Jerez: Heidfeld moves closer to Renault seat

Nick Heidfeld took a step closer to a Lotus Renault drive when he set the fastest lap time at Jerez on Saturday

The German had been called up by the team to take part in a trial as they bid to find someone to fill in for the injured Robert Kubica.

And Heidfeld may have guaranteed his return to a F1 race-seat with his 1:20.361, which he clocked in the final hour of testing using the softer option Pirelli tyres.

Fernando Alonso had to settle for second place after leading the charge for the better part of the day. The Ferrari driver was 0.132s adrift of Heidfeld's best, having his set his time early in the morning when he was conducting qualifying style runs.

Michael Schumacher came home in third place with a 1:21.054. And although his time was seven-tenths slower than his P1 time from Friday, the Mercedes GP driver's lap times were a lot more consistent on his final day of testing for the week.

Lewis Hamilton put his McLaren MP4-26 up into fourth place, however, he managed just 36 laps. According to reports, it was a shortage of parts that kept the 2008 World Champ stuck in his garage for the better part of the day.

Kamui Kobayashi was next in line, the final driver to get within a second of Heidfeld's P1 time. However, it was a stop-start day for the Sauber driver as he brought out the red flags on two occasions, both due to problems with his C30.

Sebastian Vettel spent his day concentrating on short-distance runs, finishing in seventh place ahead of Sebastien Buemi.

"The team has done a good job moving on with the development of the car since I last drove it in Valencia," said Toro Rosso's Swiss driver.

"It is definitely better, although at the moment there is no point in talking about its performance level, as we are still working mainly on understanding everything about it."

Team Lotus' Heikki Kovalainen was next in line while Williams once again struggled with their KERS unit with Rubens Barrichello down in ninth place ahead of Paul di Resta, who had a late spin after earlier suffering with brake problems, and Virgin Racing rookie Jerome D'Ambrosio.

Times
01. Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault 1:20.361 86 laps
02. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:20.493 + 0.132 131 laps
03. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:21.054 + 0.693 114 laps
04. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.099 + 0.738 36 laps
05. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:21.242 + 0.881 84 laps
06. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:21.574 + 1.213 98 laps
07. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:21.681 + 1.320 92 laps
08. Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus 1:21.711 + 1.350 61 laps
09. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:22.227 + 1.866 99 laps
10. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:22.945 + 2.584 64 laps
11. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1:25.471 + 5.110 72 laps

Source: Planet-F1

Heidfeld and Senna in Lotus Renault shoot-out

Nick Heidfeld and Bruno Senna are set for a testing shoot-out to replace the injured Robert Kubica in the Lotus Renault team with the pair to be evaluated during the Jerez test

Heidfeld, who raced for Sauber towards the end of last season, had been seen as one of the favourites to replace Kubica, who is beginning a lengthy rehabilitation after being seriously hurt in a crash on the Ronde di Andora rally on Sunday.

Renault team owner Gerard Lopez hinted that Heidfeld or former Force India driver Tonio Liuzzi would drive for the team at Jerez, and 33-year-old Heidfeld has been given the nod to drive the R31 along with Senna on Saturday and Sunday as the team seek a team-mate to partner Vitaly Petrov.

A Lotus Renault statement read: "Lotus Renault GP has revised its driver line-up for this week's test session in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

"Vitaly Petrov will drive the R31 on Thursday and Friday, as originally scheduled. For Saturday and Sunday, the team will give mileage to Bruno Senna and will also evaluate Nick Heidfeld, who is a potential replacement for Robert Kubica as a race driver."

Senna, who along with Romain Grosjean is one of Lotus Renault's test drivers for the coming campaign, is seen as another potential replacement for Kubica, but the team are understood to be keen to move for an experienced driver to partner Petrov.

The Russian and Senna competed in Formula One for the first time last season, with the Brazilian enduring a particularly tough time at the struggling Hispania team.

Heidfeld, on the other hand, has been in the sport since racing for Prost in 2000, going on to have spells with Sauber, Jordan, Williams and BMW Sauber and racking up 172 starts.

Lotus Renault believe Petrov has plenty of potential, but his lack of development experience means Heidfeld would be a major asset to the squad, particularly as the R31 appears to be a competitive proposition, with Kubica topping the testing times with the new car in Valencia last week.

But Kubica is likely to miss the whole of the 2011 season after partially severing his right hand and suffering breaks to his elbow, shoulder and leg in his accident.

He has since undergone a seven-hour operation to re-attach his hand and was kept in an induced coma following the procedure.

