Niki Lauda backs Jacques Villeneuve for Japan

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from f1central:

Formula One can expect more from Jacques Villeneuve in Japan and Brazil, former triple world champion Niki Lauda said in Shanghai.

The Austrian great, whose achievements include setting up an airline and running the Jaguar team in 2002, said Villeneuve - also a former champ - put in a 'normal' performance in his first grand prix in a year.

Lauda told UK newspaper Guardian: ''Nothing special from Jacques (on Sunday), but you have to bear in mind that Formula One is very competitive now.''

Himself once a fearless driver, who still wears the facial scars of a near-fatal shunt in 1976, Lauda reckons the grand prix car has come a long way even since JV's last drive, at Indianapolis, 2003.

''And he doesn't really know (the Renault). He did the right thing to come back now, bearing in mind his (Sauber) contract for next year.''

Villeneuve, 33, looked exhausted after the race -- sweat poured from his brow and his hands trembled due to a physical exertion he has tried to emulate away from the race track.

He was surprised by the race's early pace. ''It used to start slow,'' said Jacques, ''and then increase. That caught me out. I don't think we will have any problems in Japan, though.''