning, shortly after the half-hour warm-up session Honda announced that it was to focus its efforts on BAR in 2003 and was therefore to end its partnership with Jordan at the end of the current season. Shortly afterwards Eddie Jordan revealed his three-year deal with Ford.

Talking to pitpass'™ Bob Constanduros later that same day, Jordan revealed that he'd first approached Ford in February - apparently after having been advised by Honda that if he wished to continue using its engines he would need to pay, possibly as much as £15m a year.

According to reports talks have continued ever since culminating in a meeting with Ford executives in Gibraltar earlier this month.

When the Ford deal was announced on Sunday morning a number of reporters immediately visited the Jaguar motor-home for Lauda's response to 'the announcement', "what announcement?" the Austrian is reported to have said.

Later that morning Lauda stated that Ford would issue a formal announcement on Tuesday, outlining the deal with Jordan.

It's now Friday Niki, and we're still waiting.

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