Template:F1 driver Nick Heidfeld, frequently referred to as Quick Nick,[1] (born May 10 1977) is a German Formula One auto racing driver for the BMW Sauber factory team. He lives in Stafa, Switzerland with his girlfriend Patricia and daughter, Juni (born July 2005). They are expecting their second child at the end of July 2007.
Early career
Heidfeld was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and began racing in 1988. In 1994, he moved into the German Formula Ford series, and gained widespread attention by winning 8 of the 9 races to take the title. In 1995, he won the German International Formula Ford 1800 Championship, and came second in the Zetec Cup. This led to a drive in the German International Formula 3 championship for 1996, where he finished third after taking 3 wins. The following year, Heidfeld won the German F3 Championship, including a win at the prestigious Monaco event. In 1998, he won three races and was runner-up in the European Formula 3000 Championship with the West Junior Team. At the final race of the season he was demoted to the back of the grid from pole position, after his team used a non-compliant fuel. He finished the race ninth and out of the points, losing the championship by seven points to Juan Pablo Montoya. During that season, he was also the official test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team. In 1999, he won the International Formula 3000 Championship. He also holds the official track record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Formula One career
Heidfeld was signed as a race driver for the Prost Grand Prix F1 team for the 2000 season, alongside Jean Alesi. Heidfeld struggled with his new car. He suffered a string of retirements and came to blows with team mate Jean Alesi on more than one occasion. He departed Prost at the end of that season. Shortly after he signed a three-year contract with Sauber for 2001, partnered with rookie driver Kimi Räikkönen. After the announcement of Mika Häkkinen's retirement, many thought that Heidfeld would replace him in the McLaren team, as he had outperformed Räikkönen over the year, including a podium position in the Brazilian Grand Prix. However, the seat went to Räikkönen, and Heidfeld stayed with Sauber for 2002 and 2003. At the end of 2003, Heidfeld was dumped from the team and looked to be without a race seat for the 2004 season. However, after a number of moderately successful tests, it was announced that Heidfeld would race with the Jordan Grand Prix team, alongside rookie Giorgio Pantano. During the winter of 2004-2005, Heidfeld tested with the Williams team, in a 'shootout' against Antônio Pizzonia for the second race seat. At the Williams launch on January 31, it was announced that Heidfeld would be a race driver for the team in 2005.[2]
At the seventh race of the 2005 season at the Nürburgring circuit, his home Grand Prix, Heidfeld took his first ever pole position. He also achieved his best position to-date (2nd) with Williams in Monaco, which he equalled at the Nurburgring.
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Heidfeld missed the Italian and Belgian Grands Prix due to injuries suffered in a testing accident. Scheduled to come back for Brazil, he was injured again when hit by a motorbike when out cycling, and therefore forced to sit out the rest of the season.
Heidfeld gained a contract with his then current team's (Williams) engine supplier, BMW, who bought the Sauber team and entered Formula One as BMW Sauber for the 2006 Formula One season. The contract is believed to be for two years, with an option for a third, in 2008.
During 2006 Heidfeld scored points several times for his new team. At Melbourne he was running as high as second until the safety car came out. He eventually finished 4th. At Indianapolis, he was eliminated in a spectacular first lap accident which saw fellow drivers, Scott Speed, Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya also go out. Heidfeld's car was launched into a triple barrel roll, the first of his career and the second of the season (Christijan Albers suffered one at the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix). He and the other drivers all walked away unharmed. The Hungarian Grand Prix saw Heidfeld give BMW Sauber their first podium and best result of the year when he finished 3rd. He drove from 10th on the grid to finish on the podium.
At the end of 2006, Heidfeld was quoted as going on the verbal attack against media oversaturation of the talent of teammate Robert Kubica, despite scoring more points than the Pole.[3] This has happened three times in the German's career, in 2001 when he was teammates with Kimi Räikkönen (by season's end he beat the Finn by 12 points to 9) and in 2002 when he was teammates with Felipe Massa (beating Massa by 7 points to 4); Räikkönen and Massa form the 2007 Ferrari line-up.
Heidfeld has started the 2007 Formula One season strongly. In Bahrain, he chased down and overtook reigning world champion Fernando Alonso, finishing half a minute ahead of his BMW teammate Kubica. He has scored three fourth places, a sixth and a second place at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he also out-qualified both Ferraris, equaling his best ever finish to a Formula 1 race. He currently lies one point behind fourth placed Kimi Raikkonen in the championship with 26 points.
On 28 April 2007, Heidfeld drove 3 demonstration laps around the Nürburgring's legendary 14 mile Nordschleife track, which made him the first driver in 31 years to pilot a current F1 car there. About 45,000 spectators had shown up for the show which was held after a 4 hour VLN endurance race.
Heidfeld's future is not yet known. BMW have an option in his contract for a third year, but many believe that young German Sebastian Vettel (currently BMW's third driver) is being primed for a BMW race seat for 2008. Robert Kubica is considered a promising talent for the future by the BMW management, so it would be highly unlikely that he would be taken out of his race seat. Ralf Schumacher has also been linked to a BMW drive for 2008, with rumours that Heidfeld could take his seat at Toyota. However, Nick has reasserted his claim to a 2008 race seat with the team with P3 qualifying positions in both the Australian and Canadian Grand Prix, and by taking BMW's best ever result with second place at the latter race.
Career history
| Year | Series | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karting (1986 - 1993) | |||
| 1988 | Club Championship, Kerpen-Mannheim | ||
| 1990 | Nordrhein-Westfalen DMV Kart Championship | Champion | |
| 1991 | Member ADAC junior kart squad | Qualified to take part in European and World Championships. | |
| 1992 | German Junior Kart Championship | 5th | |
| Formula (since 1993) | |||
| 1993 | Formula A World Championship | ||
| 1994 | German Formula Ford 1600 | Champion | 8 wins of 9 starts |
| 1995 | International German Formula Ford 1800 | Champion | |
| German Formula Ford | Runner-up | ||
| 1996 | German Formula Three Championship | 3rd | 138 points, 3 wins, 6 podia, 1 pole position, 6 fastest laps with Opel Team BSR |
| 1997 | German Formula Three Championship | Champion | 224 points, 5 wins, 11 podia, 2 pole position, 7 fastest laps with Opel Team BSR |
| 1998 | Formula 3000 | Runner-up | 58 points, 3 wins, 7 podia, 2 pole position, 3 fastest laps |
| 1999 | Formula 3000 | Champion | 59 points, 4 wins, 7 podia, 4 pole positions, 6 fastest laps with West Competition Team |
| Formula One Tests | with Prost-Peugeot and McLaren-Mercedes | ||
Complete Formula One results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
*Season in progress.
References
- ^ "Quick Nick puts Sauber traction in action". Grandprix.com. 2001-04-05. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Williams give Heidfeld his chance". BBC Sport. 2005-01-31. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Heidfeld denies Kubica rift". Planet-F1.com. 2007-01-09. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
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External links
