BAR count cost of Villeneuve's animosity

The fans here are among the most enthusiastic in the world. Those camped by the entry to the paddock in Melbourne's Albert Park all last weekend are also among the most vocal. They even cheered Eddie Jordan to the echo when the colourful Dubliner turned up and left every day.

After an Australian Grand Prix that firmly put Formula One back in a favourable spotlight – the early dicing was simply breathtaking – they cheered Jacques Villeneuve too, and clamoured for his autograph. The 1997 world champion obliged with a smile.

Two of his Lucky Strike British American Racing Honda team members, observing this, were overhead to say: "Christ, what a personality transplant."

Villeneuve was not a popular man just then in the Brackley-based team, whose chief David Richards employed all his talent for quiet irony when he said after the race: "Jacques seemed unable to hear his radio properly."

When BAR came into Formula One in 1999, built from the remnants of the late Ken Tyrrell's eponymous team, they quickly became a joke; throwing a British American Tobacco budget the size of the gross national debt at the team yet achieving only meagre results.

Richards, already a champion in rallying, took over the management last year and faced an uphill struggle. But practice and qualifying for the first race of the 2003 season showed that the team are on the up. The new BAR Honda 005 designed by the former Williams aero man Geoffrey Willis is Viagra on wheels to those who appreciate automotive beauty. Villeneuve and team-mate Jenson Button drove the wheels off it, to great effect.

On lap 25 of the race they were nose to tail, Villeneuve fractionally ahead, in fourth and fifth places. But then they both came into the pits together. Only crashing into each other is a greater gaffe.

Villeneuve had indicated that he would pit on the previous lap. Button alleges that the French-Canadian had actually pressed his pit-confirm button on his steering wheel. Villeneuve said later that he had radio problems, and decided at the last moment not to pit. Instead he came in on the lap the team expected Button.

Now they had Button's tyres and fuel ready, not Villeneuve's. Villeneuve lost 31 seconds while his fuel and tyres were hastily dragged out of the garage; Button, who had pitted as scheduled, was left fuming in a two-car traffic jam. He lost 44 seconds and spent the remainder of the race driving with icy fury to reclaim all but 0.4sec of the 13-second deficit. Instead of finishing well inside the top six, the BARs trailed home ninth and 10th. Nobody was amused.

The Villeneuve problem is one that Richards must resolve. Villeneuve's manager is Craig Pollock, the deposed principal of the BAR team and still a shareholder. Richards, who does not believe that Villeneuve is worth his $18m salary, has to walk a taut political line. Doubtless there are times when he would like to replace him with Takuma Sato, his diminutive Japanese test driver, but that's another story.

Down the pit lane the outbreak of war between Villenueve and Button has been anticipated ever since the former shunned the latter at the official launch in Barcelona earlier in the year, making it clear that he did not respect him. Their growing animosity is something else Richards must deal with, though he has the consolation that the new BAR Honda is a very competitive piece of equipment.

Elsewhere, the spat is precisely what everyone wants to see. Warring team-mates always make good copy and are good news for the fans. If only Ferrari would take note.

* Michael Schumacher yesterday said Ferrari will not introduce their new car ahead of schedule despite defeat in Australia. The German said he was confident he will be competitive in his old car for the next couple of races in Malaysia and Brazil while testing continues on the F2003-GA.