Villeneuve determined to stay in F1

Although the BMW-Sauber driver faced an uncertain winter until his team confirmed his deal for this season, the Canadian is adamant that speculation claiming he will struggle to remain at the outfit beyond the end of the year is wide of the mark.

"I keep proving them (my doubters) wrong, so I hope it continues like that," he said at the launch of the new BMW-backed team in Valencia on Tuesday. "It looks like I was the only one not stressing over the winter. It turns out I am still here, it is all working well, so there are no problems."

Villeneuve made a disappointing full-time return to F1 at the start of last season, when he struggled for pace at Sauber, but his form picked up enough over the year to convince BMW bosses to let him see out his two-year deal at the team.

And with BMW money now giving Sauber the financial stability they have long needed, Villeneuve believes that he will be better able to show what kind of job he can do.

"The difference this year is that the team have all the people they need to perform - and the budget as well," he added. "We can do all the testing and use the wind-tunnel, so there won't be any excuses on that side.

"Everything will be there to achieve something, so it is just how good it can be. Hopefully it won't take too many years."

Villeneuve has made it clear that thoughts of retirement are far from his mind, and that his current intention is to remain in F1 for many years to come.

When asked how long he wanted to be in F1, he said: "Quite long, because if I wasn't in F1 I would not be doing any physical training. So, just so I can keep training I want to stay in F1.

"I just love competition... If I am still racing it is because I want to win again, I don't just want to be part of it. I enjoy competing and when you enjoy competing the main thing is to try and win."