Ralf scoffs at JV return

Villeneuve drove for Williams for three seasons before leaving for the new BAR team in 1999 and was at Williams when Schumacher Jr was concluding his negotiations to join the team for the 1999 season alongside Alessandro Zanardi. Schumacher has laughed off stories that Villeneuve could return to the team, possibly as his team-mate in 2005.

"Certainly Jacques would be good for Formula 1," Schumacher said in Monte Carlo, "But I'd just be very surprised if he came back to Williams. I remember the days when Frank [Williams] and Patrick [Head] just blamed him for everything and just hated him and wanted to fire him and said he was useless.

"Fine, if he comes back next year to Williams, he would be a very nice team-mate if I am still here. From his last few years he didn't look so strong, but maybe that will change."

Villeneuve could get a Williams run as soon as next month, which would increase the pressure on Schumacher, who has suffered a poor start to the season. Ralf has been linked with a move to Toyota for 2005.