Villeneuve to decide future after testing

New BAR boss David Richards believes that a successful future for the team depends largely on Jacques Villeneuve. Richards says they have a mutual goal of winning and they can work together to achieve it.

"Obviously Jacques is one of the key elements of this team. He is an extraordinarily talented driver," Richards said.

"When the message comes though that someone close to you is leaving, naturally you react to that. But if we can evolve as we hope to, then we hope he will stay. Jacques is a professional. Jacques wants to win, I want to win. You can't force a driver to stay with a team but I would feel very disappointed if we ended up in that situation with Jacques."

"I have a contract, but Craig was a big part in me staying at the team when the contract was re-signed." said the 1997 World Champion. Villeneuve has commented that he wants to see how the car goes in testing and if it's not quick enough he may look else where.

"So now we'll have to see how the atmosphere in the team is before the season, and how the car is. If it's a winning car, then that would be a positive thing. But what matters is what I feel when I sit in it. But if you don't want to be somewhere, then there are other teams you can try to go to. Of course, after a few years with bad results it becomes more difficult to find a welcoming house."

Villeneuve has been with BAR since 1999, but time is running out for finding another race seat with the majority of teams already committed to drivers for 2002.