BMW's Theissen is Confident in Jacques' Abilities
Canadian F1 fans can breathe a sigh of relief as native son Jacques Villeneuve has just been confirmed as teammate to
German "Quick" Nick Heidfeld for the new BMW Sauber F1 Team in 2006.
Villeneuve, who maintained his belief that his contract, which runs through to the end of the 2006 season, would be honoured by Sauber's new BMW owner, has been given a vote of confidence by his new team boss.
"We took a close look at Jacques' performance level at the end of last season," explained BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. "After an extremely tough first half of the year - which showed that even a former World Champion cannot come back after a period away and be competitive from day one - he got closer and closer to his teammate over the second half of the season. We are in no doubt that Jacques will make the BMW Sauber F1 Team stronger."
Fans
of the former 1997 World Champion, the only title holder next to Ferrari's seven-times winner Michael Schumacher, will be hoping his new team will show him greater support than the Sauber team seemed to during the first half of 2005, when Villeneuve struggled with the setup of his car and rarely outperformed his Brazilian teammate Filipe Massa - who incidentally has moved on to Ferrari for 2006.
JV fans will also be keeping their fingers crossed that BMW Sauber doesn't experience the same growing pains as former team BAR Honda did during its first five years on the F1 grid.
"Between 1999 and 2004 I experienced first-hand the difficulties and complexities involved in setting up a new team," commented Villeneuve, "but I've never been afraid of a challenge. Sauber was already a good team and now we also have the resources of BMW behind us. I will do everything I can to contribute to the success of the BMW Sauber F1 Team."
Canadian F1 fans can breathe a sigh of relief as native son Jacques Villeneuve has just been confirmed as teammate to
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| Jacques Villeneuve has just been confirmed as teammate to Nick Heidfeld for the new BMW Sauber F1 Team in 2006. (Photo: BMW Sauber) |
Villeneuve, who maintained his belief that his contract, which runs through to the end of the 2006 season, would be honoured by Sauber's new BMW owner, has been given a vote of confidence by his new team boss.
"We took a close look at Jacques' performance level at the end of last season," explained BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. "After an extremely tough first half of the year - which showed that even a former World Champion cannot come back after a period away and be competitive from day one - he got closer and closer to his teammate over the second half of the season. We are in no doubt that Jacques will make the BMW Sauber F1 Team stronger."
Fans
 |
| JV fans will also be keeping their fingers crossed that BMW Sauber doesn't experience the same growing pains as former team BAR Honda did during its first five years on the F1 grid. (Photo: BAR Honda) |
JV fans will also be keeping their fingers crossed that BMW Sauber doesn't experience the same growing pains as former team BAR Honda did during its first five years on the F1 grid.
"Between 1999 and 2004 I experienced first-hand the difficulties and complexities involved in setting up a new team," commented Villeneuve, "but I've never been afraid of a challenge. Sauber was already a good team and now we also have the resources of BMW behind us. I will do everything I can to contribute to the success of the BMW Sauber F1 Team."