The surgery to repair Kubica's hand has been hailed a success by specialist Igor Rossello.

"The operation was perfectly successful," he told Sky Italia.

"It's a great result because the operation was long and very complex."

Kubica, who took his only F1 win to date in Canada in 2008, will undergo further surgery on his leg and shoulder on Friday and Giorgio Barabino, head of intensive care at the Santa Corona hospital, said: "The phase of the final surgery operations is beginning: the double operation to foot and shoulder is planned for Friday morning, while the course of surgeries will end next week.

"The driver's right hand has completely stabilised. Now the delicate recovery of the functionalities begins."

Source: Planet-F1

Mercedes figure hints no test return for Heidfeld

Mercedes is talking to potential candidates to become the team’s test and reserve driver in 2011.

Before returning to the grid last year with Sauber, Nick Heidfeld started 2010 in the third role at Mercedes.

But the marque’s head of marketing Joachim Schmidt suggested that a non-German will be appointed for this season.

"We already have two German drivers," he told the Bietigheimer Zeitung newspaper, referring to the unchanged race line-up including Nico Rosberg.

"At the moment we are in conversation with potential candidates," added Schmidt.

Mercedes had a difficult first year away from long-time partner McLaren, finishing the constructors’ championship just fourth despite having Michael Schumacher on board.

But Schmidt insisted: "The financial burden, compared to when we were partnered with McLaren, is clearly lower.

"For us, because of the advertising revenue and the money from FOM, it is economically more attractive than before.

"For this reason, we have the backing of our workforce for our formula one engagement."

Source: Motorsport

Heidfeld confident he will stay in F1 next year

Nick Heidfeld's manager is confident his driver will be racing in Formula One next season, despite the recent news that his current position at Sauber will be occupied by rookie Sergio Perez in 2011.

Heidfeld will see out the rest of the season at Sauber after replacing Pedro de la Rosa at the Singapore Grand Prix. However, Perez will bring Telmex sponsorship to the team next year to secure a drive alongside Kamui Kobayashi, leaving Heidfeld to look elsewhere.

But his manager Andre Theuerzeit insists talks are underway with other teams and that Heidfeld was "not unprepared" for the Perez news.

"There are still cockpits available in Formula One for next season," Theuerzeit told the German news agency SID. "At the moment we are in negotiations and we are confident there will be a positive outcome."

The most desirable seat still up for grabs is at Renault, but the team principal Eric Boullier has played down suggestions Heidfeld's recent role with Pirelli gives him an advantage.

"That Nick Heidfeld should be first choice?" he mused in interview with F1's official website. "Because he sits on important information and would without doubt give them to his new team? I think that Pirelli will inform all the teams in due course."

Another driver confident of securing a 2011 race seat is GP2 driver Giedo van der Garde.

"There are concrete offers from two teams," van der Garde's manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen told Algemeen Dagblad. "We have received one contract we could sign immediately. But for that we need partners."

He added that HRT is not one of the teams in the running for van der Garde.

"It makes no sense to spend a lot of money on a seat if Giedo's career will be finished for the following year," said ten Hoopen. "It wouldn't be the first time it has happened to a driver."

He is hoping a deal can be finalised by F1's Abu Dhabi finale.

Source: ESPNF1

Exclusive Nick Heidfeld Q&A: I feel honoured to be back

At the recent Italian Grand Prix, Nick Heidfeld was a hot candidate for a 2011 drive because of his recent tyre testing for Pirelli. But just days later, Heidfeld is back racing again, replacing Pedro de la Rosa at BMW Sauber for 2010's remaining five Grands Prix. Even though he doesn’t know the C29 at all, and despite having completed very little mileage this year, the German is sure he can deliver in Singapore and keep his rookie team mate Kamui Kobayashi at bay…

Q: Nick, you hoped your duties for Pirelli would raise your chances of getting back into a cockpit for 2011 - but you’re back already. Why did it work out so quickly?
Nick Heidfeld: Well, with my role for Pirelli, it was always clear that it would raise my chances for a 2011 cockpit and the talks with BMW Sauber obviously did not start just a day before the announcement. There have always been talks and there always was a bit of hope throughout the season - with regards to other teams too. And as nothing came up I took the duty with Mercedes as reserve driver, clearly with the perspective to return to a cockpit at latest in 2011.

