News
02.04: Nick confirmed at Mercedes GP
MERCEDES GP PETRONAS is pleased to confirm that Nick Heidfeld will join the team as Reserve Race Driver and Test Driver for the 2010 Formula One season. Nick will therefore complete the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver line-up with race drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.
Like Michael Schumacher before him, Nick is another former Mercedes Junior who returns to his motorsport roots. After winning the 1997 German Formula 3 Championship, as a junior driver supported by Mercedes, Nick tested a McLaren Mercedes Formula One car for the first time.
Nick was the McLaren Mercedes test driver for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, during which time he had two successful years in Formula 3000, as runner-up in 1998 and winning the Formula 3000 Championship, held alongside the Formula One races, in 1999.
Nick began his Formula One career with the Prost team in 2000 and since then has participated in 167 Grands Prix driving for Sauber (2001-2003), Jordan (2004), Williams (2005) and BMW Sauber (2006-2009). He had his best Formula One season in 2007 when he finished in fifth position in the World Championship. To date in his Formula One career, Nick has achieved 12 podium finishes.
Nick Heidfeld: “I am very pleased to be joining the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team. It’s the team which has attracted the most interest in the close season, not only because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher, but also because this season sees the return of the Silver Arrows cars as a Mercedes-Benz works team for the first time in over fifty years. Whilst I would of course have preferred a seat as an active driver, I am really proud to be part of the new Silver Arrows team. I have seen how committed everyone at the team is and I feel the same. I will be doing my very best to support Michael and Nico this year.”
Ross Brawn, Team Principal: “It’s a great pleasure for us to have signed a driver of the calibre and experience of Nick Heidfeld as our Reserve Race Driver and Test Driver for the 2010 season. Nick has over ten years of experience in Formula One working with established teams and he will be a great asset to MERCEDES GP PETRONAS. I am confident that his input into the development of our MGP W01 car will be invaluable. We look forward to welcoming Nick to MERCEDES GP PETRONAS and working closely with him.”
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “To sign Nick Heidfeld as Reserve Race Driver and Test Driver for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team means another re-enforcement for our team. We have known each other for many years and Nick was supported by our junior drivers programme from 1997. During his 10 years in Formula One, circumstances often made it difficult for him to achieve his breakthrough. However Nick is extremely capable, he will be an asset to our team and he will show this.”
Source: Mercedes GP
Posted on 04 Feb 2010 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
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01.05: Nick Heidfeld still confident of F1 drive
Nick Heidfeld has conceded that Michael Schumacher's comeback hurt his own Formula 1 chances for 2010 - but remains upbeat he can secure a good option for his long-term future in the next few weeks.
The German had been favourite to land a seat at Mercedes GP if negotiations between the team and Schumacher had not been successful.
However, Schumacher's surprise F1 return has left Heidfeld facing an uncertain future – with speculation now linking him with both Renault or even a third-driver role at Mercedes.
Writing on his website, Heidfeld said that Schumacher's decision had hit him – but he said he had no bitter feelings about the situation.
"Of course over the holidays my current job situation did not let go of me, even after Michael Schumacher's decision was published just before Christmas," he said. "This is certainly a great thing for Formula 1 and I wish good luck to Michael and Mercedes.
"This decision affects me directly because it means there is a relevant less space for next year. I am not naive when I say, especially after the past few weeks, a lot of unexpected things can happen in Formula 1."
Heidfeld said he would continue to push hard to find a seat for 2010 – and made it clear his focus was on going somewhere that would be best for his long-term career.
"Now we have to look forward and focus on the best long-term option for my future in Formula 1. I will continue to train hard, conduct talks with the appropriate people and to challenge my chance with all my might," he said.
"I hope in the coming weeks to be able to announce something concrete about my future plans."
Source: Autosport
Posted on 05 Jan 2010 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
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11.14: Nick Heidfeld optimistic he’ll race again
To say that BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld endured a difficult 2009 would be something of an understatement. Not only did he score less than a third of the points he clinched the previous year, he also received the shock news that BMW were to withdraw from Formula One racing at the end of the season. A decision that put his future in Formula One under threat, Heidfeld found it difficult to swallow.
“When the phone call came, I could scarcely believe it,” explained the German on his official website. “It took a while for the reality to sink in. My reaction will been fairly typical, especially because all the members of the team were on holiday and the factory was closed. Everyone had to wait a couple of weeks without knowing or being able to ask what the future held. That was a bad time.”
Although BMW have found new buyers for the team, they currently do not have an entry slot for the 2010 championship. That could yet change, following news of Toyota’s pullout, but for now both the team’s and Heidfeld’s F1 fate remain uncertain.
“Clearly there were many factors to take into account,” he added. “But all the same, it's such a tremendous pity. BMW set out to win the Formula One title and I think we could have achieved that goal. Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Sauber get a place on the grid in 2010.”
Although his tally of 19 points and 13th in the final standings look relatively meagre on paper when compared to his 2008 haul of four podiums and 60 points, Heidfeld is hopeful that teams still seeking a 2010 driver will look beyond the numbers and recognise his previous achievements and depth of experience.
“I'm not dissatisfied with my performance in 2009, as I feel that I generally got the maximum out of the car I was given,” he concluded. “But when you're battling for victories and podiums, people look only at the statistics - in the media at least. Fortunately, the people who run the teams can see beyond that. So all in all, I'm quite optimistic about the future.”
