Feb.16 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has given a fascinating insight into some of the teams he experienced during his decade in formula one.
“I loved Williams because there was a good atmosphere,” the French Canadian, who won the world championship with the British team in 1997, told the French language pitlane-vision.com.
“But that was normal because we were in front. I had a lot of freedom to work on the car and there were no political problems,” added the winner of 11 grands prix, who turns 40 this year.
After his early success with Williams, Villeneuve switched to the new BAR team, headed by his then manager Craig Pollock.
“At BAR, I had a lot of freedom with the car but there were so many political problems that it was unmanageable.
“After one year there was the impression that we had been racing for 5 years non-stop — it was pretty exhausting,” added Villeneuve, who after 1997 never won another race.
His final seasons in F1 were with Sauber.
“On the other side to Williams, at Sauber, it was ‘Shut up and drive, we do not want you to design the car!'” he concluded.
