JV explains why he left the GPDA

Whilst not wishing to disparage the GPDA's continued efforts to improve the sport's safety levels, Jacques Villeneuve felt he was unable to retain his membership whilst Michael Schumacher continued as a director after his behaviour at Monaco and announced at Silverstone that he had left the organisation.

Following the official ruling that Schumacher had deliberately 'crashed' during qualifying in a bid to impede his rivals, Jacques had spoken out passionately against the German's actions.

As Schumacher, who has refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing, will retain his position at the head of the GPDA, JV believed that, as a point of principle, he could not remain a member.

"I don't want to be a member of a body that is represented by someone I don't respect," he commented. "I can only give a personal opinion and I'm not happy someone can run the GPDA and act like that."