Villeneuve Deep in Talks with BAR

Former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve says he has no intention of leaving Formula One and is talking to current team BAR about staying next season.

"We're heavily into discussions," the Canadian told a news conference after spinning out of first qualifying at the German Grand Prix on Friday.

"Formula One is the top level of motorsport racing so after winning here it would be difficult to be happy doing anything else. But who knows?" he added when asked whether Formula One was his only option and what he might do in future.

"Maybe after you retire you spend a few years at home, you get really bored. Then you are happy to do anything else. But I can't imagine that right now.

"I wouldn't jump into something else tomorrow. That is definite. But there is no plan of not being in Formula One next year," added the 1997 champion.

Not for the first time this season, Villeneuve failed to set a time in Friday's qualifying. In Canada he spun on the last corner, in Germany at the first.

"I went through the corner a little bit too fast but not by much," he said. "We made some set-up changes after this morning's session and the effect was bigger than expected. I just went sideways and lost it.

"The car felt good until that point and suddenly the rear started sliding a bit, but not a big snap."