Did Villeneuve deliberately stop on the same lap as Button?

The incident has further soured the already poor relations between the two drivers.

Button accused Villeneuve of "ruining his race" by pitting on the lap on which the Englishman was due in for his pit stop in Melbourne.

Villeneuve was supposed to come in on the lap before, but missed that stop and came in on the next lap - when Button was due in.

That resulted in both drivers pitting at the same time - and left Button sitting in the pit lane waiting for the team to service the other car.

Jacques came in on my lap and completely ruined my race Jenson Button

Villeneuve said he had "radio problems" which made it "very difficult to communicate" with the team.

But Button intimated that he did not believe him.

"Jacques came in on my lap and completely ruined my race. He said he was sorry but I'm not impressed," Button said.

And team boss David Richards hinted that he felt the same way when he said Villeneuve "seemed unable to hear his radio properly".

Villeneuve has regularly criticised Button during the winter, saying he does not respect him.

And the Canadian has also had his difficulties with Richards, who spent last year trying to get him to take a pay cut for 2003.

Driver profiles: Jacques Villeneuve Jenson Button

Both drivers also know they are heading into a season that could be crucial to their careers - Villeneuve is out of contract at the end of the year and Button has had two years in which he has been outpaced by his team-mates.