APRIL 26, 2002

Villeneuve to stay at BAR?

IT is being reported in the Belgian press that Jacques Villeneuve will be staying with British American Racing next year. The Canadian is believed to have an option for 2003 which he can take up and which the team cannot influence. If the team does not want him it will have to pay him off and then hire another driver and so it makes little sense to try to get rid of Jacques - although there is not reason why team boss David Richards would want to do that. The situation with Olivier Panis is less clear as the team is still talking to other drivers.

Jenson Button is believed to be high on the list although the young Englishman is also still talking with Renault Sport about the possibility of staying with the team.