Formula 1
BAR only option for Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve's F1 future seems to be getting more uncertain as the end of the season approaches and the Canadian thinks his current team, BAR, is the only option. There are still seats open at Jordan, Jaguar and Minardi, although the ...
Published: Sep 14, 2003, 3:21 PM
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Jacques Villeneuve's F1 future seems to be getting more uncertain as the end of the season approaches and the Canadian thinks his current team, BAR, is the only option. There are still seats open at Jordan, Jaguar and Minardi, although the unconfirmed vacancy at Sauber seems certain to go to Felipe Massa, but Villeneuve is counting on BAR.
Jacques Villeneuve.
Photo by Brousseau Photo.
The rumour mill has suggested engine partner Honda is pressuring BAR to return test driver Takuma Sato to a race seat next year and Villeneuve is not unaware of the speculation.
"You never know what can happen," he said. "Nothing would surprise me. It is not in the plans -- I don't think it is anyway, not that I'm aware of, but nothing would surprise me. You kind of know who is pushing for whom. So, yeah, it wouldn't surprise me, that's all."
Villeneuve recently caused a surge of gossip when he suggested he may not even be in the car for Suzuka but he said it was just a tongue-in-cheek comment: "I said that, but it was a joke," he explained. "As nothing surprises me any more and knowing what certain people on the team want to do next season, I said that it wouldn't surprise me if there was a Japanese driver in my car."
At Monza this weekend, former BAR boss, and Villeneuve's manager, Craig Pollock has been in talks with present team boss David Richards regarding Jacques' future but the 1997 champion is dubious about the outcome.
"Craig Pollock is still in talks with him (Richards), so I don't know what the answer will be, but I have my own idea from having already spoken to David," said Villeneuve. "I'm waiting for the verdict and that's never a good position to be in. It's too bad because I've won races and I've won a championship. I always did my best and didn't embarrass anyone even though I could have on this team. I always supported them."
Other roads are open to the Canadian but, naturally, Villenueve's main objective is to stay in F1: "There is interest in other areas," he said. "Actually there is more interest in other areas than in F1. I'm sure that there is something out there that could be very interesting, but I haven't thought about it yet. Right now I'm concentrating on F1. Right now the only option is BAR. Hopefully it will be a real option."
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