Jacques Villeneuve on Thursday had lunch at a pub near the Norfolk (UK) headquarters of the new formula one team Lotus.
The 1997 world champion, who is openly hoping to re-enter the sport in 2010 after a three-year absence and has been training intensively in Austria, said earlier this month that he was in preliminary talks with the outfit.
The local Norwich Evening News said French Canadian Villeneuve, 38, ate a fillet steak at the Bird in Hand pub in the company of a Lotus executive.
Team boss Tony Fernandes said on Twitter earlier this week that he had landed in London on a Virgin flight from New York and would "Have to decide on 4 drivers for 2 seats".
Group Lotus confirmed that Villeneuve visited its Hethel headquarters.
"It has been a great day for me to catch up with my friend Gino Rosato in his new role at Lotus and to see where the magic of Lotus comes from," said the winner of 11 grands prix.
