 Profile
Cool, businesslike, consistent: That's the impression many outsiders and fans who know Nick Heidfeld from television have of the German. But appearances can be deceptive. In many ways, Nick is a man of extremes.
In the post-race parties, he shows the other side of his character: he's rarely off the dance floor and has a wardrobe of extravagant outfits. But at the wheel, Nick proves that these traits needn't be a handicap for a racing driver. He is a true professional and behaves like that on the track. He is reliable, delivers when required and contributed a lot to the BMW Sauber F1 Team's success last season.
Away from the Formula One circus, he enjoys spending his rare leisure time with his family. His girlfriend, Patricia, and his daughter, Juni, are the centre of his world. In their 19th century house in Stäfa, Switzerland, they enjoy their privacy. Too much calmness has the opposite effect on Nick, however. He loves his family life but can't wait for the Formula One trips which give him a chance to get to know other cultures and travel all around the world.
Since 2000, Nick has been a constant competitor in the pinnacle of motor racing. In his seven years on the Formula One grid, he has always been one of the shortest drivers. "Had I designed myself, I would have added a few centimetres," he admits. "But in motor racing, it's an advantage to be small." And he has proven to be a great driver in his career so far. He has had to cope with ups and downs but never lost his passion for motor racing. He was a vital part of the BMW Sauber F1 Team right from the start and a key factor in the team's successful debut season in 2006. "It's a project I'm involved in with all my heart and soul," he reveals.
Career
Nick Heidfeld celebrated a number of successes in Formula Ford in 1994 and 1995, before switching to German Formula 3; there, he finished third overall in 1996 and went on to win the 1997 Championship. During that time, he also completed several Formula One tests for McLaren Mercedes. In 1998 he finished runner-up in the International Formula 3000 series; one year later, he took the title in style.
These successes saw him move to the Prost Formula One team in 2000. The German didn't score any points there, but moved to Sauber in 2001 and clinched his first podium finish in the same year. In 2002 and 2003 he established himself as a solid points scorer. A difficult year with Jordan followed in 2004.
Nick managed to rehabilitate himself completely in the following season, however. After he showing he can handle intense pressure, when he won the testing duel against Antonio Pizzonia to claim his place in the BMW WilliamsF1 Team for the season, he became one of the top surprises of the Formula One season. After the first pole position of his career at the European GP and two second places during the season, BMW immediately signed him for the BMW Sauber F1 Team for the 2006 season and beyond. Nick repaid the confidence shown in his abilities by scoring 23 points and the team's maiden podium finish in Hungary.
Starts
| Year | Team | | Starts | Pkt. | P. | P1 | P2 | P3 | Punkt. |
| 2006 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | BMW Sauber | 14 | 19 | 9 | - | - | 1 | 7 |
| 2005 | BMW Williams F1 Team | Williams-BMW | 14 | 28 | 11 | - | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2004 | Jordan-Ford | Jordan-Ford | 18 | 3 | 18 | - | - | - | 2 |
| 2003 | Sauber Petronas | Sauber-Petronas | 16 | 6 | 14 | - | - | - | 3 |
| 2002 | Sauber Petronas | Sauber-Petronas | 17 | 7 | 10 | - | - | - | 4 |
| 2001 | Red Bull Sauber Petronas | Sauber-Petronas | 17 | 12 | 8 | - | - | 1 | 7 |
| 2000 | Gauloises Prost Peugeot | Prost-Peugeot | 16 | - | 20 | - | - | - | - |
| Razem | 6 | 5 | 98 | 56 | 1x8 | - | 2 | 3 | 28 |
P. - final position; P1, P2, P3 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd position; Punkt. - times having scored
Photos
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