Q: So the focus was on 2011. Were you therefore surprised to regain a race seat this year?
NH: Sure, the focus was on 2011. What has happened now is something you can’t plan for. That doesn’t mean that getting a cockpit is not always in the back of your mind. And if a good seat comes along, you grab it with both hands. What is really surprising is the time span. It took less than two weeks to get me back into racing. That really was a jump start. Normally you join a team and undergo all preliminary actions like a simulation of the car, testing and so on. It takes weeks and weeks - and now everything happened in less than 14 days.

Q: Being a reserve driver must be one of the loneliest jobs over a race weekend. How did you cope with that situation?
NH: It was not easy, but it was a decision that I took because I wanted to be at the tracks, show my face, stay in the mind of people and have an eye on every opportunity that arises. It was very interesting to work with Mercedes - with Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher - to see how people who have had a lot of success in Formula One go about things. Hopefully I gained something from that.

Q: Do you feel sympathy for Pedro de la Rosa?
NH: Yes, very much so. He lives nearby in Switzerland and we meet from time to time and I got in contact with him pretty soon after it was decided. He took it very professionally and very well. He is a really nice guy, but he also knows how Formula One works and if I have the chance to get a cockpit I naturally grab it. I definitely would not say, ‘No thanks; it’s Pedro’s’.

Q: Why did you not start the season with the team?
NH: You’ll have to ask Peter (Sauber). We have been in talks and I was interested in joining the team but somehow we didn’t get together. That I am back now makes me feel somewhat honoured because the team knows me very well and if they didn’t know that I am good they wouldn’t have taken me onboard.

Q: Could it have been that Peter Sauber wanted to create a bit of distance between the old and the new?
NH: Without giving away too much I would say that Peter wanted a fresh start. I guess that was on his mind when he decided on his driver line-up.

Q: Could it be that Sauber somehow blamed the drivers for not giving better input on the car's development, which in the end led to BMW's withdrawal?
NH: I don’t think so. A car that is not so competitive is always a result of all the factors involved - not only the drivers - so I would not think that he would blame one driver for not working it out perfectly. He has been in Formula One for too long to not know that you achieve good results together - and you produce mistakes together. As I just said before I think he wanted a fresh start.

Q: What about your new car - the C29? How well do you know it after last season’s development work?
NH: I don’t really know it at all. It’s a new car. I know the structure, yes, and that helps. But with James Key there is a new technical director and he has changed quite a lot. And the tyres are completely different to those of last year, so what I will find on Friday is completely new to me. But I have so many seasons under my belt that I know what is important for a race weekend. What will immediately help is that I can most likely use last year’s seat and that the steering wheel layout is basically the same as last season’s. That should help me to get into the rhythm more quickly.

Q: How did you prepare for this weekend? Aside from the Pirelli drives, you haven’t been in a Formula One car much lately…
NH: It’s true, I haven’t driven the Mercedes car properly at all. I have only done some demos with it - but not on a proper track - and sure there were the Pirelli tests, but here again it was a different car and different tyres. Even so I hope that these test sessions sharpened my senses again and got me the feeling back. When I knew that that I would be racing in Singapore I immediately started to focus on the track layout. I walked the track yesterday to see any differences from last year. But basically there’s nothing too different from what I was used to in the past.

Q: You are teaming up with rookie Kobayashi, who has given the experienced De la Rosa a run for his money…
NH: Well, I don’t know Kamui very well. Just over the last week I have started to get to know him and I find him a very open, friendly and funny guy, with whom you should be able to cooperate very well. He has made a good name for himself in Formula One so I think it will be a good relationship. And competition is part of the business here so I really prefer it to have somebody who is pushing me…

Q: All eyes will be on you this weekend, so how will you cope with that?
NH: I am pretty convinced that I will be able to do a good job this weekend. How good? Let’s wait and see. I don’t know the car yet. This should not sound like an excuse, but we have seen with other drivers that getting into a new car is sometimes quite tricky. Sure the target is to beat Kamui, but that is normal team mate procedure. He would tell you the same about me. The expectations are clearly running quite high - not only in the paddock but also in the team. I like that. Because it shows that people believe in me. I am pretty comfortable with the situation, as in the past I usually performed well under pressure.

Q: After the remaining five races you will surely want more. How far advanced are talks about next year and where will you be?
NH: There are naturally talks with several teams - basically with all the teams that have a reasonable seat available. The top teams have no free cockpits anymore so it’s easy to guess to whom we are talking.

