Season 2004 of Formula 1 will only begin with a champion of the world, séxtuple Michael Schumacher.
The last champion of Williams in 1997, the Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, has remained without equipment for this year, reason why this he could be his definitive abandonment of the maximum category.
The mythical Gilles Villeneuve, had promised to its son Jacques to him of 11 years, returns in Ferrari F1 for the Grand Prix of Belgium in 1982, but the fatal suffered accident those 8 of May, that cleared the life to him, disabled to fulfill the promise.

Relaxed Villeneuve still looks for an answer its sport future. Everything indicates its definitive retirement

As a result of this, Jacques decided to decide on the Ski, until the 15 years he rose a Lamborghini Countach that in the past had handled its uncle without great results.
To the 17 he mounted a car of the category soon Alpha of Tourism and to one of Italian Formula 3. His first victory went to the 21 when it participated in the Japanese F3, soon to travel in the '93 to the United States and to participate in the Formula Atlantic, obtaining 7 poles and 4 triumphs. The following year it made debut in IndyCar where it gained a competition and was named newcomer of the year stops in the '95 to devote champion of this category.
With the brazen style that always showed, it arrived at Formula 1 in 1996 in Williams Renault. Although its form to be was not of great affability to the leaders, its great talent in track grasped its revolt.
Its debut was in the Great Prize of Australia in the '96, where it did pole and punteó great part of the race, but finalized second due to mechanical problems.

Jacques recognizes that its better moment in F1 took place during the race of Portugal, in 1996

That year competed by the title with Damon Hill and the following year champion of the world devoted itself winning in seven races finalizing ahead nothing less than of Michael Schumacher, from whom received a blow in the heat of definition by the title, in the GP of Sherry of the Border. In addition, that year he had been in controversy ENTRUSTS with it, when declaring with insults to the tires.
Jacques Villeneuve: “The best moment was in the '96, when I happened to Michael Schumacher over the last curve of Estoril. That really bothered to him, was very angry with me. She was one of the first times that I saw him feel tired”.

BRITISH AMERICAN RACING, AN OASIS OF ILLUSIONS

A quite usual image during the 2003. And only annoying Jacques in his box of BAR

When beginning season 1999, Jacques arrived at new escudería BAR, that, with Craig Pollock (its representative) to the control, taking the world ahead, with the moral in the sky, promised “gold”.
First they were criticized by the advertizing marks that carried their single-seaters, because they had a mark different from each side of the car. That they followed many mechanical problems to him during the winter, which disabled to work in the settings of the single-seater, arriving at the first relatively slow races. Just until after Brazil, they did not have the possibility of working with the car, to which it needed aerodynamic support, having in addition an old motor, like was it the Mecachrome.
Jacques: “Year 1999 was very hard. Without reward to the effort, the results. You gave yourself to top and, suddenly, it left wire drawing you, without receiving nothing in return. After some returns, we were three hours in boxes because the car did not go, was exasperating”.
With the arrival of Honda like official motorist, it made suppose that the channel would take its course, but the lack of experience of the equipment and that disastrous first season were it had marked what them. Due to this, in the following years, escudería continued punishing with political conflicts and weaknesses in the design of the chassis and the lack of speed in the motor.

Villeneuve retired in 9 of the 16 GP of 1999 with mechanical faults in its BAR. A frustrating year

Villeneuve was disappointed, but nondowncast, since in track it continued being aggressive, laborious, dreaming about the first positions and the simple victories, but the stagnation of the car at heart of grillas, was clearing something of spark every year to him, which caused that in 2003, renewed it surpassed it to a Jenson Button in several opportunities. It is not that Jenson is not a talented pilot, but is certain that the best Villeneuve, is superior to the best Button. This demonstrates its title to it in the '97 and its superiority towards all its ex- Frentzen, teammates, Zonta, Panis, conductor of great was worth. Nevertheless, the equipment, as well as had replaced to Pollock with David Richards, it threw unjustly to Jacques without being thankful to him by all efforts, or at least apologizing by the poor level for escudería in all their demurrage to them.

The arrival of Honda did not change to too much the things. The BAR chassis continued being mediocre

Jacques: “We arrived here with a great budget and affirmed that we were in this to try to win. That really bothered to everybody. My delivery never flaqueó, but could not tolerate the political aspect. A fragile car and with that you have problems, that form leave from the races and, while you know that all - engineers, mechanics work hard, as one does, you can hold it everything, but the political aspect was not acceptable. I only want to gain the championship of the world, although if the equipment decides no longer that need an expert pilot and that they love a young pilot, Who knows? , This adventure will be a failure if the situation does not direct a little”.

6 points only rescued Jacques during the 2003, against the 17 who managed his to coequiper Button

Lamentably that was the happened thing. Jacques clung to the dream BAR, closing to him the doors to the Top equipment, whereas BAR never was a sleepy that to give him, and just in the 2003, when they seemed to direct itself, they decide to condemn it guilty of all problems and to say goodbye to him. Nevertheless, Villeneuve does not feel with “position of brings back to consciousness”, and although it would be in tratativas to occupy the second armchair of Jordan (something very little probable), there are rumors that they indicate that already it would have made the wise decision to leave the world motor.
Jacques: “It is not Formula 1 or paddock what I like. The unique thing that I want is to run. Therefore, the day that leaves, I am not myself there involved. I have a restaurant in Montreal, but I would like to involve me in music, like producer. I am romantic in the life and with the women, but not with the cars.”

EQUIPMENT

´96 Williams-Renault: 78 pts, 2
´97 Williams-Reanult: 81 pts, champion
´98 Williams-Mecachrome: 21 pts, 5
´99 Bar-Supertec: 0 pts, without classification
´00 Bar-Honda: 17 pts, 7
´01 Bar-Honda: 12 pts, 7
´02 Bar-Honda: 4 pts, 12
´03 Bar-Honda: 6 pts, 16

STATISTICS

Debut: Australia ´96
Released: 147
Points: 225
Triumphs: 11
Poles: 13
Record of return: 9

“If it did not win, nobody would support my style of life”, Jacques Villeneuve.