Editing Jacques Villeneuve (section)

==== 2001–2003 ====
[[File:Jacques Villeneuve, BAR Honda BAR003.jpg|left|thumb|Villeneuve driving his [[BAR 003]] at the {{F1GP||2001 Spanish}}]]
There were rumours of Villeneuve leaving the BAR team after 2000.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=29 May 2000|title=No Williams return for Villeneuve|url=http://sl.sports.com/f1/european/290500jacques.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823170315/http://sl.sports.com/f1/european/290500jacques.html|archive-date=23 August 2000|access-date=5 June 2021|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> He talked to Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren about racing with them in the [[2001 Formula One World Championship|2001 championship]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Delbes|first=Marc|date=15 June 2000|title=Will Jacques be in a BAR car in 2001?|page=OD11|work=[[The Hamilton Spectator]]|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/270019260|url-access=subscription|access-date=5 June 2021|id={{ProQuest|270019260}}|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625054042/https://www.proquest.com/docview/270019260|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=3 July 2000|title=Villeneuve and Button at Benetton?|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02498.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050424175414/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02498.html|archive-date=24 April 2005|access-date=5 June 2021|publisher=GrandPrix.com}}</ref><ref name=Times2000>{{Cite news|last=Eason|first=Kevin|date=14 July 2000|title=Villeneuve ponders option of taking sabbatical|page=31|work=[[The Times]]|issue=66879|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0501379417/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=81453cbd|url-access=subscription|access-date=5 June 2021|via=The Times Digital Archive|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625054016/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CIF0501379417&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=81453cbd|url-status=live}}</ref> Villeneuve later admitted McLaren was not an option since his management team got accused of conducting early season publicity and he disliked McLaren's corporate methodology.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 July 2000|title=Villeneuve admits McLaren was never an option|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/villeneuve-admits-mclaren-was-never-an-option-5028339/5028339/|url-status=live|access-date=5 June 2021|website=[[Autosport]]|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605112738/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/villeneuve-admits-mclaren-was-never-an-option-5028339/5028339/}}</ref> Villeneuve also considered taking a sabbatical,<ref name=Times2000/> but he ultimately signed a three-year contract extension with BAR in July 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|date=25 July 2000|title=Jacques no-BAR hopper|page=A8|work=[[Medicine Hat News]]|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jul-25-2000-2488531/|access-date=5 June 2021|via=NewspaperArchive.com {{open access}}|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605112732/https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jul-25-2000-2488531/|url-status=live}}</ref> He obtained a get-out clause enabling him to leave BAR should they under-perform.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 August 2000|title=Briatore still eyes Villeneuve|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/briatore-still-eyes-villeneuve-5026483/|url-status=live|access-date=5 June 2021|website=Autosport|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625054016/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/briatore-still-eyes-villeneuve-5026483/5026483/}}</ref>

Villeneuve was joined by [[Olivier Panis]], and the [[BAR 003|003]] car he drove was approximately {{Convert|30|kg|lb|abbr=on}} lighter than the 002 chassis.{{Sfn|Camus|2007|pp=233–243}} Villeneuve was cordial with his teammate since they could talk to each other in French, and set himself the goal of winning a race and finishing third in the Drivers' Championship. His car was fairly reliable but lacked rear grip and straight-line speed due to an underpowered Honda engine.{{Sfn|Mansell|2001|pp=60–61, 231–253}} At the season-opening {{F1 GP|2001|Australian}}, Villeneuve struck the rear of [[Ralf Schumacher]]'s car, launching him into the air. One of Villeneuve's car's wheels struck [[Motorsport marshal|marshal]] Graham Beveridge, killing him.<ref name="MMagBio" /> Villeneuve achieved BAR's first two podium results, finishing third at both the {{F1GP|2001|Spanish}} and the {{F1GP|2001|German}}. He finished the season seventh in the Drivers' Championship with 12 points.{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2001|pp=28–29, 50–51, 218}}{{Sfn|Mansell|2001|pp=60–61, 231–253}} Although he scored five fewer points than the year before, Villeneuve qualified higher than Panis eleven times in 2001.{{Sfn|Mansell|2001|pp=60–61, 231–253}}

[[File:BAR 004 Villeneuve.jpg|thumb|Villeneuve testing the [[BAR 004]] car in 2002]]

Before the [[2002 Formula One World Championship|2002 season]] Villeneuve remained at BAR.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 July 2001|title=BAR stick with Villeneuve, Panis|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/1458141.stm|url-status=live|access-date=5 June 2021|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|archive-date=October 22, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021022193248/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/1458141.stm}}</ref> He talked to team principal [[Flavio Briatore]],<ref name="F1R2014Interview" /> who offered him a seat at Renault in lieu of [[Jenson Button]] but Villeneuve rejected it.<ref name="JV2017Interview" />{{Sfn|Camus|2007|pp=233–243}} Villeneuve ultimately opted to remain at BAR due to pressure from Honda, and he again partnered with Panis.{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2002|pp=30–31, 50–51, 148, 218}} He became uncomfortable when new BAR team principal [[David Richards (motorsport)|David Richards]] publicly mentioned that money spent on Villeneuve's high salary could be better used for research and development. The [[BAR 004]] chassis proved to be more unreliable than the year before and slower due to an under-powered Honda engine. He scored four points for 12th in the Drivers' Championship with a fourth place at the {{F1GP|2002|British}} being his season's best result.{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2002|pp=30–31, 50–51, 148, 218}} Villeneuve regretted remaining at BAR due to the lack of results,<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 April 2002|title=Villeneuve fed up, may leave BAR|publisher=[[CBC News]]|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/villeneuve-fed-up-may-leave-bar-1.313189|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625054017/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/villeneuve-fed-up-may-leave-bar-1.313189|url-status=live}}</ref> and he was offered a contract to join Team Player's in CART for the [[2003 CART season|2003 championship]] before returning to BAR for the [[2004 Formula One World Championship|2004]] and [[2005 Formula One World Championship|2005 F1 seasons]]. The deal was pushed by Richards but not agreed upon because Villeneuve's and Pollock's financial settlements were too great for team owner [[Gerald Forsythe]] to be willing to take on.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 August 2002|title=Villeneuve rejects Cart return|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2220045.stm|url-status=live|access-date=5 June 2021|publisher=BBC Sport|archive-date=December 21, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021221155853/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2220045.stm}}</ref>

Villeneuve decided to remain at BAR for the [[2003 Formula One World Championship|2003 season]], and was partnered with Button. Villeneuve's [[BAR 005]] car had a more powerful but bulky Honda engine.{{Sfn|Camus|2007|pp=233–243}}{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=36–37, 51, 215, 218}} He initially had a poor relationship with Button, not speaking to him and saying that Button "should be in a boy band".{{sfn|Button|2017|pp=165–168}} Their relationship did not improve after the season-opening {{F1GP|2003|Australian}} when Villeneuve was due to make a pit stop but drove an additional lap when Button was due to make his, leaving Button stationary behind Villeneuve. Although he blamed it on "radio problems", Button and Richards hinted their disbelief in his execution.{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=36–37, 51, 215, 218}} Villeneuve was outperformed by his teammate and retired eight times due to mechanical faults. He finished sixth at both the {{F1GP|2003|Brazilian}} and the {{F1GP|2003|Italian}}. Before the season-ending {{F1GP|2003|Japanese}}, Villeneuve was informed by Richards he was no longer needed. He was replaced by test driver [[Takuma Sato]].{{Sfn|Camus|2007|pp=233–243}}{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=36–37, 51, 215, 218}} He was 16th in the Drivers' Championship with 6 points.{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=36–37, 51, 215, 218}}