Q: Was it a bit of a risk to come back for these five races? You have the advantage of your Pirelli experience, but if these five races go badly that advantage might disappear. Are you worried about that?
NH: It was not at all on my mind and I don’t see it that way. I still think that having driven the Pirelli tyres is an advantage that has nothing to do with the races now. Sure it would probably have helped more to do more tests with the new tyres, but I wanted to race. I am sure that I will deliver.

Source: Formula1.com

Heidfeld excited at F1 return

Nick Heidfeld has expressed his excitement at getting back into Formula One, especially with the first race back being the Singapore Grand Prix.

"I can't wait to get back in the race car," said Heidfeld. "I'm not just very much looking forward to going racing again, as I regard it as a special bonus that my first race will be the Singapore Grand Prix. Two years ago this race immediately became one of my favourites."

Sauber has turned to Heidfeld as the replacement for Pedro de la Rosa for the remainder of the 2010 season and he is expecting the car to perform well this weekend.

"Of course I can hardly imagine how the circuit will suit the car as I haven't driven it yet, but according to everything I saw and from what I have heard, the performance should be better in Singapore compared to Monza. Another positive thing is we found out I probably can use my seat from last year.

"This does not only save a lot of work, but it also gives me a good feeling because it was a very good seat and normally you have to do a lot of fine tuning until it fits that well. I'm also very much looking forward to really getting to know James Key and my team-mate, Kamui [Kobayashi], and working with both of them."

Source: ESPNF1

GPDA chief Heidfeld admits Monaco Q1 split unlikely

Nick Heidfeld on Friday admitted it is unlikely the 'Q1' qualifying session will be split for next weekend's Monaco grand prix.

Some drivers have called for the split so as to prevent the traffic chaos of 24 cars - some with vastly different pace - all circulating the short and twisty street layout within a short 20-minute window.

But the FIA's Charlie Whiting reportedly told the drivers during their regular pre-race briefing in Barcelona that such a rule change would need to be unanimously proposed by the teams.

"We therefore hope that the teams will get together and make a proposal," Mercedes reserve Heidfeld, also the new president of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, told Motorsport-Magazin.com.

"I hope so, but honestly, I think that within a week it is a little difficult," acknowledged the German.

Source: F1 Complete

Heidfeld expecting third child

Nick Heidfeld is set to welcome a third child to his family.

The Mercedes reserve driver's wife Patricia is pregnant, according to the German newspaper Bild.

Domiciled in Stafa, Switzerland, they already have two young children, a daughter Juni (4) and son Joda (2).

"We're really looking forward to our third child," the veteran of 169 grands prix, who turns 33 in a few days, confirmed.

Source: F1 Complete

Hamilton defiant after criticism in drivers' briefing

Lewis Hamilton and his McLaren boss sounded defiant after the 25-year-old was chided by his fellow drivers on Friday.

In the wake of his weaving in front of Vitaly Petrov's Renault in Malaysia two weeks ago, some of Hamilton's rivals rallied to make clear their view that he should have received an actual penalty rather than a mere warning.

The drivers confronted Briton during a meeting late on Friday, and are believed to have pushed FIA race director Charlie Whiting to impose drive-through penalties for similar driving infractions in the future.

But Hamilton told British newspapers that he did nothing wrong.

"My feeling is that if you are defending into a corner and you weave more than once, that is illegal, but I am not aware that trying to break the tow was illegal," he said.

He also hinted that he felt his opponents had fixated on the Petrov incident.

"Maybe they should raise Mark Webber's incident in Melbourne. I didn't raise that," said Hamilton, referring to when the Australian driver drove into the back of his McLaren.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh defended Hamilton, insisting that the 2008 world champion is "entirely safe" despite racing "passionately", but new GPDA chairman Nick Heidfeld insists that weaving on straights should not be condoned.

"I don't know if it was dangerous in this case, but it can be in some circumstances," said the German.

Source: F1 Complete

Heidfeld: McLaren wanted me for F1 2010

Nick Heidfeld - out of a race seat in F1 2010 for the first time since making his top flight debut a decade ago - has revealed that he was 'very close' to signing for McLaren this year, and remains hopeful of rejoining the grand prix grid in 2011

Nick Heidfeld has revealed that he was 'very close' to agreeing terms to join McLaren-Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton in F1 2010, until Jenson Button's contractual impasse with Brawn GP suddenly released the reigning world champion onto the market and scuppered his German rival's chances at the eleventh hour.

