Irvine prepared for a pay cut to keep job at improving Jaguar

When you are as forthright in your opinions as Eddie Irvine is you can expect stuff to come the other way and he is prepared to take as much as he gives.

However, those who have written off the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland as a credible Formula One driver may wish to revise their assessment after his excellent weekend here. It may just have been convincing enough to have earned him a job for next season.

Irvine achieved a personal season's best qualifying position of eighth for the Belgian Grand Prix and followed up with sixth place in the race, so registering his and Jaguar's first point since the opening day, in Australia, where he freakishly inherited fourth place. Jaguar had gradually and painstakingly improved their operation and their car, and Irvine has responded with diligence and no little pace, overshadowing his Spanish team-mate, Pedro de la Rosa, here.

For much of the season the paddock grapevine has suggested that the unassuming De la Rosa would be retained and Irvine, draining resources to the tune of £6m a year, would be dropped. Mark Webber, the Australian currently driving for Minardi, is said to have been lined up as a replacement.

Irvine maintains money is not an issue, that he is prepared to take a substantial reduction in his salary. He is equally adamant that he is more concerned about the potential of the Jaguar before he decides whether he wishes to be considered for next season's line-up.

"I don't care about having to take a pay-cut,'' he said. "I've made so much money and got so much stashed away it wouldn't make any difference if I got paid $2m or $5m more or less. What matters to me is enjoying my racing. I don't want to go through another year like this, struggling at the back.''

Irvine's candour would undoubtedly be missed, and, if he can persuade interested parties he still has the hunger to compete at this level, they might opt for him rather than a younger yet unproven driver. Webber may be an outstanding prospect, but there is scant evidence for or against his case.

At Minardi he has been partnered by the Malaysian, Alex Yoong, who is clearly out of his depth in Formula One, and, for the past two races, by Britain's Anthony Davidson, who scarcely had time to adapt to the car and perhaps tried too hard, spinning out both here and in Hungary a fortnight ago. What we do know is that Webber was comprehensibly beaten by another Briton, Justin Wilson, in last year's International Formula 300 Championship.

Wilson would have had the short-term opportunity at Minardi had he not been too tall for the car. Davidson and Wilson are candidates for a seat at Minardi next season, although they have to find £3.5m worth of sponsorship to supplement their CVs.

Davidson has been linked with the vacancy at Toyota, but the Brazilian leader of the CART Championship, Christiano da Matta, appears the favourite. Davidson said: "I think that seat is tied up and not by me.''

Jordan, it is thought, will try to relocate their contracted Japanese driver, Takuma Sato, next season, when they switch from Honda to Ford engines. Benson & Hedges, the team's long-time sponsor, are anxious to recruit a British driver to attract more media attention at home and Davidson's name has again come up as a possible contender.

So, too, has that of Allan McNish, who is to be released by Toyota at the end of this, his maiden season in Formula One. Toyota are endeavouring to help him find a seat in American racing but the Scot is keen to stay in the Grand Prix circuit.

McNish said: "I would prefer to find another drive in Formula One, as long as it is a competitive drive. I've spoken to more than one team and I'm optimistic I'll get what I'm looking for.''

Only two United Kingdom drivers, David Coulthard, at McLaren Mercedes and Jenson Button, with BAR Honda, are assured Formula One drives next season. Four more are reliant on developments, sporting and commercial, or the will of a team principal.

Teams have all but called a halt to the development of this year's cars, yet there will be no lack of intensity in testing at Monza over the next few days, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix on 15 September.

Ferrari, for all their recent success, are anxious to win their home race and Michael Schumacher, who claimed a record 10th victory of the season here, wishes to erase the memory of last year.

Schumacher, troubled by the perceived implication of attacks further afield following the atrocities of 11 September in the United States, was subdued all weekend and a pale imitation of his normal assertive self in the race. He said here: "At Monza last year I was not, for the first time, at the peak of my performance. Hopefully I will not have to face that kind of situation again. I am going to give it 100 per cent for the team and the tifosi.''