Eddie Irvine believes that Michael Schumacher will lift the World Drivers' Championship for Ferrari in Formula One this season, but feels his own team, Jaguar, must set its sights on displacing Jordan from third place in the constructors' championship.

Irvine, who partnered the double world champion for four years, believes that Schumacher will make the difference in this year's championships and give Ferrari their first title since 1979.

On the team front, Irvine wants to see Jaguar challenging for third place both in the constructors' and drivers' championship but has ruled out taking on McLaren and Ferrari. "I think the gap between us and McLaren and Ferrari is just too great and we need to be looking at Jordan as our main rival this year," he said.

"We need to set ourselves a long-term target and steadily build towards it. What we don't need to happen is to have a lucky start and then to have our season to go downhill from there."

Last season's runner-up in the drivers' championship is delighted with his new colleagues and believes that they have boosted his passion for the sport once again.

"It is such an exciting challenge this year to have a team which is starting from nowhere and looking to reach the top.

"I was pushed around a lot at Ferrari and this year I have a lot of say in things and that has put a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.

"I see it as a massive challenge to be able to come third in the championship and then look three or five years down the line to coming second or first."

He believes that the introduction of Jaguar can only help the image of Formula One.

"Having a name like Jaguar coming in to the sport is great for Formula One. It has such history and presence and it puts British Formula One right at the top."