Heidfeld was inarguably the unluckiest man of the 2009/10 'off' season, after being strongly linked with McLaren and Mercedes Grand Prix (formerly Brawn GP) – two of the four widely-anticipated front-runners this year – only to in the final reckoning be passed over by both. The Mönchengladbach native had also been in talks with Honda in 2008 to join what would turn out to be – against all odds – last year's double world champions Brawn, but his then employer BMW put a stop to that by taking up its option on him.

The McLaren and Mercedes snub left the experienced 32-year-old with few remaining possibilities for the forthcoming campaign, and he ultimately elected to join Mercedes anyway, only as test and reserve driver, bringing to an end – either permanently or, he hopes, temporarily – his decade-long competitive career at the highest level.

The move also means Heidfeld will be working alongside the man who pipped him to the Stuttgart manufacturer's second seat this year, multiple world champion returnee Michael Schumacher – but explaining that he bears his record-breaking countryman no rancour, 'Quick Nick' added that he is keeping himself fully in-shape in case the opportunity presents itself to return to the cockpit on a grand prix weekend, either in 2010 or 2011...

“McLaren wanted to have me,” the man reckoned most likely to succeed Sauber recruit Pedro de la Rosa as the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) told Sport Bild. “The negotiations were very close to a conclusion, and [after that fell through] I decided [to wait] for Mercedes.

“When we (he and Schumacher) saw one another at the Jerez test for the first time, he in a way apologised to me that he had taken the place. It was a nice gesture, but if the reverse had been true, I would have done the same.

“For 2011 I see a good chance of getting back a race seat, but for the moment, I am concentrated on my role at Mercedes. What comes as a result, we will see.”

Source: Crash.net

Schumacher apologised to Heidfeld after Merc seat clash

Michael Schumacher apologised for taking the race seat he was hoping to occupy in 2010, Nick Heidfeld has revealed.

With Schumacher returning to F1 this year, the German pair are united this year at Mercedes GP, with 32-year-old Heidfeld in the reserve role.

But prior to the seven time world champion Schumacher deciding to come back to F1 after three years in retirement, Heidfeld was the favourite for the Mercedes race seat, after putting his talks with McLaren on the back burner.

"McLaren wanted to have me," Heidfeld, who is tipped to succeed Pedro de la Rosa as the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, revealed in an interview with Sport Bild.

"The negotiations were very close to a conclusion," he said.

But then Jenson Button's talks with Brawn broke down amid the Mercedes takeover, the Briton switched to McLaren, and Schumacher accelerated his talks with Ross Brawn.

Heidfeld was the loser of the deal, but he still had talks in the works with other teams.

"But I decided (to wait) for Mercedes," he explained, also revealing that he would probably have signed with Brawn for 2009, had BMW not taken up its option on him.

When the rumours about Schumacher's comeback hit boiling point, Heidfeld got on the phone with the 41-year-old German and realised he was serious about returning.

"When we saw one another at the Jerez test for the first time, he in a way apologised to me that he had taken the place. It was a nice gesture, but if the reverse was true, I would have done the same," Heidfeld said.

He said he has maintained a normal training regime and is completely ready to drive the W01 car if required.

"For 2011 I see a good chance of getting back a race seat," Heidfeld insisted.

"For the moment I am concentrated on my role at Mercedes. What comes as a result, we will see," he said.

Source: Motorsport

Reserve role for Heidfeld at Mercedes GP

Mercedes GP confirmed on Thursday that Nick Heidfeld is to join the team as their reserve and test driver for the 2010 Formula One season. Heidfeld, who raced for BMW Sauber from 2006-09, joins fellow Germans Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg in the squad’s line-up.

"I am very pleased to be joining the Mercedes Formula One Team,” said the 32 year-old. “It's the team which has attracted the most interest in the off 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."

Like Schumacher, Heidfeld is another former Mercedes Junior who returns to his motorsport roots. After winning the 1997 German Formula Three Championship as a junior driver supported by Mercedes, he tested a McLaren Mercedes Formula One car for the first time. He became the team’s test driver for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, during which time he enjoyed two successful years in Formula 3000, as runner-up in 1998 and champion in 1999.

Heidfeld 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, Heidfeld has achieved 12 podium finishes.

"It's a great pleasure for us to have signed a driver of the calibre and experience of Nick as our reserve race driver and test driver for the 2010 season,” said Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn. “Nick has over ten years of experience in Formula One working with established teams and he will be a great asset to the team. I am confident that his input into the development of our MGP W01 car will be invaluable. We look forward to welcoming Nick and working closely with him."

Norbert Haug, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, added: "To sign Nick 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: Formula1.com