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Heidfeld under pressure
Topic Started: Sep 4 2008, 07:56 PM (435 Views)
Red Andy
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Nick Heidfeld admits he is aware of the pressure he is under to secure a new deal with BMW Sauber after a series of difficult races.

Heidfeld has finished in tenth and ninth in the last two grands prix, while teammate Robert Kubica has scored points in both, including a third place finish in Valencia nearly two weeks ago.

BMW Sauber have told Heidfeld that he must raise his game to convince them to renew his contract for next season, and the German driver admitted on Thursday he is aware of his situation.

From http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70273

The real question is, if Heidfeld goes, who would replace him? BMW's test driver at the moment is Christian Klien, and given the fact that by 2009 he'll have spent two and a half years out of a race seat, having not been particularly good when he was in one, I think any sensible team boss would keep Heidfeld over promoting Klien.

There has been talk of Alonso joining BMW but it would be very unlike the team if they were to offer a driver a one-year contract, which Alonso insists he wants so that he can be a free agent for 2010. Furthermore, Alonso's salary demands would probably be too high for BMW, who would rather channel their resources into building a competitive car for their current star driver, Robert Kubica.

Apart from drafting in somebody from elsewhere in BMW's motorsport resume (Andy Priaulx springs to mind), I really can't think of who BMW would go for in 2009, if not Heidfeld. Any ideas?
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RJHSaints
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Well Heidfeld has been exemplary for BMW in his previous two seasons and so I feel he deserves another year to prove himself. However, I don't think BMW should refrain from wielding the axe simply because the replacement would be Klien. Who knows, he may have improved since he left Red Bull, and he certainly had some impressive races for them, even if he didn't always do it consistently.
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John
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Nico Hülkenberg.... or Bruno Senna <clap>
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ELUSIVEJIM
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John,Sep 4 2008
08:07 PM
Nico Hülkenberg.... or Bruno Senna <clap>

Bruno Senna <thumbsup>

Personally i do feel Kubica and Heidfeld are the best two drivers for BMW.

Kubica has improved since his big accident in 2007 and has out performed Heidfeld but the two seem to get on well and on race day Heidfeld is a strong performer.

If i was the BMW team i would stick to what they have as it is a strong package
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Red Andy
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John,Sep 4 2008
09:07 PM
Nico Hülkenberg.... or Bruno Senna <clap>

The Hulk is a Williams test driver, no? He is certainly very talented, but depending on what clauses Frank has in his contract with young Nico, he may be inaccessible without BMW parting with a sizeable chunk of cash.

As for Bruno .... I'd give him another year in GP2, at least, before he is ready for F1. Remember that at the moment the entire GP2 field is being outclassed by Pantano, a failed F1 driver. If Senna was to make his F1 debut in 2009, I would imagine it would be for a team lower down the order than BMW, to allow him to hone his racecraft before trying to run at the front.
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u4coffee
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Red Andy,Sep 4 2008
08:56 PM

Apart from drafting in somebody from elsewhere in BMW's motorsport resume (Andy Priaulx springs to mind), I really can't think of who BMW would go for in 2009, if not Heidfeld. Any ideas?

Give it to Andy Priaulx... At least it would make The Stig (Kev) happy <thumbsup>
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John
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Priaulx is a great driver... but he would be a 34yr. old rookie with very no recent open wheeled experience...

He will (if BMW stay) race in WTCC or switch to BMW's forthcomming ALMS GT2-program
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Steelstallions
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Ralph <whistle> <LOL>
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Rasputin was a C...
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Steelstallions,Sep 5 2008
07:43 AM
Ralph  <whistle>  <LOL>

Firman? He was absolutely brilliant ;)
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SaveOurSilverstone
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give it to Jensen. could be his best chance of more wins <thumbsup>
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f1chick
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SaveOurSilverstone,Sep 5 2008
10:45 AM
give it to Jensen. could be his best chance of more wins <thumbsup>

you read my mind <roflmao>
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u4coffee
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SaveOurSilverstone,Sep 5 2008
10:45 AM
give it to Jensen. could be his best chance of more wins <thumbsup>

But that would mean breaking his contract, and he'd never do..... Ah... Never mind <whistle>
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AndyW76
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u4coffee,Sep 5 2008
07:31 AM
Red Andy,Sep 4 2008
08:56 PM

Apart from drafting in somebody from elsewhere in BMW's motorsport resume (Andy Priaulx springs to mind), I really can't think of who BMW would go for in 2009, if not Heidfeld. Any ideas?

Give it to Andy Priaulx... At least it would make The Stig (Kev) happy <thumbsup>

Alonso?

They couldn't do much better, could they, only are they happy to pay the wages?
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Monty
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Di Resta, owned Vettel as teamates in F3 two years ago. Bizarre he hasnt atleast had an f1 test.
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AndyW76
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Unfortunately, success in lower formulae doesn't necessarily lend itself to success at the top level.
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