Proper car for Villeneuve

Jacques Villeneuve's opinion of the new BAR005 was that it looked like a 'proper' Formula One car, which presumably means he is happy with it. The Canadian was surrounded by rumours towards the end of 2002 that he would leave F1 and head back to ...

Jacques Villeneuve's opinion of the new BAR005 was that it looked like a 'proper' Formula One car, which presumably means he is happy with it. The Canadian was surrounded by rumours towards the end of 2002 that he would leave F1 and head back to America to race but Villeneuve has stuck with BAR and hopes he's in with a fighting chance in 2003.

"At least this one looks like a proper F1 car, so that's good," Villeneuve said at the launch of the new car in Barcelona today. "I think we should be able to fight against everyone, except Ferrari, if the numbers Geoff (Willis, technical director) has shown us are true."

Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button.

Photo by British American Racing.

Willis wants BAR to be finishing in the points and on the podium on as often as posible this season and team boss David Richards is just as optimistic: "I honestly think we'll be regular qualifiers in the top 10," he remarked. "If we can achieve that, we'll get podiums and score points on a regular basis."

Jenson Button, who was signed by BAR late last year, is more cautious. Some are predicting Button will have a hard time measuring up to Villeneuve but the young Brit is unperturbed by the speculation. For the moment he is biding his time before predicting success: "I'm expecting a difficult year," he said. "But this is only the start of a long term relationship."

Button thinks BAR is the team that can help him win the title in the future: "I want to be world champion one day and I believe that they are capable of taking me there. I had a whole range of opportunities open to me but after careful consideration on what would be best for my future, BAR provided me with an excellent opportunity to progress."