Eddie Irvine (Ferrari).

Born: November 11th, 1965. Newtownards, Northern Ireland.

Debut: Japan '93 (Jordan).

GPs contested: 95.

Career wins: 3.

Career pole positions: 0.

Best qualifying: 2nd (Spain & Hungary '99).

Career points: 159.

1999: Points: 60. Wins: 3 (Australia, Austria, Germany)

Form: 1st, 5th, Rtd, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, 6th, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th.

Pole positions: 0. Best qualifying: 2nd (Spain).

Retirements: 1 (San Marino: engine failure).

With just five points from his last three outings, Irvine's stumbling title challenge has been kept alive only by McLaren's fumblings. While Irvine continues to talk tough about his chances, Ferrari appear to know better and last week president Luca di Montezemolo collared a reluctant Michael Schumacher and demanded the German's in-car presence at the season's final two races.

Wet or dry, Irvine will undoubtedly benefit from Schumacher's input on setting up the fidgety F399, and while the German, whose fitness is still only ranked at 70 per cent, is unlikely to be a force in the latter stages of the race, his pace (he twice blitzed the lap record at Ferrari's Fiorano test track last week) may lead to some spoiling tactics in qualifying and the early race laps.