Jacques Villeneuve has admitted he is "flattered" by his talks with Lotus about the 2010 season, but insists no deal with the new Malaysian team has been done.
The 1997 world champion, as well as BMW-Sauber tester Christian Klien, met with Lotus' Mike Gascoyne in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.
Lotus is close to agreeing a deal with Jarno Trulli for next season, and Gascoyne has been quoted as saying he wants to appoint another experienced driver to occupy the second seat.
"It's very flattering to know that he said publicly that we have spoken," Villeneuve, who has been out of F1 since losing his BMW drive in mid-2006, told France's Rue Frontenac.
"The discussions are still only preliminary," the 38-year-old French Canadian added, "and we're not yet at the stage to talk about the details of a possible association."
Gascoyne has said Lotus wants to name its 2010 lineup by the end of November.
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