Villeneuve happy with Sauber decision.

After nearly a year away from the sport, 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve makes his return to Formula One this weekend in the Chinese Grand Prix.

The former Williams and BAR driver has secured a role with Renault until the end of the season in place of Jarno Trulli, in preparation for a full time return to the grid with Sauber in 2005.

Villeneuve is faced with the task of helping the Swiss team move up the grid and is well aware that he is unlikely to win a Grand Prix with the team.

With added speculation about the possibility of the top teams running three cars next season, thereby meaning more top drives available, Villeneuve was questioned by reporters during the Friday press conference at Shanghai International Circuit on whether or not he felt he had made the right choice to join Sauber for next season.

However the Canadian insisted he was happy with his choice and will be fully motivated for next season.

"I drove for five years in a bad situation and the motivation was there," he said. "I am sure that next year will be a very positive atmosphere and that is what will make the difference. Just see the step that BAR made this year, anything is possible. You never know what will happen. But I am not even thinking about next year right now, there is enough work to do in the next month. But I am happy about next year."

Although he has not even officially joined Suaber yet, Villeneuve also found himself facing questions about his long term commitment to the team, and he insisted he hasn't joined them simply to try and springboard himself back into a top drive.

"I have never used one team against another," he said. "Some people say I signed too early and I could have raised my value by waiting, but that it is not something I wanted to do, it's not the right way to work, so that is not my thought process right now."

Villeneuve is set to be partnered by Felipe Massa next season, a driver he has been critical of in the past. However he insists that there will be problem when the duo line-up alongside each other in 2005.

"I was critical in the first season, and everyone in the first season has to learn and you make mistakes," he said. "There is nothing wrong with criticising mistakes as long as people learn, and he seems to be doing a very good job now. He doesn't annoy anybody or anything, and it will be quite good.

"He has a lot of experience, he tested at Ferrari and he has been driving with the Sauber team for quite a while, so it will be great."