Does Gascoyne release signal Hamidy to Jordan?

The news that Jordan technical boss Mike Gascoyne has been released by the Silverstone team to join Benetton has led to further speculation that renowned Arrows aerodynamicist Eghbal Hamidy will join Jordan earlier than expected.

Eddie Jordan announced yesterday that he had decided to release Gascoyne as of last Sunday, some eight months before the end of his contract. The former Tyrrell designer was responsible for the race winning Jordan 199, which won two races last season, and this year's EJ10, but has been at home on gardening leave since it was announced last April that he had been poached by Benetton.

Jordan and Benetton's Flavio Briatore have denied that any money changed hands to allow Gascoyne's early release but it is thought that a settlement of some sort has allowed Gascoyne's release. It is hard to imagine, however, that Jordan would allow Gascoyne to go if Hamidy will not soon replace him.

The former Williams and Stewart aerodynamic specialist has been credited with playing a big part in the design on this year's slippery Arrows A20, but still has a year and a half to run on his Arrows contract, which may preclude a move to Jordan just yet. At Indianapolis, representatives of the Leafield outfit insisted that Hamidy, being a loyal employee, would probably still be with the team next year.

But, of course, money is king in Formula One.....