Villeneuve says BAR will improve

Villeneuve finished eighth in the drivers' championship this year while team mate Olivier Panis was a lowly 15th and the team has received much criticism, not least from Villeneuve himself.

The 1997 world champion and BAR team boss Craig Pollock have both outwardly admitted that this year's performance has not been acceptable. However, Villeneuve firmly believes the team can progress in 2002.

"I've had to show an example, to work more, to try to improve morale in the team," Villeneuve told AUTOSPORT's sister title F1 Racing. "And I'm still determined to do that. That doesn't mean I don't get frustrated. But if everyone does his work well, then the 2002 season should be a lot better than this year was."

Villeneuve has re-signed for another year with the Brackley-based squad despite expectations that he might move elsewhere and the Canadian is hoping the team's fortunes will improve.

"If the situation doesn't get better soon," he added, "this story will have been a failure."

BAR was demoted to sixth place in the constructors' championship behind Honda stable mate Jordan following Jarno Trulli's reinstatement to fourth place in the US Grand Prix.