BMW has confirmed that Nick Heidfeld will drive for the Munich-owned F1 team, formerly known as Sauber, next year… Could the German’s imminent departure from Williams explain his current (extended) absence from the FW27’s cockpit?
BMW has confirmed that Nick Heidfeld will drive for the Munich-owned F1 team, formerly known as Sauber, next year… Could the German’s imminent departure from Williams explain his current (extended) absence from the FW27’s cockpit?
Heidfeld, 28, has signed a three-year deal with BMW and the team announced at the weekend: “This fills the first cockpit in the new team run by BMW”. The team did, however, not mention Jacques Villeneuve (the 1997 World Champion has publicly voiced his assumption that he would be retained by the Sauber’s new management).
“We are very pleased that Nick will be with us in what will undoubtedly be a difficult initial phase,” said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen. “He is not simply a fast and courageous driver, he is also an analytical and meticulous worker. Nick already knows the two sites in Munich and Hinwil.”
Heidfeld, who secured his first F1 pole position in May and finished second in the Monaco and European Grands Prix, added: “As far as I’m concerned, this represents the fulfilment of a big dream. I have a great deal of respect for the work carried out in Hinwil since 2001. Naturally, I’m not expecting a miracle during the first season after a new start in 2006. But I’m confident that the new team will be successful in the long term.”
Theissen recently revealed that he asked Michael Schumacher if he wanted to switch to BMW in 2007. “I would be negligent if I did not speak to the best drivers,” Theissen said. “I have, however, the impression that Michael wants to end his career with Ferrari.”
Meanwhile, Heidfeld’s manager has said that the German would not contest this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. Werner Heinz said Heidfeld, who was substituted by Williams-BMW test driver Antonio Pizzonia at Monza and Spa Francorchamps, suffered injuries (a cracked shoulder bone, several dislocated fingers and grazes) when a motorcycle struck him while he was training in Switzerland.
Heidfeld, who crashed during a test session at Monza a month ago, withdrew from the Italian Grand Prix on the eve of the event complaining of dizziness and headaches. Conspiracy theorists are already incensed by the mysterious circumstances under which Juan-Pablo Montoya suffered his shoulder injury (on a tennis court during the Easter Weekend, McLaren-Mercedes claimed) and some F1 pundits suggest the “Heidfeld cycling accident” story is a cover up for Williams’ plans to test potential candidates for 2006, in the event Jenson Button finds a way to stay at BAR Honda next year.
According to the two candidates most likely to fill Heidfeld’s soon-to-be-vacated seat in 2006 are Pizzonia, who will race in front of his home crowd this weekend, and GP2 championship contender Nico Rosberg.
The pair were both testing for Williams-BMW at Silverstone last week and the 20-year-old Rosberg, the son of Finland’s 1982 world champion for Williams, was tipped in the Finnish and Italian Press to have won the seat.
Further reports suggest that if Heidfeld “did not fully recover from his injuries”, the German-born Rosberg would be given a chance to show his mettle in the Japanese and Chinese Grands Prix. Rosberg may be hesitant to wish Heidfeld a speedy recovery…
However, if Villeneuve falls out of favour with BMW, Rosberg might also be a strong contender to team up with Heidfeld in 2006.
