By Phil Huff (01/08/2003)
August 1 2003

The FIA's 'Friday Five' press conference took place at Hoclenheim today, and Lucky Strike BAR Honda driver Jacques Villeneuve was in attendance. Here's what he had to say... Q: Jacques we'll try and leave today aside; we know that you're capable of speed and I think you're fairly frustrated at the moment. What do you need, what is lacking?

Jacques Villeneuve: I guess a good day would be nice. You know when things start going wrong then it's hard to try and get out of it, but things have been wrong for a couple of years now and I think everything is just piling up.

Q: There have been a lot of rumours about your future, including one about you going to Ferrari. What is the truth?

JV: Some rumours make you smile and make you happy, so it's good to read them, and some of them they make you very unhappy. But there are a lot of rumours going on , but there's nothing to say right now.

Q: What's the situation with BAR; have you got a chance to stay there?

JV: We're heavily into discussions.

Q: What are the developments here; there were some at the last race?

JV: No, we had the developments at the last race, something different in the engine. I think that's about it. We're using a different tyre as well, which was used by one car at the last race and I think that will be good for the race, but won't make a difference for qualifying.

Q: So you expect to be roughly where the other car was today?

JV: Not where we are today! The way our car was going on old tyres today was acceptable. Maybe we can do something good in the race as long as we can qualify well.

Q: Jacques, is Formula One the only option or, not next year but down the road, would you consider racing something else?

JV: Formula is the top level of motorsport racing so after winning here it would be difficult to be happy doing anything else. But who knows. Maybe after you retire you spend a few years at home, you get really bored then you are happy to do anything else. But I can't imagine that right now.

Q: That sounds like if you didn't get Formula One you might spend a year at home.

JV: Yeah, I wouldn't jump into something else tomorrow - that is definite. But there is no plan of not being in Formula One next year.