Formula One Italian Grand PrixJacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, has proposed a novel way of financing a Formula One comeback. The Canadian has offered Sauber a deal under which he would sell advertising space on his car.
Villeneuve, who has been out of work since relinquishing his position as Jenson Button's team-mate in the BAR-Honda squad one race before the end of last season, has said he is willing to drive for a nominal $3 million retainer, plus bonuses of $50,000 per championship point scored. Alternatively, he would try to earn up to $5 million by selling advertising space on the car.
"Everything is open," said Sauber's Hanspeter Brack. "All I would say to you is that it's a little strange that we are testing the new formula 3000 champion Vitantonio Liuzzi at Jerez this week so, for a team which has to watch its pennies, would we be doing this if we had signed Jacques?"
Michael Schumacher has shrugged off the effects of a 190 m.p.h. crash during testing last week before the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday at Monza, Ferrari's home track.
"It was a big crash caused by air leaking from a tyre," he said. "I felt a bit stiff the next day but we have invested a lot of time and effort in the (protective) headrest area of these cars and on that day it paid off. But any crash is too much."
Schumacher has laughed at a suggestion he might want to reconsider his Formula One future after the high-speed crash. Asked yesterday why he carried on risking his life after winning seven world championships and 82 races, the German raised a hand to his mouth and yawned theatrically.
Pressed on the issue, he added: "First of all, I don't think it could have cost me my life. And second, I still love what I am doing, and I keep repeating it and it is difficult for you to understand. For me it is very easy to understand."
Schumacher clinched the world title at the last race in Belgium, hot on the heels of Ferrari securing a sixth constructors' championship in a row in Hungary last month, and is chasing his 13th win in 15 races on Sunday.
There is little left for the German to achieve but he said a priority now was to ensure Brazilian team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished as overall runner-up.
"We have had a pretty much perfect year so far and to really make it perfect would be to have Rubens in the second position in the drivers' championship as well because that's the thing left to achieve," he said.
BAR expect Briton Jenson Button to continue racing for them next season if Formula One's contract recognition board takes their side in a bitter tug-of-war with Williams.
Both teams have deposited contracts with the CRB, Williams submitting their paperwork only this week, for the services of the 24-year-old driver and have said they will respect the ruling of the Swiss-based board.
A decision is expected by the end of the month.
