Villeneuve nears BAR decision

"It is quite understandable if he [Villeneuve] wants to talk to other teams," his team boss Craig Pollock is understood to have said.

"Jacques is burningly competitive and still wants to win more races, more championships as much as he ever did," added Pollock.

"It is up to us to prove why he should stay at BAR."

"I did not come to BAR to run at the back of the field," said Villeneuve. "After all the hard work and pain, I would like to win races with BAR, but if that is not possible, I guess I have to look at my options," he added.

Villeneuve is known to have approached McLaren, though team boss Ron Dennis is reluctant to enter into discussions this early in the season. "We look at all drivers' options after eight to ten races," said Dennis.

"I told him the time to discuss was later in the season."

Nevertheless, the rumours have increased in tandem with the suggestion that Mika Hakkinen might wish to retire at the season's end.

In addition, Renault has expressed interest in the Canadian for when they take over the Benetton team fully in 2002. Williams have also been linked with Villeneuve on several occasions since he left at the end of 1998.