Villeneuve highs and lows

ByEurosport

Published 07/08/2006 at 09:41 GMT

The enduring image of Jacques Villeneuve walking away from his broken BMW Sauber after crashing out of the German Grand Prix is almost certainly the last the world will have seen of the Canadian in Formula One action.

2006 Canadian GP BMW Villeneuve

Image credit: Reuters

It marks a sad end for Villeneuve, 35, who this week confirmed, through his manager Craig Pollock, that he has given up on returning to Grand Prix racing following his recent release from BMW Sauber.

This kind of ignominious end could hardly have been anticipated when he won Formula One's ultimate prize - the world championship - in 1997.

From a young age, Villeneuve was always going to be a trailblazer. His father, six-times Grand Prix winner Gilles Villeneuve, ignited the young Jacques' taste for all things adrenaline fuelled.

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Gilles' tragic death in qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder affected him greatly, but he turned to motorsport anyway.

After serving his apprenticeship in Formula Three in Italy and Japan, Villeneuve moved stateside in 1994, winning both the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar World Series (now ChampCar) in 1995.

Immediate impact

His first Formula One test for Williams followed a month later, and the Canadian was signed to partner Brit Damon Hill with the team for 1996.

His impact could not have been more immediate as he became the first man for 24 years to qualify on pole position for his debut race and looked set to win before an oil leak dropped him to second.

villeneuve champ

Image credit: Allsport

The World Championship followed a year later after a controversial coming together with Michael Schumacher in the season finale at Jerez in Spain resulted in the then 26-year-old driver's favour.

If his 11 wins overloaded him with success during his first two seasons, the next nine were full of frustration.

Frustrating Years

Williams lost their works Renault engines and their race-winning pace in 1998, prompting Villeneuve to move to the new British American Racing (BAR) team - run by his manager and friend Pollock - a year later.

It proved disastrous. In five years, Villeneuve managed just two podium finishes, and even when form was on the up in 2003, his relationship with new team boss David Richards, was deteriorating.

He left the team a race before the end of the 2003 season, after hearing his contract would not be renewed, and then looked set for a season on the sidelines.

He made a surprising comeback with Renault for the final three races of the 2004 season - replacing Italian Jarno Trulli, who had been fired by the team and moved to Toyota early.

Despite being outshone by soon-to-be world champion Fernando Alonso, Villenuve's performances were enough to earn him a move to Sauber in 2005, who became BMW Sauber this year following their sale to the German manufacturer.

Where Now?

Where the Canadian goes now is anybody's guess. He has already ruled out a return to ChampCar or a move to the IRL IndyCar series, but said that a move to the US-based NASCAR series appeals to him.

In the meantime, it looks as though he will relax at his home with his new wife Johanna while he waits for the offers to roll in - as they surely will.

Jacques Villeneuve F1 career statistics

Name: Jacques Villeneuve

Born: April 9 1971, St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada.

Debut: Australian Grand Prix 1996

Starts: 163

Wins: 11

Pole Positions: 13

Fastest Laps: 9

Points: 235

Honours: World Champion 1997

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