Villeneuve: I'm not begging to stay with BAR.

1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has said that he won't beg to stay with BAR in 2004.

The Canadian speaking in yesterday's FIA press conference at the US GP, when asked about talk there could be shoot-out for the second seat, commented: "You make it sound as if I'm begging to stay with the team. Right now the team is looking to see if I'm the right driver for them; but on the other hand, I have to see if it's the right team for me as well."

He added: "Rumors are created to make people believe things, to clear your shoulders or whatever. I've never worked as hard as the last couple of years. And also I've never had as little fun in racing as in the last two years. But my work ethics have been very good. If you ask anybody I work with, then you'll hear the real truth about that.

"Right now though there's nothing exciting to say [with regard to next year]. Two more races to go, and that's all I know."

Villeneuve joined BAR in 1999, after coming to F1 in 1996 and racing for Williams-Renault, winning the championship in only his second season. Since those glory days, JV's time at the Brackley based squad has been tough to say the least, this year he has notched up six points, while his team-mate, Jenson Button has scored 12. What the future holds for the Canadian is difficult to say, but at the moment things do not look promising...