DECEMBER 1, 2005

BMW confirms Villeneuve

Jacques Villeneuve will drive for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in 2006 but there is still no word on who will be the team's third driver - and the likely replacement of Villeneuve in 2007.

"We took a close look at Jacques' performance level at the end of last season. After an extremely tough first half of the year - which showed that even a former World Champion cannot come back after a period away and be competitive from day one - he got closer and closer to his team-mate over the second half of the season," said BMW's Mario Theissen. "We are in no doubt that Jacques will make the BMW Sauber F1 Team stronger."

Villeneuve, who has now moved from Monaco to Villars in Switzerland, will partner Nick Heidfeld.