Jacques Villeneuve will not take part in any contest to determine the occupant of the second seat at BAR-Honda next season, preferring instead to seek employment elsewhere rather than setting himself up to shot at.

The Canadian's seat is one of the most hotly-discussed in the F1 paddock at the moment, with engine supplier Honda even thought to the be pushing to place Takuma Sato alongside Jenson Button for the season-ending Japanese GP at Suzuka. News sources in Britain quoted team boss David Richards as planning a made-for-TV 'shoot-out' between Villeneuve and a host of young drivers to determine the team's line-up next season, but that has now apparently been scotched by the 1997 world champion.

Although the competition could still go ahead - Richards has apparently pencilled in the new Bahrain facility as host circuit - JV will not be any part of it.

"I had a shoot-out in 1997," he was quoted by BBC Online, referring to his championship battle with Michael Schumacher, "A shoot-out is for new, up-and-coming drivers."

His understandable reluctance to demean himself by fighting for his job in an uncertain situation could leave Villeneuve without a role in Formula One next season, with no real competitive seats left available in a year when most of the big names are already in the midst of contracts. The Canadian told reporters at Monza last weekend that he did not expect to remain at BAR, and was facing the possibility of dropping out of F1 altogether.

"It is late and there is no good news, so there is no reason to be optimistic," he said, "I am working hard on it, and I know a lot of people are working hard on it - but there are also people working hard against it. No decision has been officially taken by the team so, it doesn't look too good, but that doesn't mean it is finished. I just don't think it is my hands right now."

Although he has been linked, rather speculatively, to a possible return to Williams, Villeneuve may find himself returning across the Atlantic, possibly to team up for personal manager and former BAR boss Craig Pollock in Champ Cars. He has also, apparently, had an offer from an undisclosed NASCAR team, but has been quoted as saying that nothing would compare to F1 and that he could decide to retire.