Heidfeld to be given an F1 car
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Emotional Heidfeld gifted Sauber F1 car
The end of an era as BMW pull the plug
Nick Heidfeld had an emotional last few laps with BMW Sauber on Sunday, but a post-race gesture by the team's founder might have cheered him up.
The Hinwil-based team's owner BMW now departs Formula One, and although bought by the Qadbak consortium, Sauber does not have a guaranteed entry to return to the grid in 2010.
Heidfeld raced for Sauber's privateer team in 2001-2003, before returning to the Swiss camp for the start of the BMW era four years ago.
"It now becomes very emotional," said Heidfeld after finishing fifth and ensuring the team move ahead of his former team Williams in the standings. "During the last laps I had to pull myself together in order to keep my concentration.
"
The team signed off on Sunday night by revealing that Heidfeld is to receive a special parting gift.
"As a thank you for Nick Heidfeld's seven years of great commitment to the team in Hinwil, Peter Sauber is giving him a Formula One car from this era," the team said.
That's one hell of a gift.
The end of an era as BMW pull the plug
Nick Heidfeld had an emotional last few laps with BMW Sauber on Sunday, but a post-race gesture by the team's founder might have cheered him up.
The Hinwil-based team's owner BMW now departs Formula One, and although bought by the Qadbak consortium, Sauber does not have a guaranteed entry to return to the grid in 2010.
Heidfeld raced for Sauber's privateer team in 2001-2003, before returning to the Swiss camp for the start of the BMW era four years ago.
"It now becomes very emotional," said Heidfeld after finishing fifth and ensuring the team move ahead of his former team Williams in the standings. "During the last laps I had to pull myself together in order to keep my concentration.
"
The team signed off on Sunday night by revealing that Heidfeld is to receive a special parting gift.
"As a thank you for Nick Heidfeld's seven years of great commitment to the team in Hinwil, Peter Sauber is giving him a Formula One car from this era," the team said.
That's one hell of a gift.
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a... Heidfeld to get an F1 car
It's a good gift though!!
It's a good gift though!!
for his sake i hope it's not teh ugly F1.09...
they clearly value him tho, and i agree with the above, he has got to be right at the top of the list for mclaren, especially for the millions of dollars in saving the team would get through not signing raikonnen. he has been every bit the equal of kubica over the last 3 years.
they clearly value him tho, and i agree with the above, he has got to be right at the top of the list for mclaren, especially for the millions of dollars in saving the team would get through not signing raikonnen. he has been every bit the equal of kubica over the last 3 years.
Ralf Rockefeller said:
Good to see Nick get fifth place, beat Kubica this year and lock down a decent position for BMW in the constructors championship.
Why this man is not on Maclarens number 1 hit list baffels me!
He is on their list.Why this man is not on Maclarens number 1 hit list baffels me!
Heidfeld latest driver linked with McLaren
Nick Heidfeld has emerged as the leading candidate to become Lewis Hamilton's McLaren teammate in 2010, according to a leading German newspaper.
Bild-Zeitung claims the 32-year-old "suddenly has the best chance" to replace Heikki Kovalainen, after Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button were also touted for the seat.
"Nick's qualities are well known to us, but still nothing is decided," Mercedes competition boss Norbert Haug is quoted as saying.
Bild said his asking price is less than €5m; about half Button's desired retainer, and much lower than Raikkonen's demands.
Retaining his services would also fully appease Mercedes' desire for German drivers, with Nico Rosberg expected to go to Brawn in 2010 with the carmaker's blessing.
With BMW pulling out of F1 and the fate of the Sauber team uncertain, Heidfeld is on the market to extend his career into a tenth season next year.
Having enjoyed Mercedes support through his formative career and acting as McLaren test driver in 1999, he was gutted to have been looked over for the race seat in 2002, when his then Sauber teammate Kimi Raikkonen moved to the British team.
Perhaps coincidentally, Heidfeld walked into the paddock wearing a t-shirt with the words 'The future is not what it once was' printed on the front.
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