HOCKENHEIM, Germany -- Don't expect Jacques Villeneuve to be driving for Ferrari anytime soon. Actually, don't expect any driver changes among the top three or four teams next year.

As for the rest of the teams, it's a pretty mixed bag as to what their driver lineup will be in 2004.

Michael Schumacher made his feelings sharply clear -- in Schumi's roundabout way -- when asked about the rumors that Villeneuve may become a Ferrari driver.

"I have no feelings about that, honestly," Schumacher said. "There have been plenty of rumors and we know the media, how easy it is to make a rumor, so it's probably one of them. I don't see any seriousness in that, honestly. I think we want to improve our situation..."

Schumacher made the statement in a news conference and the barb soon got back to Villeneuve.

"He said that about me?" Villeneuve said. "I'm not going to bite back. Those things are in the past for me."

Villeneuve and Schumacher have never been pals ever since their infamous clash in the 1997 World Championship showdown race. Villeneuve darted inside to pass Schumacher only to have the latter chop sharply across. Their two cars collided. Had Villeneuve not been able to continue, Schumacher would have become champion as he was ahead in the points. As it was, Schumacher was knocked out of the race and Villeneuve went on to finish third and earned enough points to become the first Canadian to win the World Championship.

	Jacques Villeneuve, left, has no plans of leaving Formula One despite his struggles.

Villeneuve remained with Williams in 1998 but the team was heading for a slump. In 1999, Villeneuve joined the new BAR team; Williams, meanwhile, is challenging for the manufacturers' title this season. But Villeneuve is now looking for work next year as his current three-year deal with Lucky Strike BAR Honda expires at the end of this season.

Villeneuve's best option appears to stay with BAR, but he says he's talking to more than just one team.

"Until something is done, we talk to everybody," he said. "I have been here in Formula One for quite a long time and have quite a few friends here, so you just chit-chat and sometimes it involves racing and sometimes it doesn't."

But does he want to stay at BAR?

"That's what we are mainly working on right now," he said.

Ferrari is not an option for several reasons. Schumacher has a contract with Ferrari though 2006 and Rubens Barrichello's deal runs though 2004.

But even if there was an opening, Villeneuve has always said he'd never drive for Ferrari while the team had a number one driver policy with Schumacher getting favored treatment. Besides, their 1997 clash still looms between the two.

BMW WilliamsF1, West McLaren Mercedes and Mild Seven Renault also are not options as they all plan to keep their drivers for 2004. What about taking a sabbatical until more seats open in 2005?

"That wouldn't be a good option," Villeneuve said. "I still want to be racing next year."

All this has left people guessing about Villeneuve's future.

"I am guessing myself as well right now," he said. "We are working hard, and the plan is to get something going good for next year, but right now there is no news."

Villeneuve won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and the 1995 CART championship and then came to Formula One and won the 1997 World Championship. Since then, however, he has not won a race. BAR has been trying to build itself into a winning team.

"It's been a rough couple of years," he said. "Things just start to pile up."

A string of mechanical failures has kept Villeneuve out of the points in all but one of the first 11 races this year. And that, coupled with the occasional mistake, such as spinning off on his Friday qualifying lap here in Germany, hasn't helped either.

It's gotten to the point where even Villeneuve will admit his reputation has been tarnished.

"Some damage has been done, but you gotta live with that," he said. "You still have to work hard."

Villeneuve said that his manager is "heavily into discussions" with BAR. Those discussions will include a salary cut because BAR is not going to pay Villeneuve the reported $15 to $20 million he earned in 2003. The new deal would probably be a base wage with incentive pay for points scored.

Jenson Button has stated that he would like Villeneuve to remain as his teammate at BAR next year. The two didn't get along at the start of the season but are now working well together.

Racing in another series doesn't interest Villeneuve at the moment. He said that F1 is the ultimate driving experience and anything else would be a letdown. Maybe, he added, if he sat at home for a few years he'd get bored and try racing something else. But he doesn't plan to sit at home in 2004.

"There is no plan not to be in Formula One next year," he said.

Dan Knutson covers Formula One for National Speed Sport News and ESPN.com.