Jacques Villeneuve has insisted he will drive for Brackley-based British American Racing this season, despite the sudden departure of friend and mentor Craig Pollock.

The 1997 world champion is clearly unhappy that Pollock has been replaced as team chief by Banbury-based rally supremo David Richards, without his knowledge.

But as he helped launch the BAR-Honda 004, Villeneuve said he would still drive at 100 per cent when the new season starts in Melbourne on March 3.

He added: "I will race as hard next year as I have always done. I am a racer and the motivation is still there.

"Craig was a big part of me staying with this team, he made me believe they could be competitive. But there are also a lot of other people who I have worked hard with for a long time here and I will not drop them."

BAR revealed Honda had signed a new three-year engine deal and would also increase their technical input, which could have serious implications for the Jordan team.

Richards said: "Jacques and Olivier Panis are both key ingredients of the team. We will have to sit down and talk to Jacques, but now is the time to pull together.

"It would be presumptuous of me to walk in here and say I have all the answers. But I know what is required to have a winning team from other areas of motorsport and I learned a lot during my time at Benetton.

Villeneuve's long-term future with the team must now be in doubt with Renault, and Jaguar Racing likely to be major candidates for his services in 2003.

The 30-year-old Canadian, who has been at BAR since its launch three years ago, said: "I heard about it last Friday when I arrived in Montreal for the 24-hour ski race.

"I could see there was something wrong with Craig and forced the news out of him.

"I was a bit dumb-founded because this came out of nothing. Changes happen, but what made it more difficult was that nobody bothered calling to explain what was happening.

"Only time will tell if it's for the best or worse. A Formula 1 team is like a small army and the general has to win the hearts of his men. It takes time to earn their respect. Hopefully that will happen now."