JV: Sweet to score.

Jacques Villeneuve finally came good at Imola on Sunday, featuring in the battle for points right from the start of the San Marino Grand Prix, and finally claiming his first scoring finish since making a return to the top flight with Renault in 2004.

Whilst the Canadian probably wishes he was still with the regie following its four-from-four start to 2005, his Sauber campaign finally began to bear fruit following some serious testing and the arrival of the first products from the development programme back at base.

"We didn't know that we would have so much improvement in the car when we arrived here this weekend, and that has really helped," Villeneuve commented after leap-frogging team-mate Felipe Massa in the point standings, "I thoroughly enjoyed my race."

Battling in the packing chasing pack immediately behind early leaders Raikkonen, Alonso and Button, Villeneuve's confidence was such that he considered pulling the sort of move that characterised his early seasons in the category.

"I had a good fight with [Mark] Webber and although, when he ran wide he tried to come back on, I was able to get by. If I had been another ten centimetres further forward, I would have taken the risk with [Alex] Wurz at the same time, but it was early in the race and would have been touch-and-go."

The Canadian was quick to praise the efforts of the Sauber team, both on the track and back at Hinwil, where the aero department had been hard at work in the windtunnel since Bahrain.

"Having the improvements also permitted me more freedom from the team in setting the car up the way I like, and that played its part," he stressed, "This has been a good weekend and everything and everyone is more positive. I've had a hell of a time this year, so it's sweet to score these points while making a point of my own."