Today's London newspaper, The Times, reports that Eddie Jordan has vetoed any possibility of a return by Eddie Irvine to the Jordan team next year, should he leave Ferrari. Irvine's name has been mentioned as a favourite replacement for Damon Hill, who announced his retirement at the end of this season.

"Eddie would be better off not coming back here and I think it would also be better for us if he doesn't come back," said Eddie Jordan to the paper. "The fans at Ferrari adore him. I think they are getting a bit fed up with Michael and Eddie is more their kind of person. If I was the boss of Ferrari, I wouldn't want him to go."

Jordan also said that he will not take a CART driver, which rules out the option of Dario Franchitti or Juan Pablo Montoya.

The newspaper also reports on an interesting speculation which ran across the French Grand Prix paddock yesterday, according to which Ferrari and Stewart will do a swap, whereby Irvine will replace Rubens Barrichello, and vice versa. According to the paper, Barrichello is highly regarded and liked at the Italian team. Whether this speculation will prove to be right or wrong remains to be seen, but it none the less proves that 'Silly Season' is officially declared open.