 |
| Team |
BMW Sauber |
| Nationality |
German |
| Podiums |
7 |
| Points |
140 |
| Grand Prix entered |
134 |
| World Championships |
0 |
| Highest race finish |
3rd |
| Pole Positions |
1 |
| Date of Birth |
10/05/1977 |
| Place of Birth |
Monchengladbach |
|
 |
Eight seasons and 132 grands prix into his Formula 1 career, Nick Heidfeld has never been in a stronger position than at the start of 2008.
The quiet German was a revelation as he spearheaded BMW's breakthrough 2007 season – relentlessly racking up the points and podiums that took the rising squad to second in the constructors' table.
Heidfeld has always been respected within F1, but was rarely regarded as a potential superstar and seemed destined to become the archetypal midfield underdog.
Those perceptions began to change as he went wheel-to-wheel with the likes of Fernando Alonso in early 2007.
He maintained his trademark solid consistency, but showed he could be an extremely feisty racer when his machinery allowed.
Heidfeld also comfortably shaded his team-mate Robert Kubica for most of the year, a vital achievement given that Kubica's explosive F1 debut in mid-2006 had initially left Heidfeld on the ropes.
BMW is aiming for victories in 2008 – a goal that will require both the team and Heidfeld to raise their game further.
With determination in abundance and plenty of momentum from last year, don't bet against this understated 30-year-old finally becoming an F1 winner this season.
Career log
Last year wasn't the first time that Heidfeld has revitalised his F1 career.
A dispiriting, point-less, rookie season with the abysmal 2000 Prost-Peugeot would have crushed a lesser driver, but Heidfeld restored his reputation by leading Sauber to a best-ever fourth in the constructors' standings in 2001.
He was then deeply hurt when McLaren-Mercedes snapped up his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen to replace Mika Hakkinen even though Heidfeld had out-scored the Finn and been a Mercedes protégé in his teens.
After two quieter seasons with Sauber, 2004 saw Heidfeld switch to the ailing Jordan team, where his 'never say die' attitude took him to a couple of unlikely points finishes in an outdated chassis.
At last his achievements in uncompetitive cars began to get noticed, and Heidfeld beat Antonio Pizzonia to a 2005 Williams-BMW drive after a tense testing shoot-out.
Williams was in the middle of a slump, but it was still in better shape than any of Heidfeld's previous squads, and he grabbed the opportunity by taking three podium finishes and his first pole.
Injuries from a cycling accident sidelined Heidfeld in late August, and during his lay-off he signed for BMW's new factory team – which brought his Williams sojourn to an early end.
BMW-Sauber proved to be Heidfeld's ideal home, and a steady development season paved the way for the breakthrough of 2007.
The early years
Ironically given his current involvement with BMW, Heidfeld's path to F1 was bankrolled by the company's arch-rival Mercedes.
He caught the manufacturer's eye while in Formula Ford, then proceeded to win the 1997 German Formula 3 title while impressing in regular F1 tests for McLaren.
This prompted McLaren-Mercedes to create a junior team in Formula 3000 especially for Heidfeld.
He narrowly lost the title to Juan Pablo Montoya in his rookie season, before crushing the opposition in 1999 and duly earning a shot at F1.
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