Heidfeld, who made his F1 debut with Prost in 2000, is one of the most experienced drivers on the market, and while he has yet to win a race, he has racked up 12 podiums, one pole and 219 points over his 10-year career.
Source: Formula1.com
Posted on 14 Nov 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
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[AUCTION] Nick Racing Suit being auctioned
 The Youth Sports of Plouguenast located in the Cotes d'Armor in Brittany, is organizing an auction closing Saturday, December 5, 2009, to celebrate its 10th anniversary and for this year's Téléthon.
The starting bid price is of only 15 euros, and the items are all related to sports, including a signed Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber racing suit. To check the itens and know how to bid, click here.
All money collected will be fully repaid to the AFM (French Association against Myopathies).
Posted on 10 Nov 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
News
11.06: Raikkonen demands to send McLaren Heidfeld way?
The ongoing discrepancy between Kimi Raikkonen's wage demands and the salary that his most likely F1 2010 employer McLaren-Mercedes is willing to pay him could drive the Woking-based outfit to look to out-of-work BMW-Sauber refugee Nick Heidfeld instead – as it emerged that the Finn might do better financially by taking a year off.
Due to having been forced to terminate Raikkonen's contract a year ahead of schedule, Ferrari promised to pay the 18-time grand prix-winner €17 million if he does not compete in F1 in 2010, or €10m if he does. To that end, German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reports that McLaren is offering a deal of just €5 million, reasoning that his total would thereby be a still more-than-acceptable €15 million – but the 30-year-old's management team of Steve and David Roberston is said to be unwilling to budge on its demands, as well as the stipulation that Raikkonen has to attend fewer sponsor days than would be the norm.
Should no agreement be forthcoming, it is being mused that of all the other names mooted as potential team-mates to 2008 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton – assuming, as is widely anticipated, that Heikki Kovalainen is not retained for a third consecutive season at the multiple title-winning concern – Heidfeld is near to the top of the list, with team principal Martin Whitmarsh having told spox.com that in his opinion the experienced German is perhaps the most underrated driver on the grid.
Heidfeld himself has admitted that he is 'not ruling out any team' in the wake of BMW's withdrawal, and should 'Quick Nick' indeed join McLaren, it would doubtless please engine-partner Mercedes-Benz and represent a deserved boost for the oft-overlooked man from Mönchengladbach.
Source: Crash
Posted on 06 Nov 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
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11.02: Nick gets F1 car from Peter Sauber
Nick Heidfeld had an emotional last few laps with BMW Sauber on Sunday, but a post-race gesture by the team's founder might have cheered him up.
The Hinwil-based team's owner BMW now departs Formula One, and although bought by the Qadbak consortium, Sauber does not have a guaranteed entry to return to the grid in 2010.
Heidfeld raced for Sauber's privateer team in 2001-2003, before returning to the Swiss camp for the start of the BMW era four years ago.
"It now becomes very emotional," said Heidfeld after finishing fifth and ensuring the team move ahead of his former team Williams in the standings. "During the last laps I had to pull myself together in order to keep my concentration.
"
The team signed off on Sunday night by revealing that Heidfeld is to receive a special parting gift.
"As a thank you for Nick Heidfeld's seven years of great commitment to the team in Hinwil, Peter Sauber is giving him a Formula One car from this era," the team said.
Source: F1-live
Posted on 02 Nov 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
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[RACE] "I was able to get maximum out of car"
Nick Heidfeld: “I am very happy with my fifth place. It was a good race in which I was able to get the maximum out of the car and score four points, which was enough to reach our target for the end of the season to overtake Williams in the constructors’ championship. After I have been a little unlucky in recent races, this time I was really able to exploit the car’s potential. For quite a long period I was able to go at the same speed as the world champion’s car, the Brawn. The strategy to go for a rather long stint paid off and the track was even more fun when it had more rubber on it. It is a pleasing end to our last season together. It now becomes very emotional. During the last laps I had to pull myself together in order to keep my concentration.”
Posted on 01 Nov 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
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[RACE] Nick finish 5th in first Abu Dhabi race
1. Vettel Red Bull Renault 1h 34:03.314
2. Webber Red Bull Renault + 17.857
3. Button Brawn-Mercedes + 18.467
5. Heidfeld BMW Sauber + 26.253
Posted on 01 Nov 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
News
[QLF] "For last race i hope we get good result"
Nick Heidfeld“I think my eighth position is alright. On the last lap there was a small chance to improve, but I had traffic with Mark Webber in front of me, and anyway there is no guarantee this lap would have been faster. If I take the fuel load into account, I’m happy with my grid position although I only really know the fuel load for our cars. The tyres seem to last here remarkably well, which means it could pay off if you stay out for longer. The light from the setting sun was a bit brighter than yesterday, but the circuit is built in such a way that you have to deal with it in only one corner, which anyway is flat. For our last race tomorrow I hope for all of us we can achieve a good result with points for both cars.”
Posted on 31 Oct 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
News
[QLF] Nick qualify on 8th place
1. Hamilton McLaren Mercedes
2. Vettel Red Bull Renault
3. Webber Red Bull Renault
8. Heidfeld BMW Sauber
Posted on 31 Oct 2009 by NickHeidfeld.ORG
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