Villeneuve still working on F1 return for 2010

Jacques Villeneuve is still not writing off his chances of making a return to formula one in 2010.

The 1997 world champion was connected with a seat at the new Lotus team, but the Malaysian outfit ultimately signed Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen.

Media outlets had linked the French-Canadian’s visit to Lotus’ British headquarters in late November with the possibility of an F1 seat.

“A lot of people got carried away with the Lotus thing,” the 38-year-old told auto123.com.

“I wanted to pay a visit to my good buddy Gino (Rosato) who’s now working for Lotus, but that’s the production car company.  It has nothing to do with the new formula one team whatsoever,” he insisted.

Official vacancies on the 2010 F1 grid remain at the Sauber, Renault, Toro Rosso, Campos and USF1 teams.

“Well, there’s not much to say for the moment,” Villeneuve said.

“But I am still working extremely hard to get back in F1 this season.  So hard you would not believe it.  But for the moment there’s nothing to announce.”

He was speaking from Melbourne, raising the possibility that he is working on a deal to drive in the Australian V8 Supercar series.

But the report said Villeneuve is not “devoting one second of his time” to finding a seat in any series except F1.

© RIF/GMM