|
In an exclusive interview with TSN Formula One analyst Gerald
Donaldson prior to the Spanish Grand Prix, Villeneuve says he gets a
chuckle out of suggestions that some of Formula One's problems can
be solved by spending less.
"Formula One will spend as much money as it gets," said
Villeneuve. "Why should they spend less."
"Spending less money - it depends where you spend it,"
explained Villeneuve, reportedly the second highest paid driver in
F1. "If you cut testing and you don't need a test team anymore,
that's a lot less hotel and stuff like that, then that means you can
concentrate all your money on racing. A team - any top team - even
with more money won't go that much quicker whereas a low end team -
like Minardi - if all their money went towards racing, then it would
take a step forward."
There have been suggestions put forth by FIA and other racing
officials to cut back on the amount of testing done by teams.
Villeneuve himself has come out in favour of less testing and more
racing. But the Canadian says new rules to try and cut down on
engine costs will have little impact on F1 budgets.
"F1 will never, ever, cost less, because if they can earn
that much money, then it will be spent," said Villeneuve.
"At the end of the day, even a tenth of a second has no
value."
Villeneuve says recent moves by British American Racing to reduce
staff was not done to cut costs. Rather, it was done with the goal
to improve the team.
"I don't think this team did it to cut costs. I think this
team did it because there were people that weren't doing their
jobs," said Villeneuve. "It's better to have a few people
doing a good job than to have a lot of people that don't do a good
job."
The former world champion also hit back at recent reports he was
about to leave BAR. But Villeneuve admits it makes good business
sense to keep your options open.
"There's never been a question of staying or not
staying," said Villeneuve. "You always keep an eye on what
is happening everywhere because you need a back door."
"Right now, what I try and concentrate on is trying to win
with this team."
|
