But Richards did confirm for the first time that talks had taken place with the Forsythe Racing team in the United States about the Canadian driving for them in 2003 before returning to F1.

Villeneuve, who slammed into a tyre barrier during first practice for Sunday’s season-ending grand prix, had refuelled rumours about a return to the series he won in 1995 after visiting last week’s race in Florida.

But Richards said: “From my point of view there is no question about it. Jacques will be driving with us next year and is contracted to us.

“He visited a CART race in Miami and saw his old mates and that started the speculation again.

“He wants to stay in F1, he is committed to F1 and he wants to be here and I am very pleased he will be with the team next year.”

Villeneuve and Richards were at loggerheads earlier in the season when the team chief admitted that his driver’s salary of £12m (€19m) next season was a quarter of BAR’s development budget

Richards said he would be better off using that money to improve a team that has been unable to make an impact on the grid since it entered F1 in 1999 amid much fanfare but failed to score a point in its maiden year.

The team chief wanted to release that money by seeing Villeneuve return to CART for next season with his salary being paid by cigarette giant Player’s who sponsor the Forsythe team.

“It was discussed some months ago the possibility of him driving for Forsythe,” admitted Richards.

“Jacques was not particularly enthusiastic about it but was willing to work with the team on it if that was to the benefit of the team.”

Villeneuve’s manager Craig Pollock was quoted in Miami last week as saying the 31-year-old would consider a return to CART if the deal was right.

But Villeneuve said today: “F1 is the top level of motor sport racing so anything else could only be acceptable if there was the security of coming back afterwards. But there is nothing at the moment.”

Japan’s Takuma Sato would be favourite to switch to the Honda-powered outfit and team-up with BAR-bound Jenson Button in 2003 should Villeneuve leave.

Villeneuve was the centre of attention on the track today when he skidded across the circuit and smashed into a tyre-wall after he lost control at Spoon Curve midway through the first session.

The Monaco-based racer was protected by the cockpit survival cell but other parts of the car were sent flying with Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, who was following close behind, forced to pick his way through the debris.

“It was a bigger hit than I thought it was going to be,” said the 1997 world champion who wound up 19th fastest. “I am okay but it was a hard one.

“It was my mistake. I went over the kerb and normally that would not be a problem but at that section there is a dip and I had three wheels off the ground and lost all control.”

Villeneuve’s fellow CART champion Juan Pablo Montoya also endured a high-speed crash into the barriers minutes before the end of practice though it did not stop him from finishing fourth quickest.

“It was a smooth session but for the last part of it,” said the Williams-BMW driver whose team-mate Ralf Schumacher was fifth quickest. “I had a bad crash which damaged the car quite heavily.

“I went on the throttle like always and I thought I was going to make the corner fine but instead I went over the sharp part of the kerb and lost the car. The impact was hard and I am still a bit sore.”

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen set the quickest time as he finished half-a-second faster than McLaren-Mercedes team-mate David Coulthard with Rubens Barrichello third for Ferrari.

“Everything went well today,” said Raikkonen. “I have not tested for a month so it was good to be back in the car. I am happy to be quicker than David, it was nothing to do with a lighter car.”

Runaway champion Schumacher, who will bid to become the first driver to finish on the podium in every race in a season on Sunday, was back in sixth place after suffering an hydraulic problem after being fastest in the first session.

“I am not concerned about this for tomorrow’s qualifying session,” said Schumacher, who has won 10 of the 16 races so far. “I am sure we will be competitive.”

Britain’s Jenson Button was 12th fastest while Allan McNish was 14th for Toyota.