BAR duo upbeat after Brit GP points haul

The 1997 world champion, who has a firm and highly lucrative contract with the team for 2003, said in Magny-Cours today (Thursday): "It will take something really, really extreme for me not to be with BAR next year.

"The result at Silverstone just made everyone happier. It's like waking up and putting some cold water on your face. Having no points for so long was a hard burden to carry and now everyone is standing a bit straighter.

"The progress at Silverstone wasn't huge, but big enough to jump us up a few positions in qualifying. For the first time we managed to be in front of both Saubers, which have been a kind of reference point for us. We had new suspension at the last race and have spent time on the electronics. The car was competitive in both qualifying and the race."

Team-mate Olivier Panis explained that he has an option with the team for next year, which is still under discussion.

"I was quite happy after Silverstone - for the team, for me and for Jacques because we have worked so hard during the season. The race was good for us because being the last team in the championship is not BAR's position," he said.