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Picture Villeneuve with Renault boss Briatore (Getty Images)

JACQUES BACK - BUT NOT WITH A BANG

By Tony Jardine

A high-profile F1 return in Shanghai was that of Jacques Villeneuve, who has signed for Sauber for 2005 but is driving the rest of the season for Renault.

I don't think he performed very well at all.

In fact I think the two drivers who should have performed much better at Shanghai were Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve.

I can understand what Renault are trying to do and where Flavio Briatiore is coming from.

They were absolutely beside themsleves having failed to score any points in Monza.

Well, we have discussed the Trulli situation before but he was setting competitive laps in the last three laps but earlier he was nowhere.

Now Jarno said there were problems with the car and the team said his head is elswehere and wasn't trying.

So that prompted the decision to get rid of him early and get a driver in who is hungry and wants to try hard and help us get points and get second place back in the constructors champions.

Now we have forgotten about Ferrari where - they have won the title and that's all done and dusted.

But second place is a big deal with huge prestige and money at stake.

And people like David Richards and Flavio Briatore place great store by it and you can understand why they are going all out for it.

Now Flavio is writing in his press releases that Jacques did a good job and did all that was expected of him.

But the fact is they are now nine points further behind BAR going to Japan.

That will be a strong place for BAR because of Honda even though the Suzuka circuit will suit Renault a little bit better.

But BAR and especially Sato will have people power on their side for Japan.

The crowd will be behind him, he will get the treatment and the team wil make sure his car is as perfect as they can make it.

Honda will ensure that Button and Sato get some really really good engines because it's their home grand prix.

So you can say that Flavio's tactics were right but it has not paid off because Jacques has not delivered any points.

There are two reasons: Jacques has not had enough time in the car and as we said with Ralf missing all the development when he was out for three months, imagine being away fron the car for a year.

As he said after the race, he was trying to get used to 2004 cars, like getting the tyres to work again on a one-lap qualifying.

All these things went against him and I'm not saying that by Suzuka he might not be up to speed but they needed points from him in China and where did he finish - 11th.

Alonso was fourth and that's a hell of a difference and I wasn't that impressed.

  • Tony Jardine was talking to Stephen Joyce.

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