Villeneuve explains change of test schedule

Jacques Villenuve was scheduled to spend two days testing with Sauber at Barcelona this week but there was a change of plan when his teammate Felipe Massa took over on the second day. In an effort to head off further speculation about his supposedly uncertain position in the team, Villenueve made a statement on his official website to explain why the change was made.

Jacques Villeneuve.

Photo by xpb.cc.

"The Team had initially planned a three-day test this week, with myself driving for the first two days (Wednesday and Thursday), and my team-mate Felipe Massa due to test for one day on Friday. We found out that it has been predicted there will be bad weather and a lot of rain on Friday, so the team has changed the running schedule so that I drove yesterday and Felipe today."

"In this way, we both get time in decent weather in the car. We can then see what happens with the weather on Friday and if it is possible to get any useful testing completed."

"I was due to complete over 120 laps yesterday but I suffered a brake failure, which cut short my running. It was a very unusual problem for an F1 car with the brakes; the pedal went totally loose down to the floor. This is really dangerous and I guess I was lucky.

"Our original test plan was to gather some in-depth data from a plan we worked out with the Team. Once we had this information, we were going to concentrate on getting quicker lap times. It's a shame I can't do this because not only would we have been quicker on the tyres and fuel alone, but the different track conditions today are making lap times a second quicker."

"So, as we have not been able to do the amount of testing we needed to in order to gather the information we wanted since Australia, we are now going to Imola with a lack of car set-up information again."

"Therefore, Felipe's times in relation to mine will, I'm sure, cause people to speculate once again about my performance but I reconfirm my commitment to Sauber and you will also find that both Peter Sauber and Willy Rampf are supporting me."

"These rumours, which are getting out of control, are just unsettling for the team. At this time we are trying our hardest to get back on the pace and improve our performances, which haven't been what we had hoped in the first three races of the season."