Villeneuve Hits Out at Team Boss Richards

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve has slammed his British American Racing boss David Richards after the Scot claimed he would have to cut the Brackley-based squad's budget to pay his salary on 2003.

1997 World Champion Villeneuve is reportedly the second highest paid driver behind Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, with an estimated salary of $20 million (US) a year, and on Friday hit out at Richards, claiming it is unfair for his boss to put him in such an embarrassing position.

"It is getting on my nerves - it is bothering me to read this stuff," Villeneuve told reporters at the Nurburgring circuit. "It is easy for Richards to talk like this. He has been at the team for only six months. I have been here four years fighting to try and improve the team.

"I wonder what the team would have been like if I had not signed for BAR in 1999. I think it is unfair that Richards is putting me in this position. I've always worked hard and respected my contract. I've never tried to embarrass someone like Richards is trying to do with me now. After all he is getting paid by the team, too.

"If the people from British American Tobacco decided two years ago to give me that fee it is because they thought they would get something out of it. This is not positive for the team. I don't have a bad relationship with Richards but I don't know why he keeps coming back with this story. A contract is a contract."

Villeneuve has struggled since he joined BAR in 1999, with two third places as his best results so far in three and a half seasons. The former Williams driver, however, claimed that he plans to stay with BAR in 2003, as there are no openings in any of the tops teams.

"I expect to be with the team next year," the Canadian added. "There is no use in signing for a team which is finishing sixth. If I move it would be to go with a winning team like Ferrari or Williams but there are no openings so there is no decision to take."