Villeneuve Attacks Schumacher Again

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher is an aggressive driver who cannot take criticism, according to former world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

"Aggression has become involved only because he (Schumacher) will not listen to the opinion of other drivers," Villeneuve is quoted as saying in the latest issue of German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport.

"It goes in one ear and goes out the other," the BAR driver said. "He entrenches himself behind the impression that we want him harm."

Canadian Villeneuve is one of several drivers to have accused Schumacher of reckless driving, notably at the start of races.

"Criticising just for the sake of it is not my style," Villeneuve told the magazine. "I will get annoyed at anybody who starts like Schumacher.

"Coulthard's start in Hockenheim was not acceptable either. He only did it to repay Michael."

Briton David Coulthard, starting the German Grand Prix on pole position in his McLaren, swerved across in what some saw as payback for similar manoeuvres by Schumacher in previous races.

Schumacher was trying to find a way past Coulthard when Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton hit the rear of his car.

The crash left the Ferrari driver with four non-finishes in his last five races and saw his lead at the top of the drivers' championship cut to just two points going into Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Villeneuve, who ended speculation surrounding his Formula One future by signing a new three-year deal with BAR last month, said he would stay with them after next season only if they were successful.

"If BAR do not achieve anything next year I'll be gone by the end of 2001," he said.

The 1997 world champion admitted he had been approached by rivals Benetton.

"Joining Benetton would have been entering unknown territory," he said. "BAR are slowly improving. I could not see myself taking the risk of going to Benetton to see somebody else winning with BAR next year."