Former world champion and SAUBER PETRONAS driver Jacques Villeneuve confesses that going flat out at Eau Rouge makes him feel proud, albeit knowing fully that pride is nothing more than a foolish sensation.

Describing the famed corner as the most exciting formula one has to offer, Eau Rouge’s technical downhill nature promotes a driver to go flat out around its corkscrew layout, and although in doing so doesn’t necessarily mean an improve laptime, it does however make a driver feel extremely proud of himself.

“Eau Rouge is probably the most exciting corner in modern F1,” confesses Jacques. “It has a little kink to the left and then you start turning right as the track starts going up. You pull a lot of g force through there and the car scrapes the ground, so you get a little bit sideways.

“At the same time you don’t see the exit of the corner so you’re just turning right and then suddenly you’re turning left and at that point the car gets very light. All that - flat out! It’s a really exciting corner to do. Going flat-out there doesn’t actually make your overall lap faster, but it does make you feel proud. Pride is stupid, but it is important!”

Going on to describe the flowing nature of Spa that blends in with the geography of the surrounding Ardennes region rather than purpose-built like most modern F1 tracks, Jacques likens it to driving back home in the mountains.

“Spa is a great track! I’ve got memories of some adventures there, though it’s never been lucky for me. It’s definitely a track where you can feel stronger than the rest if you go through the corners flat. It’s one of the last high-speed circuits that we have and it’s a very long lap. It’s got a good rhythm and it follows the layout of the land.

“You turn because there’s a mountain, so there’s a reason for the layout. It’s not like most modern tracks, which are like parking lots that you put cones around to create as many corners as you can with no logic or rhythm. This one has both. It’s like you’re driving to your house in the mountains!,” added Villeneuve.

The Canadian will start his qualifying run on Saturday in 10th courtesy of his 11th place finish in Monza. So far this season, Jacques have only managed to finish two points-paying races contributing 6 points in total with a fourth place finish in San Marino GP and an eighth in French GP.