Villeneuve faces crucial home grand prix

Villeneuve, who has driven for BAR since its launch in 1999, is playing his cards close to his chest on the eve of his home grand prix as to whether he will stay faithful to the Honda-powered team or go elsewhere in 2003.

"We'll see," said Villeneuve. "It will depend on how the car is progressing because the car has not really progressed. We are not really quicker than we were in 1999 and everybody else is quicker."

Villeneuve's manager Craig Pollock says his charge is giving BAR as many chances as possible before he opts to go elsewhere.

"He is a fantastic kid, he is very pragmatic about it, but there is no doubt about it - he is not a happy camper," said Pollock. "But what can he do personally? He can only drive the equipment he is given and I have to say the team is trying to give him the equipment, so he is hanging in there."

Should Villeneuve leave BAR, Pollock believes that Jacques could play a key role in closing the gap to F1 dominators Ferrari, if he is given a chance with a top team.

"At the moment I don't think there is anything that can get close to Ferrari," said Pollock. "And all the other teams are going to take a couple of years to get up there, but on the other hand if you put JV in a top two team, McLaren or Williams, he will attack Ferrari and he will win."