How to Build a Car: The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Formula 1 Designer

by Adrian Newey

Not long after, we were approached by representatives of Jacques Villeneuve, son of the late, great Gilles. Frank and Patrick decided to give Jacques a test at Silverstone in late July, early August. Having booked a holiday, I couldn’t be there, but we agreed that if Jacques was within one second of Damon’s benchmark time at Silverstone then we’d consider giving him another test. In the event, he was about 2sec off, so I assumed that was it and we wouldn’t bother evaluating him further. We didn’t. We signed him up. Or, should I say, Frank and Patrick signed him. On my return from holiday I called a meeting, wondering aloud why the hell we’d decided to sign Jacques when he was 2sec shy of Damon’s benchmark time; more to the point, I reminded them that we’d signed a new contract stating I was to be consulted on major policy decisions, with driver choice specifically named as being part of this. ‘You were in Barbados,’ they said, somewhat lamely. ‘But there are telephones. And faxes,’ I pointed out. They were sorry, Frank said. It was born out of a habit 25 years in the forming. But it wouldn’t happen again.