Villeneuve slams Schumacher

The 1997 champion reckons that Schumacher's tactics have damaged the sport, particularly his insistence of have a subservient number two driver as a team-mate.

"Michael Schumacher? I've never respected him as a person, never," said Villeneuve. "We've never gotten along. And what he and Ferrari combined to achieve together this year just made a mockery of everything in Formula 1."

Villeneuve's mistrust of the five-time champion has brewed since the pair clashed at Jerez in 1997 - the scene of the Canadian's title win. However, it was Schumacher's antics after the event that riled Villeneuve.

"What really made me angry was what happened at the drivers' post-race party," he said. "He joined in, and I had no problem with that, but then he put on a yellow wig on to imitate my bleached hair and came behind the bar and stood with me and had his wife taking pictures.

"The next thing they were all over the place in the motorsport magazines and he was making out, 'Oh, we're friends; I didn't do anything wrong; Jacques doesn't really hate me'. That's what made me really angry because he was using a situation for his own benefit and that doesn't go well with me.

"Ever since that moment, I've never respected him in the slightest. He has an attitude and approach to life which I despise and don't care for."

Despite the rift, Villeneuve has stated his desire to race alongside the world champion at Ferrari when his contract with BAR expires at the end of 2004.

For the full interview get this week's bumper issue of AUTOSPORT, which is on sale now priced £3.95.