BAR set to drop Villeneuve

Jacques Villeneuve's future in Formula 1 is looking increasingly uncertain because the former world champion will be dropped from the BAR team for next year, according to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine

Jul 10, 2003, 7:57 AM

The French-Canadian had appeared likely to stay at BAR a few weeks ago, but sources close to the team have suggested that the squad has decided to source a new driver to line up alongside Jenson Button in 2004.

The situation has developed as a result of Villeneuve's cost and his disappointing results on the track - even though his form has suffered because of poor reliability.

There are also believes to be factions among BAR's chief shareholder, British American Tobacco, who are reluctant to do a deal with Villeneuve's manager, Craig Pollock, who left his position at the end of 2000.

But current team boss David Richard has insisted that no decision has been made about BAR's driver line-up for 2004, and that he will only begin to think about the team's plans after the British Grand Prix.

"I would not even consider our driver line-up before then," he said, "but there is no pressure on me to resolve it in the short term."