Ralf: Villeneuve Unlikely to Join Williams

Williams driver Ralf Schumacher has poured scorn on speculation former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve could make a Formula One comeback with the team.

"Certainly Jacques was good in Formula One but I would just be surprised if he comes back to Williams," the German told reporters at the Monaco Grand Prix on Wednesday.

Canadian Villeneuve won the 1997 Championship with Williams but turned his back on the sport last season after losing his drive with BAR and has not been seen at a race track since.

"I remember days when Frank (Williams) and (technical director) Patrick (Head) would blame him for anything and everything and hated him and wanted to fire him and said he was useless and everything," said Ralf.

"So, fine if he comes back next year to Williams - great. He'll be a nice teammate if I'm still here. In the last couple of years of his Formula One career he didn't look so strong any more but maybe that all changed, I don't know," added the German.

Ralf, younger brother of Ferrari's six times World Champion Michael, has been at Williams since 1999 but is out of contract at the end of 2004 and has been linked repeatedly to big-spending Toyota.

Williams are sure to lose Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who has signed for McLaren for 2005.

"There's one driver definitely going, the other might go or not, and there are not so many options out there," said Ralf. "So you have to look at all the options again and obviously Jacques is one of them."

Fresh Speculation

Fresh speculation about Villeneuve joining Williams was triggered last week when the Canadian's private plane was spotted at the Le Castellet test circuit in southern France.

Villeneuve's manager Craig Pollock said the driver had not been at the test and a Williams team spokeswoman denied rumours on Wednesday that the driver had a test scheduled with them.

McLaren's David Coulthard, a friend of Villeneuve's and also looking for a drive for next season, said he hoped the outspoken Canadian could come back.

"As well as being a friend, I think he's a character for Formula One," he told a news conference. "He expresses his views without always giving full consideration to the consequences of how that may endear him to the team and sponsors and all the rest of it.

"He's entertaining out of the car and also in the car because you tell him that a corner is almost flat (out) and he's the guy that's going to try to take it flat even if it means shunting at the other side of it."

"I think it would be interesting for the sport for him to be back if he were able to find a spot."