Villeneuve frustrated by unknown future

The former world champion has impressed at BMW Sauber this season, generally outperforming highly rated teammate Nick Heidfeld.

But Villeneuve is in the final season of a two-year deal with BMW, who stalled before confirming his place at the team for their first season as a standalone manufacturer outfit.

"Being quicker than my teammate now, having won the world championship, raced for pole positions, seems to be a negative to get a contract," the Canadian told autosport.com in Monaco. "It's a strange situation."

When asked whether he wanted to continue in F1 next year, he said: "Yes. Who with? Right now? No idea.

"It's going well here (at BMW), but no one has yet told me that this means they would like to keep me for next year. It would be a shame if it did not carry on."

Villeneuve suggested that a big salary like those he commanded at BAR is not a priority.

"You can only ask for more money when more than one team wants you," he said. "When Peter [Sauber] got me back into F1 he said this is what I can give you and I said, thank you. I have no problem with that."

He ruled out returning to US single-seater racing but admitted that he might be interested in a Le Mans 24 Hours drive in the future.

"After F1, if you want to do something different, it has to be something other than open wheel racing," he said. "It's above the rest by a big margin. I live in Europe now. I can't imagine moving back to America.

"As for Le Mans, why not? But that's only one race a year. It wouldn't be a career. If I did it, it would be for fun."