The Canadian has been a frequent visitor to the F1 paddock this season, and was seen in the Brawn GP garage at Silverstone, and is making great efforts to return to the sport he once loved.

"I'm a racing driver and I always will be," said Villeneuve to Autosprint. "That's why I'm looking about myself for F1. Driving is the only thing that interests me, and all the mess that's happened helps me: with the test ban, we experienced drivers are handy. I can't say what will happen, but I'm giving it a go."

It's the changes to the cars that's attracting Villeneuve. "In my opinion today's cars are better to watch, and they will be even more so next year," claims the Canadian. "They will be more fun driving them, especially with the fuel-stop ban. You can see them sliding more, without electronic aids: this way the show is better. I've been saying it for ten years: ban pitstops, get back to slick tyres, and get rid of electronics. The human aspect is counting again, as it did in the past."

It's currently not obvious where Villeneuve would find a seat, although the new USF1 team due to enter the sport in 2010 would be an obvious choice.