Schumacher dismissive of Villeneuve

Michael Schumacher proved at Hockenheim that his personal opinion of Jacques Villeneuve has not improved any since their fall-out dating back to the championship decider at Jerez six years ago

Aug 1, 2003, 7:01 AM

Villeneuve has reputedly earned more from F1 than any driver other than Schumacher, but there is no chance that BAR will renew his contract given the size of his retainer. At the start of the year he was linked to Renault, which will now retain its Fernando Alonso/Jarno Trulli line-up.

Villeneuve's father, of course, was a Ferrari legend and manager Craig Pollock has been busily investigating alternative employment for his charge of late.

Schumacher, who recently signed with the team to the end of 2006, was dismissive about rumours in the German media linking the 1997 champion with Ferrari.

"I have no feelings about that," he said. "We all know how easy it is to make a rumour in this paddock and that's probably one of them. I don't see any seriousness in that."

And then, in a thinly-veiled sleight, he added: "We need to improve our situation..."