Irvine set to stay put

(21-Jul-98) - Eddie Irvine is almost certain to stay at Ferrari next season
for a fourth year alongside Michael Schumacher.

Gianni Agnelli, boss of Ferrari parent company Fiat, revealed that Irvine
is intending to stay on, despite two possible stumbling blocks: his wages,
which currently stand around the œ2 million mark; and his status within the
team.

Irvine has hinted that his motivation was being dented by having to race in
deference to Schumacher.

"When Michael gets all the new bits on the car and I get whatever's
left it can get a bit demotivating," he said. "In Monaco I
finished on the podium, but it didn't matter because the team were
disappointed that Michael didn't win."

Irvine is unlikely to find a more competitive seat elsewhere and rumours of
talks with Williams may have more to do with boosting his earning potential
at Ferrari than a desire to move teams.

"I want to stay. They (Ferrari) want me to stay. He (Schumacher) wants
me to stay. We will see." Said the Ulsterman last week.

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