It should look a lot better here.”The problem is a lack of downforce, and now even Villeneuve’s talent cannot make up for lack of aerodynamic grip. But Honda’s side of the equation already looks a potential winner. “The engine is good,” Villeneuve confirmed, and therein may lie one of his strongest reasons for staying. Honda’s pedigree in recent years has only been bettered by Renault’s.Of all the drivers, Villeneuve’s is the talent most obviously being underutilised. Michael Schumacher never shies away from the admission that the French-Canadian is one of the few rivals he truly rates. As he has shown several times in the season and a half in which he has been battling with the BAR, he is that rarest of F1 entities: the pure racer.The former world champion has done a good job of playing down all the rumours about his future.

“It doesn’t help your work in the team, because it means a lot of people are stressed out. We are still concentrating on getting this car to go quick, and on getting results That is very important. But there will come a point when I will have to make a decision on what I want to do, but not until I have all the cards in my hand You want to know what you’re choosing from. You want to know where the teams are heading.”Meanwhile, David Coulthard is confident he can capitalise on his best start to a season and be crowned world champion this year.

The 29-year-old Scot believes that if his McLaren- Mercedes remains reliable he can thwart Michael Schumacher’s dream of bringing the title home to Ferrari after 21 long years. “This is the best position I’ve ever been in in terms of how close I am to leading the championship,” said Coulthard. “I just need the reliability I have had so far to continue because then I can go for the wins I need to topple Michael.”. St Helens have told two of their first-team players that they are to be released at the end of the season and invited them to find new clubs. Their full-back Paul Atcheson and their winger Chris Smith have both been regulars in the side when fit, but have been deemed surplus to Saints’ requirements. St Helens have told two of their first-team players that they are to be released at the end of the season and invited them to find new clubs. Their full-back Paul Atcheson and their winger Chris Smith have both been regulars in the side when fit, but have been deemed surplus to Saints’ requirements.
“Both players have been loyal to the club, but there are youngsters coming through in their positions,” said Saints’ football manager, Eric Hughes.

“We also have to think about staying within our salary cap.”Atcheson, aged 27, and the 24-year-old Smith both joined the club in 1998, from Oldham and Castleford respectively. Both are likely members of the Wales squad for this autumn’s World Cup, but Saints are blessed with plenty of emerging talent in the back-line.The versatile Paul Wellens has been preferred to Atcheson – who is injured in any event – at full-back, while, in the absence of Smith, who has had a hernia operation, and Kevin Iro, two other young players, Steve Hall and Tony Stewart, are likely to play in the three-quarters against Leeds tomorrow.Leeds recall Kevin Sinfield in place of David Barnhill, who is resting minor injuries, whilst Chev Walker continues in the centres for Richie Blackmore.Bottom club Huddersfield-Sheffield have failed in a bid to take Wigan’s Tony Smith on loan, but have secured their second-row forward, Darren Turner, until the end of 2002. Steve Molloy, their captain until recently, has been allowed to go to his home town club, Oldham, on a month’s loan.Huddersfield-Sheffield’s opponents at the McAlpine Stadium tomorrow, Hull, will have to manage without Will Robinson, who has broken a bone in his hand, as they try to consolidate in the top five. His half-back partner, the richly talented teenager Richard Horne, has pledged himself to Scotland for the World Cup, while the club’s Irish winger, Brian Carney, could be on his way to Wigan.Salford hope to have Martin Offiah and Neil Baynes back from hamstring injuries for the visit of the London Broncos, who have Greg Fleming back after a groin injury. Brett Warton has played so well at full-back during his absence that Fleming is brought back in the centres rather than his usual position.