Villeneuve launches Schu attack

Villeneuve, who won the 1997 title after an acrimonious collision with Schumacher in the Jerez finale, launched the broadside when asked who thought was the harder competitor, Michael or Mika Hakkinen.

"I would have to say Michael is harder to beat than Mika because you don't know what he's going to do," said Villeneuve. "You don't know if the track is going to be wide enough for you, you don't know if he's seen you - it's very difficult to judge. In general with Mika you know he's going to think like a normal human being and have normal behaviour."

Villeneuve also took the opportunity to pledge his allegiance to BAR, after a season of rumours regarding his departure to Benetton.

"If the team keeps progressing then I don't see any reason for me to go anywhere else. But you also need the team to be wanting you, so sometimes you start getting angry with people and you don't want to stay there. You just don't know in advance. It's not only the results, but they are very, very important. Who knows, maybe Olivier will be in front of me the whole time and then I won't be needed anymore!" he quipped.

The outspoken Canadian also gave his views on traction control, which he believes is a mixed blessing for Formula 1.

"I am opposed to traction control from a driver's point of view because it does take away from what you can do in the car and from how you feel the car," he said. "But with 11 teams all using different systems every week, there is no way the FIA can keep up with it and find out whether someone is cheating or not, so it's better to have it open so at least we can tell that no-one is cheating. Traction control will make the cars quicker, but it will also be safer. There will be less people going off. You won't need to have quick reactions anymore so I guess even average drivers will be able to go quickly."