Nick Heidfeld: A strong competitor to replace injured Robert Kubica of Lotus Renault GP – Formula 1
The experienced and yet another German driver, Nick Heidfeld is looking as a strong competitor to replace Robert Kubica in 2001 Formula 1 season.
He topped the tables in Jerez test day three with 1 minute and 20.361 seconds.
Heidfeld got his chance in the Renault car on Saturday on the third day of the Jerez test session. Keeping in mind what Boullier said the other day about him, “Nick is here to be evaluated,” Nick had to prove his point on the circuit.
Surely, he did that when he clocked the fastest time in the Jerez test session ahead of the championship competitors Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.
Nick Heidfeld was one of the possible replacements for Robert Kubica, along with Bruno Senna and Vitantonio Liuzzi as Eric Boullier said the other day after their star driver Robert Kubica had an accident in Italy.
As for the other driver Bruno Senna, who is Renault’s test driver, he got a chance on the final day of the Jerez test session but could not make the most of it and finished fifth, leaving the door open for Heidfeld to squeeze in Renault.
Vitantonio Liuzzi may be tested in Barcelona test but the team may want to give Heidfeld some mileage behind the wheel so that he can personalise the package to his liking and drop Liuzzi without testing.
With all his experience and his recent performance in Jerez test session Heidfeld will surely be under the radar of Renault management.
When asked about how he feels of his Jerez test booster, he said, “As somebody lately said rightfully: I’ve been in such a situation before. So I naturally did the best I could to get me a future drive - but in the end it’s only testing and not racing
so the team expects a profound feedback to enhance the car.”
“I have been pretty pleased with how it went and I have not let thoughts about their possible decision distract me from performing. It does not help to think about what they might tell you when you get out of the car - it simply takes away concentration,”
he said.
Nick Heidfeld has been in Formula 1 since 2000 for BMW Sauber, Williams, Jordan and Sauber and has competed in more than 170 Grand Prix. He has not yet been able to register a win in any Grand Prix with his best finish of 2nd position in Monaco and
Nürburgring for Williams.
He has been Robert Kubica’s teammate in 2007 when they both were BMW Sauber’s drivers. In 2010, he was a test driver for Pirelli and drove Toyota TF109 with the new rubber.
This experience of Heidfeld with Pirelli tyres is unique among all the drivers this year because Pirelli has taken over from Bridgestone and most of the drivers are new to it.
Robert Kubica, on the other hand, has undergone another surgery of nine hours in which his leg and elbow injuries were addressed. He will be well out of the Bahrain Grand Prix which starts in about a month and may miss a few more, if not all.
Robert Kubica was injured in a rally crash on Sunday, February 6, 2011 in Italy. His accident left Renault with a quick decision to make as to who will drive alongside Vitaly Petrov. Heidfeld has given a timely answer and knows it is up to the Renault
team to decide among the three available drivers.
It will be interesting to see Renault’s strategy in the Barcelona test as to whether they choose Heidfeld or they try Vitantonio Liuzzi out. But surely Heidfeld’s inclusion will bring more experience to the team. Let’s see what transpires in the days
to come.
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