DRESSED in a T-shirt and khaki combats, Heinz-Harald Frentzen cut a relaxed if slightly bemused figure in Dublin yesterday as he fulfilled a series of media interviews at the behest of Jordan team sponsors Benson & Hedges.

While those around him wilted in the heat beneath jacket, shirt and tie, the affable Frentzen viewed the scrum of bodies with amusement, his laconic and measured delivery offering an interesting insight into the denouement of this season's Formula One World Championship: three races remain and the 32-year-old German lies 10 points behind joint leaders Mika Hakkinen and Eddie Irvine.

Frentzen also found time yesterday to poke a little fun at team boss Eddie Jordan. Recalling his early days with Jordan at the beginning of the season, Eddie took to occasionally reminding the German of his status in the vernacular, "I f. . .g own you. You're mine."

Displaying a sense of humour that was to preserve his sanity in the bedding-in period, Frentzen responded: "and I'm going to make you a star." The timing of yesterday's press briefing could not have been more appropriate given the German's superb victory at Monza last Sunday.

Victory in the drivers' championship was suddenly mooted; with the momentum going his way, Frentzen was now considered a genuine contender, particularly in the light of the exceptional consistency he had displayed all season. While more substantial than a pipe dream, the German skilfully deflected queries about his ambitions, instead diverting the glare onto his rivals.

"I am in a position to go for it," he said. "They (Irvine and Hakkinen) are in a position where they have to defend. We are in good shape after Monza. We have been working hard, today testing at an airfield in France and trying to improve the car's set-up on a circuit (Nurburgring) that requires a heavy down force.

"McLaren still have the better car but we have closed the gap during the season. They have no room for mistakes. That's why they are beginning to feel the pressure, it's why things have changed from the beginning of the season."

When asked as to whom he thought would win in a straight fight between Irvine and Hakkinen for the drivers' championship, Frentzen meandered: "Eddie should be focused on his car. At Monza he was beaten by a team-mate who has no real experience of Ferraris.

"He needs to be more focused on the set-up. I think he has understood the message and will be more competitive at Nurburgring."

The Frentzen success story at Jordan has not been without its teething problems as he explained: "We went through an intensive testing period before the start of the season. There was a bit of friction, not a nice atmosphere at times but it was a question of me learning about the team and them about me."

So who prevailed in the battle of wills? "I think we both won. Communication is the most important thing if a team is to improve."

The brightest star in the Formula One firmament? Perhaps not, but both Hakkinen and Irvine are aware of the lemon shadow in the mirror.