Comments on: Heidfeld running out of options

By: Artur

Artur — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:58:01 +0000

Heidfeld joins ‘Team Germany’ at Mercedes
23 January 2010

After Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher the Mercedes Grand Prix team has signed up former BMW Sauber F1 driver Nick Heidfeld. The German became the team’s test and reserve driver as of this season his manager confirmed.

On Monday, 25 January, Nick Heidfeld will be presented to the invited guests and media during at Mercedes´ team launch in Stuttgart. Speaking about his upcoming challenge as the team’s test and reserve driver his manager Andre Theuerzeit told German magazine Bild: “Nick (Heidfeld) will fully concentrate on supporting the team’s main drivers as the team’s test and reserve driver. Nick focused on a seat with one of the top teams but unfortunately we were unable to sign him up.”e

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:40:58 +0000

I have not heard the rumours about Heidfeld’s salary demand. I would be disappointed if Nick were to be holding out for so much money. Indeed it seems to be higher that what he was earning at BMW Sauber. Nick was the only driver who was publically sympathetic to the idea that F1 drivers should expect salary cuts.

See http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/01/26/heidfeld-argues-for-driver-pay-cuts/

I do not think there has been interview I have heard where Nick has not expressed sympathy for workers at the Sauber factory and job lay offs.

This rumour is so out of character for F1′s most level-headed driver.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:33:18 +0000

It becomes really difficult to start including race finishes for standardisation of your analysis. Nick makes very few driver errors and in fact over three seasons has not caused a single race accident (Singapore was entirely Sutil’s problem). Most Heidfeld fans will concede that Robert is very good and I consider the two drivers to be different but equal in driver ability. Taken further I would like to see both drivers at Renault as I think their combined skills would build the team up more than any other available driver combination.

By: Artur

Artur — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:07:10 +0000

I rather u keep your hand no matter what happens:-) but lets wait and see what happns afterall its up to the drivers to perform providing they have a good package with the car

By: Cyclops

Cyclops — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:58:08 +0000

If the rumors from Renault camp are true, Heidfeld demands 5 million per season, if he doesn’t get the money he prefers the reserve seat in MGP. No wonder Sauber didn’t take him. And I will not feel sorry for him, if his greed leaves him without racing seat.

By: Cyclops

Cyclops — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:55:01 +0000

If you take those 3 years, it’s true – Heifdeld’s average is slightly better (2,69 to Kubica’s 2,56). Then again, if you count only those races they completed it’s again Kubica (3,04 to 2,91 of Heidfeld).

You have to admit, that there is no reason to give Heidfeld the credit for being better, no matter If you take pure numbers or the circumstances into account. The broader perspective you take, the better Kubica looks. And I can have my hand cut off, If at the end of his career Kubica doesn’t get better than Heidfeld both in terms of statistics and fans’ and f1 experts’ memories.

By: Cyclops

Cyclops — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:37:09 +0000

I counted career-long averages.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:01:57 +0000

Cyclops – you better look up you stats they are wrong. In the last three years of racing together Nick has scored more points per race start than Robert.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:52:14 +0000

Remember the BMW Sauber was re-designed without KERS mid year- if you look at results from Spa onwards you can see how they compare to each other – Robert more highs and lows – Nick more consistent results. In truth Nick had terrible luck in the latter part – the ballast at Singapore put him on the back of the grid, the very slow pit stop at Japan allowed Kimi to jump him (then Nico with his speeding under the yellow flag) and the fuel issue at Brazil. Without this bad luck it is possible Nick could have scored in each race from Spa onwards. On balance Nick was marginally better than Robert in 2009.

Nick is obviously the only driver that Renault are going to get that has the potential to push Robert. The issue is not about driving skill it is about money.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:38:28 +0000

I often seen that Nick does not have the raw pace. This is only really true in qualifying. While team mates with Robert Nick has two fastest laps to his credit and Robert none. Is this one measure of raw pace? This year Robert’s grid positions were better, but if you fuel correct these you will see that their pace was very close to each other. They produce very similar results despite Robert being a yo yo and Nick being a metronome.