Richards Clarifies Comments on Villeneuve's Salary

BAR team chief David Richards claimed on Friday that he was not disputing Jacques Villeneuve's value, and said the former World Champion is a welcome member of his Formula One team.

Richards has previously questioned the sense of paying a large proportion of the team's budget on a top money driver, when the BAR is not a race-winning car and the team has not won a single point this season.

However, asked about Villeneuve today, Richards told Reuters that he had merely stated a situation that he inherited when he took over BAR last December.

"Jacques is obviously - because of his record and performance - one of the top paid drivers in Formula One. Nobody is disputing his value, nobody is disputing his position in the team," he said.

"Nobody is disputing the fact that he has a contract next year. The question I have been asked is how can you justify employing a driver of that stature when you clearly haven't got a car capable of reflecting his talents.

"I said that I'm afraid that's a factor that I've inherited and something that I've got to address. I'm not complaining about it, I'm not making a fuss about it.

"Clearly I would do things differently if I had that freedom but I don't have that freedom and I'm not complaining.

"Jacques is fully entitled to stay in the team and is a very welcome member of the team as well. He's a very competent driver who does a very good job for the team."