Former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve is currently in Austria to undergo an intensive training program with his personal coach. That triggered several rumours in the medias about his future. Auto123.com spoke with Villeneuve on Thursday morning.

Erwin Göllner, a physiotherapist who runs a highly specialised clinic in Fürstenbrunn near Salzburg was Villeneuve’s trainer when the Canadian ran for BAR-Honda and Sauber in Formula 1.

“Yes, I am currently in Austria and training with Erwin. I am getting physically prepared just in case I would get a call from a Formula 1 team,” Villeneuve told Auto123.com.

Jacques Villeneuve and Erwin Göllner working together at Sauber in 2005.

“I am still in discussion with a few Formula 1 teams about a drive in 2010. And as long as they are interested in me, I have to remain on stand-by. Anyway, it’s very good physically. I was surprised to see that I am in a far better physical condition than I expected. Maybe it’s due to the karting and the motocross I did in Quebec last summer. Even Erwin was impressed with the level of my physical condition.”

Is Villeneuve only looking for a place in Formula 1 or does he have any hopes to return in NASCAR?

“I focus on Formula 1 only,” said Villeneuve. “Formula 1 is my priority. Period. Because things evolve very quickly in F1 these days. We saw Mercedes buying into Brawn GP and my former teammate Jenson Button moving from Brawn to McLaren. His decision really stunned me. No one saw that one coming, right?”

Quebec native Gino Rosato has also moved from Ferrari to Lotus.

Can Lotus be a possibility for Villeneuve? “I really don’t know. I used to socialise with Gino at the race tracks. But he hasn’t called me and I have not called him. I don’t know if Lotus can represent a possibility or not,” Villeneuve concluded.

We want your opinion: Do you think Jacques Villeneuve will make a return in Formula 1 in 2010? Click here to enter your vote



Photo Credit : René Fagnan-Auto123.com & WRI2