Future of Villeneuve in the spotlight

JACQUES VILLENEUVE was always going to be in the spotlight for his home Grand Prix this weekend.

But Ferrari's announcement on Monday that Michael Schumacher had extended his contract with them to the end of 2006 has focused attention even more on Formula One's other world champion.

With the season reaching the halfway stage, speculation about the driver market is heating up and much of it concerns the 1997 champion.

It's easy to forget just how much of a stir Villeneuve caused when he breezed into the paddock in 1996 as a young and iconoclastic rebel with his fresh attitude, dyed hair and grunge clothing. The hair remains blond, though thinning, and his gaze still burns fiercely behind the contact lenses. But the shining achievements have been submerged by four-and-a- half years of toil and mediocrity at BAR.

His contract is up for renewal and while Villeneuve may well stay, it is no foregone conclusion. With just 10 teams remaining, there are more candidates than vacancies with some such as Britain's Justin Wilson willing to drive for free were the right opportunity to materialise.

"I think next year will be quite interesting in the driver lineup for Formula One," said former racer Jonathan Palmer, manager of Minardi's Wilson.