Villeneuve gears up for F1 return

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve insisted it was “business as usual” as he gears up for his return to Formula One.

The Canadian has been out of the cockpit since falling out with BAR towards the end of last season but was offered a surprise return by Renault, who were short of a driver after sacking Jarno Trulli.

Villeneuve impressed enough in testing to be given a short-term deal covering the final three grands prix of the season.

He was quickly back in the swing of things as he got to grips with the new Shanghai International Circuit, venue for the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.

Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, suffered an ignominious exit last year after five largely fruitless years with BAR, dominated in later periods by internal troubles.

Now the former Indianapolis 500 winner claims he has purged all that strife and is ready to return in a positive frame of mind.

He said: “It’s great to be back, also because of the reception and the way I’ve been received within Renault has been very positive. That makes it much better. I’m sure a lot can be done.

“In the car, I just get in the car and get on with the job. You start driving, you do laps, it’s business as usual.

“All the negatives had been piling up for five years, it allowed me to get it all out. It’s a little bit like a second start, it’s more exciting than carrying on every year.

“Why Renault? Because they are fast. It’s a fast car. There had been an opportunity to drive, when we talked to [team boss] Flavio Briatore a few years ago, and it didn’t work out.

“It was a good opportunity to get that going now even if it’s only for three races. They have a goal, something to shoot at and I want to help.”

Villeneuve earned a reputation for being a tempestuous and often moody character within the paddock, causing friction with some of his fellow drivers.

The older, more worldly-wise Villeneuve is relaxed about resuming his old rivalry with Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button among others.

He clashed with Schumacher during his world title-winning campaign and the pair never saw eye to eye afterwards, while Button’s arrival at BAR as his team-mate was greeted with a barrage of taunts via the media.

But Villeneuve today said: “Over time everybody mellows a little bit, Michael and I met up in Monaco and it was very cordial.

“Michael has achieved a lot and this year has been very impressive. There is no reason to be under bad terms again.

“There’s not a vendetta with Jenson. I’m quite happy he’s doing well actually. For a while I was part of that project and now he’s carried that on.

“There’s no point in thinking every driver is your enemy. It’s better to beat someone you respect. The job he’s done this year has been very impressive. When someone’s done a good job you say it.”

One old rivalry which still rankles is his dispute with BAR boss David Richards.

The pair fell out spectacularly last year and parted company on frosty terms a race before the end of the season.

Now Villeneuve has a chance to help Renault pip Richards’ BAR to second in the constructors’ championship and he said: “That would be fun. It’s not bitterness or anger, it would be fun.”