AUSTRIAN ENERGY drink firm Red Bull has taken over the Jaguar Formula One team from Ford, the company's owner revealed yesterday.

"It is true, we bought Jaguar Racing at the weekend," Red Bull's billionaire owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, was quoted as saying by Austria's Salzburger Nachrichten on its website.

Mateschitz's comments confirmed reports that a deal had been reached just before Monday evening's deadline for entries to the 2005 championship.

He did not, however, say how much Red Bull had paid.

The takeover should secure the future of the 300-strong Milton Keynes- based team. Mateschitz said he could not provide job guarantees but added that he had no plans to change the team's leadership.

Asked if the team would sign Austrian driver Christian Klien, who made his F1 debut at Jaguar last season and was sponsored by Red Bull, Mateschitz said he would be considered. Red Bull was previously involved with the now-defunct Arrows team.

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