Villeneuve wants to play the role of Niki Lauda or Helmut Marko

After his Formula 1 career, Jacques Villeneuve has become known mainly for his remarkable statements. The Canadian now has a new ambition, because he wants to fulfil the same role as Helmut Marko or Niki Lauda at a team.

Although Jacques Villeneuve can call himself a Formula 1 World Champion, the Canadian has mainly been known as someone with very remarkable opinions in recent years. His reputation in the paddock is therefore not sparkling, but Villeneuve still has the ambition to return to a Formula 1 team one day.

Not as a driver, at 50 he has become a little too old for that, but the Canadian does see himself filling the role of an advisor. "In the future I would like to play the role that Helmut Marko now performs at Red Bull Racing and that Niki Lauda performed at Mercedes," Villeneuve told the Italian newspaper Libero Quotidiano in an interview.

Respect for team bosses

The former F1 driver has a lot of respect for some of the team bosses in the sport, in addition to the advisors. "I've always had a lot of admiration for Flavio Briatore and also for someone like Toto Wolff. I think they have the same capabilities. The sport in my opinion always needs someone like Briatore as well."

Villeneuve worked briefly with the flamboyant team boss in Formula 1, but without success. At Williams, the Canadian did enjoy success, but Frank Williams is a very different type of team boss according to Villeneuve. "He was ruthless to his drivers, but he did get results. He was a frosty team boss, but did his job very well." Villeneuve admitted it remains to be seen what Williams' new owners plan to do with the team.