Jacques Villeneuve

One of the most outlandish characters who lines up on the F1 grid every 2 weeks would have to be Jacques Villeneuve. At age 26 he had become a World Champion for Williams Renault in only his 2nd year of Formula One, having narrowly missed out on this achievement in his 1st attempt. Four years on he is a permanent fixture as one of the top F1 drivers. Despite not achieving a second title or many race wins since due to an below par Williams and starting afresh with new team British American Racing, he has huge potential to begin a new winning streak anytime soon. He is well-known for his rocket starts as the lights go out and can often gain up to four ...  Read the complete review

Jaques has been fighting since 1998 to regain his form after Renault leaving the championship chase on a high as they won it in 1997 with Jacques as their champion. After a disappointing 1998 with the below par Mecachrome engines (old renault units but rebadged) After he bravely joined a new project known as British American Racing, owned by British American Tobacco. The venture promised everything and in the end produced nothing. This was not due to a lack of effort on Jaques part but due to politics within the team between Craig Pollock (team boss) and Adrian Reynard (chassis producer). They also started a year before expected, they should have waited for their factory ...  Read the complete review

Jacques Villeneuve was already known to the Formula 1 world when he joined the Williams team in 1996. His father Gilles raced for Ferrari in the late 1970s before he was tragically killed in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982, and the handsome and highly talented Canadian had many admirers in the sport. But the paddock was also aware of Villeneuve Jnr. because he arrived in F1 from America as the newly crowned PPG CART World Champion. He quickly made an equally impressive mark on Formula 1, leading for most of his maiden Grand Prix before an oil leak demoted him to second place. On the track he rivalled Michael Schumacher for sheer speed and maturity, ...  Read the complete review

The word "great" is used all too often in Formula One. To my mind, there are three great drivers in Formula One at the moment. To be classed as great, a driver does not have to enjoy extra-ordinary success. (Although by definition, most of them do) He does have to enjoy success where possible though, but more than that, he has to have that indefinable "something" that makes him stand out from all the rest. He needs to squeeze 110% out of his car, he needs to go the eleventh tenth, and he needs to produce the extra-ordinary and produce it often. He needs to be one with the car, make it a part of himself. Above all, ...  Read the complete review

Ignore the point totals of last season - Jacques is one of the best drivers on the grid! Shame about the car, though, because given a better car,Villeneuve would have a chance of being on the podium every race. He is extremely daring, and very willing to take chances with passing and starts at the grid. The reason he doesn't qualify higher is the poor quality of his car. The only proof needed is to look when he was at Williams- he beat Schumacher to the title- that shows his class. Technically, Jacques is a near flawless driver, and one who has bottle on the track, which is always very entertaining. He is a great driver, and I am sure ...  Read the complete review