Formula 1
Villeneuve bemused by team decisions
Jacques Villeneuve appears to be none the wiser than the rest of us when it comes to whom is partnering newly signed Jenson Button at BAR next year. Speaking to BBC radio yesterday he said Button was inexperienced but could shed no light on what ...
Published: Jul 27, 2002, 1:33 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Jacques Villeneuve appears to be none the wiser than the rest of us when it comes to whom is partnering newly signed Jenson Button at BAR next year. Speaking to BBC radio yesterday he said Button was inexperienced but could shed no light on what plans BAR might have.
"He (Button) doesn't have experience yet I guess, but he seems to have overshadowed Trulli," Villeneuve remarked, adding that as far as he was concerned, he had a contract but was unsure of the situation in the team: "I'm as much in the cloud as you on that. Right now it's two cars per team, perhaps it will be three cars. I have a contract; unless someone arrived with a platter of gold I don't see why I should discuss it."
Villenueve also said he couldn't understand the decisions that were made by some teams regarding driver line up: "Being fast is very secondary. I've been pulling my hair out a few times when I've seen what's happened at the Renault team for the last two years. The better driver of the season always gets the sack. I find that very impressive. I really don't understand why or how you can come to a decision like that. McLaren made a similar decision and, five laps from the end, their decision lost them the race."
Last year Benetton (now Renault) let go of Giancarlo Fisichella in favour of Jarno Trulii, despite Fisichella outperforming Button. This season Button has done better than Trulli so far but has been ousted in favour of test driver Fernando Alonso for next year. Villenueve may have a contract with BAR but if he does, why has David Richards not announced him as Button's partner?
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ferrari stay top in German GP second practice
Next article Brawn on Bridgestone importance
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jenson Button
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Formula 1
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
More from
McLaren
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Latest news
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
47 min
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
2 h
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 2 h
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe