Grapevine: Villeneuve Told He Won't Drive for BAR in '04

Jacques Villeneuve has been told he will not drive for the BAR team in the 2004 season, according to Canadian television network TSN.

Former World Champion Villeneuve joined BAR in 1999 after winning the Championship with Williams in 1997 and he is out of a contract at the end of this year. The Canadian's season has been full of speculation that he will be replaced by Japan's Takuma Sato, who is favoured by engine suppliers Honda to fill the second seat alongside Briton Jenson Button.

BAR team principal David Richards said earlier this year that Villeneuve needed to change his attitude if he wanted to keep his seat with the Brackley-based outfit, but the outspoken Canadian driver ruled that out and said he would not be begging for a drive.

"It won't change," Villeneuve said during the US GP. "If there's something that I don't like, I'll say it instead of saying 'oh yes, it's great' and then behind the back saying 'look at that idiot'."

TSN reported that, according to Villeneuve's manager Craig Pollock, the driver had received a call from Richards telling him that he will not have his contract renewed after next week's Japanese Grand Prix.

Villeneuve is, along with Michael Schumacher, the only World Champion left in this year's field.