Jacques Villeneuve: 'In ambush'

Jacques Villeneuve, world champion of Formula 1 in 1997, has never been so close to a return to the premier single-seater category. For several months, the Canadian has been looking for a place in the paddock and has been announced in various teams, Lotus, USF1, Renault? Today, the Quebecer is expected at Stefan GP. However, the Serbian team does not (yet) have its place in F1. However, Jacques Villeneuve is ready, especially if a prestigious team wishes to replace a driver during the season.

« During 2009, several pilots jumped, others will jump during 2010. It's inevitable, so I'm in ambush, says the world champion in the columns of AUTOhebdo n°1741, on sale this week. Whether at the GPs I went to last year or during the contacts I had this winter, I was told about all these young people who were going to arrive, who were in close contact with this or that other team and who had finally signed, thanks to the millions of euros they were going to bring. Ok I wait. It is now that the teams will need these promised budgets, and also some results. Afterwards, it will be up to the teams to know if they want to continue with them or take an experienced driver, capable of developing the car and reaching the finish? »

However, the Canadian does not want to give in to the temptation of participating in a team's budget. Jacques Villeneuve believes that his talent is well worth the financial contribution of other drivers. “II don't want to promise anything that I can't keep. I don?t have a father who is a billionaire industrialist or part of an economic fabric capable of supporting me. Given my career, I don?t have to pay for a steering wheel. I spoke quickly with US F1, Campos and others, but it was always a question of participating in the financing of the team. This is not my role. »

Therefore, of the new teams, Stefan GP seems the most reliable, even if the Serbian team has a major flaw. “ She does not yet have an entry ticket, recognizes Villeneuve to AUTOhebdo. But everything seems serious in this team. Even the budget and the personnel, and if it is true that she recovered the material Toyota of 2010, the technical program is promising. I spoke with people who are in contact with her. The important thing is that she gets the green light from the FIA ​​and that she is at the first GP of the season. This would obviously be a great opportunity for both parties. »

Find the full interview in AUTOhebdo n°1741, on sale this week.