Villeneuve: I've no desire to switch
Jacques Villeneuve says he has no intention of leaving British American Racing at the end of the season unless he is forced to
The 1997 world champion, who joined BAR when it was set up in 1999, says he has every intention of staying at the British team through a fourth season, even though he admits he keeps an eye on other opportunities.
"There is not going to be a decision moment," said the Canadian, who is currently being more than matched by BAR newcomer Olivier Panis. "As far as I know, we are together for next year unless something happens.
"It is a matter of something happening that will force me to leave. I have said before that I am always looking at what is happening elsewhere because you always have to be prepared just in case.
"That doesn't mean I was thinking of changing," he added. "It is always good to know what is happening. You have to cover your back."
Villeneuve also believes that BAR is as good as any team out there - excluding Ferrari - so his options are limited.
"There aren't any realistic options that are going to be any better than BAR," he continued. "Apart from Ferrari, there is nothing clear on who is going to be competitive anyway.
"This team has as good a chance as anyone else to be competitive next year. And after all the hard work we have put in here, it is probably not the right thing to do to change."
Team boss Craig Pollock told Autosport.com at Magny Cours that he wants to keep his driver line-up the same for next year if he can.
Previous article
Free practice 4: Ralf and DC close in
Next article
Bridgestone to stay 'indefinitely'
The forgotten F1 comeback that began Jordan’s odyssey
Before Michael Schumacher – or anyone else – had driven the 191 (or 911 as it was initially called), Eddie Jordan turned to a fellow Irishman to test his new Formula 1 car. JOHN WATSON, a grand prix winner for Penske and McLaren, recalls his role in the birth of a legend…
The squandered potential of a 70s F1 underdog
A podium finisher in its first outing but then never again, the BRM P201 was a classic case of an opportunity squandered by disorganisation and complacency, says STUART CODLING
The other notable Monza escape that F1 should learn from
OPINION: The headlines were dominated by the Italian Grand Prix crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who had the halo to thank for avoiding potentially serious injury. But two days earlier, Formula 1 had a lucky escape with a Monza pitlane incident that could also have had grave consequences
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
Who should Alfa Romeo sign for 2022's F1 season?
OPINION: With Valtteri Bottas already signed up for 2022, all eyes are on the race for the second seat at Alfa Romeo next year. Antonio Giovinazzi is the current incumbent, but faces a tough competition from appealing short and long-term prospects
The "forced break" that was key to Ricciardo's Monza excellence
OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo has long been considered one of Formula 1’s elite drivers. But his struggles at McLaren since switching from Renault for 2021 have been painful to watch at times. Yet he’s recovered to banish those memories with a famous Monza win – built on a critically important foundation
How Verstappen is ruining his F1 title battle with Hamilton
OPINION: The Italian GP clash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen followed a running theme in the 2021 Formula 1 title fight. Their close-quarters battles have often resulted in contact - and although Hamilton has shown a willingness to back off, Verstappen must learn to temper his aggression
Italian Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Two drivers produced maximum-score performances as, for the second year in a row, Monza threw up an unpredictable result that left several others ruing what might have been
