Villeneuve urges Sauber to consider Barrichello

Rubens Barichello - 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Jacques Villeneuve has urged Sauber to think again after the Swiss team ruled out signing Rubens Barrichello for 2014.

Sauber F1 team boss Monisha Kaltenborn in Korea quashed rumours Brazilian veteran Barrichello count mount his return to F1 next year with Sauber, with the help of an eight-figure sponsorship purse.

1997 F1 world champion Villeneuve, however, said Sauber should not dismiss the former Ferrari and Williams driver so hastily.

"Rubens would be worth considering," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

"Why would a team boss ignore the experience factor so easily? 2014 will be a complex year," said the French Canadian.

"Barrichello would always be better than (Esteban) Gutierrez," Villeneuve insisted. "What has he given to Sauber until now? Nothing. Look at him compared to Hulkenberg."

Outspoken Villeneuve, now a F1 television pundit, also recently chided the talents of Caterham's Charles Pic.

On French television, it was put to Villeneuve - a staunch critic of 'pay-drivers' - that Frenchman Pic had denied he is in fact a pay-driver.

Villeneuve hit back: "Then he should explain why he and not Kovalainen is in that car."

Finn Heikki Kovalainen, in the running to return to the race seat in 2014, will in fact be driving Pic's car in Friday morning practice at Suzuka circuit.

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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