Villeneuve Pulls Out of the Japanese GP (Updated)

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve pulled out of the Japanese Grand Prix and handed over his final drive with BAR-Honda to his replacement Takuma Sato, it was confirmed in Suzuka today.

BAR-Honda chief David Richards confirmed in Tokyo on Tuesday that Sato would partner Briton Jenson Button at the team next year but the Japanese driver, who is currently the team's test driver, has been promoted early.

Villeneuve is not in Japan and is understood to have told the team by telephone that he would not be racing in this weekend's event, a decision which could mark his retirement from the sport.

Villeneuve's manager, Craig Pollock, explained: "Jacques is extremely disappointed not to be staying with the team next year, and he simply felt that his heart would not be in it for the coming weekend. As a result he asked that he be allowed to stand down. We are grateful to David Richards, and the team, for releasing him early from his contract."

Richards himself said he had received a call Pollock informing him of the Canadian's decision. "I was travelling down here on the bullet train this morning and I received a call from Craig Pollock informing me that Jacques wanted to be released from his contractual obligations," he told reporters.

"I've agreed to this. If somebody doesn't want to drive, they don't want to drive and so Takuma will be driving on Sunday."