Analysis: The 'Real' Villeneuve Returns with a Smile

Formula One witnessed the return of the 'real' Jacques Villeneuve last weekend, according to manager Craig Pollock.

The evidence for that may have been more apparent in the Shanghai paddock than in the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, however. The 1997 champion, making his comeback with Renault for the season's final three races before moving to Sauber, finished a disappointing 11th in his first start for almost a year.

"Jacques has a hard job on his hands," David Richards, the BAR boss who dropped the Canadian in acrimonious circumstances last year, told reporters afterwards. "I cannot see Jacques threatening anybody next season. I know racing drivers have successfully had comebacks in the past, but these days we need younger drivers."

Villeneuve, son of the late Ferrari great Gilles, may need more time to get up to speed after so long on the sidelines but his attitude in the run-up to the race certainly provided a talking point. Instead of the spiky rebel, the angry man confronting the establishment and a good many others beside, here was a driver radiating enthusiasm and goodwill.

The 33-year-old Villeneuve extended an olive branch to his old enemy Michael Schumacher, showed respect for former teammate Jenson Button and appeared happy to be in the news conference. Everywhere there were handshakes.

More Mellow

Seasoned observers felt he had mellowed.

But Pollock, Villeneuve's former school sports teacher and ski instructor who has accompanied him every step of the way on his path to the pinnacle of world motor sport, saw it differently.

"It's not a new Jacques Villeneuve you're seeing, it's the real one," said the man who founded BAR with Villeneuve in 1999 and was team boss until 2001. "He's gone back to his normal personality.

"The last three years with British American Racing made him a little bit bitter about being with a team that didn't really want him and he reacted against it," added the Scot. "Today he's like he was when he came into Formula One in his first year in 1996 when he was really happy to come into the paddock, people were happy to see him and his team were happy that he was there.

"He's just wanting to drive, just desperate to drive.

"Nobody is an enemy at the moment and in the past, when he was not depressed but certainly down about what was happening, everybody was an enemy," continued Pollock. "He just didn't want to see anybody, he said 'Okay, I've got a contract and I'll do my job' and that was it.

"And that's also I think why the performance in the last year wasn't what it could be."

Villeneuve's last year at BAR was full of simmering resentment and distrust, with the Canadian eventually replaced before the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix by local hero Takuma Sato. By the end the rift between one of the most highly-paid drivers in the sport, despite being without a victory since he won the title with Williams in 1997, and team boss Richards was complete.

"Why should I go out and risk my life for someone I do not respect, someone I do not want to work with, someone I don't want to be near, someone I don't want to shake hands with," Villeneuve said at the time.

Unfinished Business

Villeneuve failed to find a drive for 2004 and vanished from the picture, keeping himself to himself. But behind the scenes he was working on his fitness, determined to be back to settle unfinished business. He talked to Williams, before Renault drafted him in to replace Italian Jarno Trulli.

Sauber then signed him for 2005 and 2006.

Villeneuve's job now is to try to prevent BAR beating Renault to second place in the Championship - the French team are nine points adrift - and it is a task he clearly relishes.

"Even working with him as closely as I work with him, I've got much more pleasure working with him this year than I've had since 1997," said Pollock. "He is a pleasure to work with at the moment. He's just a happy character, he's happy to be here and it makes it easier for the team.

"All he wants to do is race. He's been accused over the years of doing it for the money. It's not money. He wants to get out there and he's in it for the race. I think he's really happy to have the Sauber contract. Sauber's a big thing for him and he sees that the Sauber team has made a decision, they want to step up the ranks and he wants to be the guy that's taking them there.

"He absolutely is somebody that needs to feel wanted, because he gives everything."