Imagine the scene. Ralf Schumacher's Jordan MugenHonda leads into the final lap of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, 10 seconds ahead of brother Michael's Ferrari. If he keeps his foot on the throttle, Schumacher junior will win his first grand prix. But by doing so he will deprive Michael of his third world championship title. What will he do?

This may seem like frenzied Formula One fiction, but Eddie Jordan is not so sure. He genuinely believes that Ralf Schumacher could be a "big player" in the final race of the season at Suzuka, a track on which the 23-year-old gained considerable experience while contesting the Japanese Formula Nippon series prior to his Formula One graduation.

"I really believe we will have a hand in shaping the outcome of the world championship," says an ebullient Jordan. "In the last three months, Ralf has matured massively. If we can give him the car I believe we can, then he could be a big factor."

A strong showing from either Ralf Schumacher or his team-mate Damon Hill could produce a remarkable finale to the season for the Silverstone-based team. Before the British Grand Prix, Jordan had not scored a single championship point. Its car looked uncompetitive and the drivers were grumbling, with good reason. Three months later, the team has 31 points in the constructors' championship, one behind Benetton and only four behind Williams in third place. Second, third or even fourth at Suzuka, could vault them into a remarkable third place behind McLaren and Ferrari.

Most importantly, this year saw Jordan score its first grand prix victory with Hill and Schumacher coming first and second respectively in the Belgian event at Spa-Francorchamps. It was an achievement which gave the team the credibility it had been lacking for too long. For the past five seasons, Eddie Jordan has unveiled his new cars to the accompaniment of "we must win, we will win, this year," only for his hopes to be dashed. This year, Hill finally carried his team into that elite of grand prix winners.

"Actually Ralf always promised that he would win us our first race - even after he had signed for Williams for 1999 - so he was a little disappointed when we told him over the radio in Belgium not to try to overtake Damon and risk losing the win," says Jordan.

According to Jordan, Schumacher would have preferred, on reflection, to stay with his team. While not wishing to rake over the coals of this controversy, he believes that the German's elder brother was a key factor in the move. Michael, he says, advised Ralf to switch to Williams because they would pay more, an assertion that stung Jordan by its implication that his team is destined to remain in Formula One's second division.

Ralf Schumacher, however, has a more pragmatic explanation. "I did a long-term deal with Williams," he says, "and in the long term (2000) they are going to have works BMW engines. It was not an easy decision to leave Jordan, but there were a few reasons. They are developing into a very good team, but they still have limited resources and I want to move on in my career.

"I want to get a good result in my last race for the team," he added. "They have given me a great start to my Formula One career and I would like to leave on a high note."

Jordan also wants his team to lose its image as a training ground for future Formula One talent. He gave Michael Schumacher his first F1 seat, then immediately lost him to Benetton. Eddie Irvine also got his chance with the team in 1993. The Ulster-man was then "sold on" at a worthwhile profit for Jordan who, for many years, dealt in promising drivers like others handle used cars.

Jordan believes that Irvine also could also be a factor at Suzuka this weekend. He admires the manner in which his former driver has embraced the role of number two to Michael Schumacher at Ferrari. "People say that his contract does not allow him to pass Michael," he says. "It takes a certain kind of a driver to cope with that mentally, and he's done a good job in that respect."

Returning to Ralf Schumacher, what will he do if faced with that imagined scenario? Jordan wavers slightly. "I think he might let Michael through," he says cautiously. Surely that would mean he's not a serious grand prix driver? Jordan contorts his face, indicating that perhaps it's not as simple as that.

More realistically, Jordan is now aiming for a high-flying 1999 season with Hill partnered by Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

"When he gets a good car under him, Damon can deliver," he says. "That's important. As he proved; when the car was good, he won a race. Our intention next season should be third place in the championship. But we will aim to be first."