Frentzen began his Formula1 career with Sauber, before moving to Williams after three seasons. His time with the British team was not his most successful as he found he could not get on with the impersonal atmosphere there, despite winning his maiden Grand Prix at San Marino in 1997 and finishing second in the championship the same year, when Michael Schumacher was disqualified.

In 1998 he made the podium only once with third in the first race at Melbourne. When Williams let him go, Eddie Jordan was there to slot him into the position left vacant by the discontented Ralf Schumacher. It proved an inspired decision.

In 1999 he really came into his own, as the Irish team's lead driver, Damon Hill, was experiencing a dip in performance. Frentzen took over as number one and won two Grands Prix, in France and Italy, helping the outfit secure their best ever result of third place in the constructors' league.

2000, however, was disappointing as reliability problems dogged the outfit. Two third places, in Brazil and the United States, were the best results he could manage, but car failure accounted for a number of possible good results.

The German stayed positive, and rarely admitted to the disappointment that he was feeling at being unable to challenge for the podium more often. In 2001 he is looking forward to a return in form and challenging more regularly for podium positions.

He has admitted that he is pleased that he is staying with the team, and has called Jordan "the team of the future". Reliability, he feels, is the most important factor to regain and once the car is capable of being quick and reliable he is sure he can challenge for regular podium finishes.