Villeneuve to Sign 'Performance-Related' Contract

Jacques Villeneuve's manager Craig Pollock has revealed the Canadian will sign a "performance-related" pay contract in a bid to race for a top team next year, meaning he will be paid in accordance to his results.

BAR driver Villeneuve, who won the World Championship with the Williams team back in 1997, currently earns an estimated £12 million-per-year but he could be forced to take a pay cut next year if he leaves the Brackley-based outfit.

Team boss David Richards hinted last year that Villeneuve's salary was hurting the team's development and his contract with BAR comes to an end this year, although Pollock said the Canadian has unfinished business in Formula One.

"To me Jacques has something to finish in Formula One and he has a few years left," said Pollock.

Villeneuve, who has been involved in a war of words with new teammate Jenson Button since the Briton joined the team, could already be on his way out at BAR. Test driver Takuma Sato, of Japan, is being lined up to take one of the two seats next season and Button is thought to be the man team chief Richards is building the team around.