I will be here in 2000, says Pollock

The founder of the Formula One newboys has faced increasing rumours over his future as they battle to get off the bottom of the world championship table.

Despite one of the biggest budgets in Formula One BAR are yet to score a point this season with just two of 16 races remaining.

Even pitlane paupers Minardi scored its first point in four years at the last race and their budget is a quarter of the £50 million war chest.

'I will be chairman chief executive officer of the team next year,' insisted Pollock. 'Of that there is no question.'

'In reality, all this speculation doesn't affect me, but it's upsetting when team members ask me if they will have a job next year. Thats a little disheartening.'

Pollock rubbished rumours the teams majority shareholder British American Tobacco had called a board meeting last week in the run up to the Malaysian Grand Prix to discuss his future.

'That meeting had been scheduled since the start of last year. It was about budgets, nothing to do with me, that was all pure speculation.'

Villeneuve, who has said he will quit the team if Pollock is pushed out, refused to be upbeat despite heading the field on the first day's practice at Sepang.

'We are up now but we will be down if we are not among the leaders on Saturday,' he said.

Malaysia is the best chance for the new team to score much-needed points to pull them off the bottom of the points table.

'This is a good start to the weekend but we have still got Saturday and Sunday to go,' added Pollock.

'It is the only place you can truly evaluate BAR fairly. It is the first time we have been to a new circuit with the same equipment and same amount of knowledge as all the other teams.

'And it is the same for everyone so it is an excellent place to evaluate British American Racing.

'Our goal has got to be to get points at every race and I would certainly like to get points here.

'It is critical for us, critical psychologically for team morale.

'If we can finish the races we have a good chance of doing it.'