That was the damning verdict this week after the High Court dismissed Jordan's allegations that Vodafone had reneged on an agreement to sponsor the team. Experts also believe the case could further damage F1's appeal as a marketing platform.
The team principal, Eddie Jordan, was criticised by the judge for bringing the case. The judge described Jordan's evidence as "fanciful" and "without foundation" in a summing-up that Jordan himself attempted to stop being published.
Jordan brought the case after alleging that David Haines, Vodafone's global brand director, told a Jordan executive "You've got the deal" in a telephone conversation in March 2001. Vodafone subsequently became one of the main sponsors of Ferrari.
The Jordan Cosworth team, already without a title sponsor this year after DHL's withdrawal at the end of 2002, now faces a hunt for a major backer for next year's championship. The team's current sponsors include Damovo and Benson & Hedges.
But Tim Crow, director of Karen Earl Sponsorship, believes that the case will act as a deterrent to potential sponsors.
"It is a very difficult situation for Jordan now. This action has been very damaging to the team's reputation, which Eddie Jordan has invested a lot of time in building," he said. "That now risks being undermined. And yet it remains the case that F1 is a much more colourful place with Jordan as a part of it."
Another senior sponsorship executive also warned that companies exploring moving into F1 could be put off by the threat of legal challenges over their conversations with team-owners.
"This is a massive setback for the sport. One can hardly expect potential sponsors to rush headlong into F1 if they think they are going to be sued simply for holding exploratory talks," he said.
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