Jacques Villeneuve is ready for the new season which starts Friday in Melbourne (Australia). He wants to do better than last year and win onother championship title.

About One of his competitors, Michael Schumacher, he said: "I don't give a toss if Michael says this or that, or if he tries to muscle it out with me in some kind of eyeball-to-eyeball way because that stuff does not bother me. And he knows it won't work. We are not friends or anything like that anyway -- despite what some people have said. I am sick of Michael trying to claim that we are. I just see him as another driver, one of the guys I have to beat. I know my contest with Michael are going to be what a lot of people want to see this season. Well, I am ready for that. I'm ready to take on anyone at all who is competitive and I don't care if it is Michael or any other driver."

He also acknowledges the fact that it will be difficult with the new rules; narrower cars and grooved tyres: "It is going to be more difficult for everyone with the new rules. There will be more overtaking because of other people's mistakes and pure passing will be more difficult. But I do expect Michael Schumacher to be quick. Ferrari have done a lot of testing with their car so they should be well-prepared for the season. They will not have any excuses either this year which is good, too."

So what do the bookmakers think of Villeneuve's chances? (Ladbrokers London) M. Schumacher is on 15-8, Villeneuve on 5-2 and Hakkinen on 4-1.

In the constructors championship: Ferrari 13-8, McLaren 7-4, Williams 15-8, Benetton 16-1.

The Prost and Stewart team have gained some extra financial support. Prost has signed a three-year deal with Sodexho. Stewart has made a deal with the Scottish sports clothing company Sports Division.

The Prost car has yet to pass the final side impact crash test the evening before the first training session in Melbourne. Alain Prost said not be worried about this.