After a bitter end to his spell at BAR, Jacques Villeneuve was left without a drive ahead of the 2004 season and forced to take a sabbatical. Still eager to race in F1, the 1997 world champion was delighted to receive a late call-up from Renault and replace the Toyota-bound Jarno Trulli for the final three races of the year. Villeneuve’s return coincided with Formula One’s maiden visit to China and by the time he reached Shanghai the French-Canadian already had a race seat secured at Sauber for 2005. Now, that’s what you call a pretty slick comeback.
