The mystery deepens.

No sooner has 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve been linked with one team - now that a return to WilliamsF1 appears to be entirely out of the question - than he is being linked with another.

While we hear that Jacques is keen to rejoin BAR and continue some "unfinished business", we also hear that the Canadian made to visit to the Sauber factory in Hinwil, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

Unlike all the 'secret test' stories, this is absolutely true and has been confirmed to pitpass by a team spokeswoman.

"Jacques visited our factory on Tuesday morning," she said. "He and his manager had talks with Peter Sauber, but this doesn't mean at all that a decision concerning Giancarlo Fisichella's successor is made.

"We are under no time pressure," she added, "and there are quite a few interested in a seat which in return shows that we are a highly attractive team today."

After a fairly disappointing start to the season, Sauber has picked up as the season has progressed, unlike previous years, when the opposite has been true.

Barring a major loss, or indeed increase, in performance, the Swiss outfit looks likely to finish sixth in the Constructors' Championship, ahead of Toyota and Jaguar. At present, it trails McLaren by 18 points.