Canadian F1 Star Jacques Villeneuve in the Hot Seat

Why the skepticism about a driver who has obviously been a force to be reckoned with in his past and therefore could

Jacques hasn't delivered this season, but it may not be his fault. (Photo: Sauber Petronas)

potentially be dangerous on the grid on any race day? Simple, Jacques hasn't delivered. The fact that his boss, Peter Sauber, has been willing, however late to JV's defense, to admit the problems the French Canadian faces have had more to do with a poorly sorted car, known as the C24 in Sauber code, and the fact that JV has had little opportunity to test than with any lack of talent on his part, has done little to thwart the critics, hot after the 1997 champion for blood.

Commenting on the subject of replacement drivers, Sauber jokingly told Autosport magazine, "In Malaysia we were married to Anthony Davidson, before Bahrain apparently Klien or Liuzzi would replace Jacques very soon. But there was no contact whatsoever with any of these drivers. And the reason for that is simple: I feel no urge for a driver change."

Sauber going public with information he has no doubt told JV in private

"Do the critics really think that suddenly Jacques has lost his capabilities?" commented JV's boss Peter Sauber. (Photo: Sauber Petronas)

must have been a vote of confidence to the French Canadian.

"My priority one is to make the car go faster; only then we can start to have a look at the performance of the drivers," Sauber added.

Sauber also backed his decision to hire JV in the first place, and any murmurings that his team would be better off without the 1997 world champion when he said, "It always strikes me how short the memory of some people is. Jacques drove fastest laps in winter time with our C23 [last year's more competitive car], also on a wet track which is not really the strength of the Canadian. Do the critics really think that suddenly Jacques has lost his capabilities?"