Heidfeld first competed in F1 in 2000 and has started over 150 races without a win; if he should win a race, he will break Mark Webber's record of the most starts before a maiden victory. (Webber secured his first win on his 131st attempt). Nevertheless, Heidfeld's lack of a victory should not completely overshadow his achievements, he has finished in second place in eight races (as of the start of the 2011 season) and holds the record for the most consecutive race classifications; 41 races.
| Nationality & DoB | German , 10-05-77 |
| Team | Renault |
| Car Number | 9 |
| Prior Teams | BMW Sauber (09, 08, 07, 06) |
| Williams (05) | |
| Jordan (04) | |
| Sauber (10 [5 races], 03, 02, 01) | |
| Prost (00) | |
| Championships | 0 |
| Races | 174 (172 starts) |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 12 |
| Pole Positions | 1 |
| Fastest Laps | 2 |
| First Race | 2000 Australian Grand Prix |
| First Win | None |
| Last Win | N/A |
Nick Heidfeld started racing Karts at the age of 11 and at 17 progressed to the German Formula Ford Series impressing all in his inaugural season (1994) by winning eight of the 9-races and winning the title. In 1995, he won the German International Formula Ford 1800 Championship, and was second in the Zetec Cup. He moved in 1996 to the German Formula Three Championship finishing in third, and in 1997 he won the championship.
Heidfeld was the 1998 runner-up in the International Formula 3000 championship, and was the official test driver for the McLaren F1 team. In 1999 he won the Formula 3000 championship and joined Prost F1 team for the 2000 F1 season.
Nick's first F1 season (2000) was forgettable, the Prost car was disappointing and the young German struggled to make an impression with numerous retirements and small accidents.
Heidfeld raced for Sauber in 2001, 2002 and 2003, he beat his 2001 teammate Kimi Räikkönen and was on the podium at the Brazilian GP. He finished in eighth place in the championship. He again out performed his teammate in 2002 beating Felipe Massa, but slipped to tenth in the championship. In 2003 he was bettered by his teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen and finished in a dispiriting fourteenth place in the championship.
Moving to a poorly performing Jordan team for the 2004 season certainly wasn't to be a reputation improving decision. The EJ14 car was slow and unreliable, he did manage a seventh at Monaco and an eight in Canada, but the rest was retirements or finishes out of the points. An 18th in the standings was his lowest since finishing in 20th in his rookie year with Prost.
In 2005 Heidfeld joined Williams; at that time Williams were using BMW engines, and BMW were keen that the team should have a German driver. Heidfeld had done well in a pre-agreement test, but it was felt Frank Williams wasn't entirely happy with Heidfeld, but was under pressure from BMW. Unfortunately, Heidfeld had joined as the relationship between Williams and BMW was deteriorating, his situation was not enhanced by missing a number of races due to injury. Nevertheless, he had some success, a third in Malaysia and two second place finishes; Monaco and Europe (held at the Nurburgring), he secured his first pole at Nerburgring. In spite of missing five races, he finished the season in 11th place.
At the end of the 2005 season BMW and Williams parted company, and BMW purchased Sauber, the BMW Sauber team signed Heidfeld for the 2006 season. He had a reasonable season, securing the teams' first podium finish with a third in the Hungary GP, he finished the season in ninth place in the championship beating his teammate Robert Kubica. However, Heidfeld complained that Kubica had received much greater and more positive coverage, just as happened in 2001 when he was teammates with Kimi Räikkönen (whom he beat twelve points to nine) and in 2002, when he was teammates with Felipe Massa (whom he beat by seven points to four). Räikkönen and Massa later formed the 2007 Ferrari driver line-up.
The 2007 season was to Heidfeld his best season, he had two podium finishes at Canada and Hungary, and finished in fourth place in six races and was to end the year in fifth place in the championship, once again beating his teammate Robert Kubica, and yet he was still not widely considered as a top driver.
The 2008 season stated well for Heidfeld, after three races he was second in the championship, having finished second in Australia, sixth in Malaysia and fourth in Bahrain. (He set his first fastest lap in Malaysia).
Three disappointing results followed including a 14th in Monaco, Heifeld was prone to displaying his feelings and the German press gave him a new nickname; 'Leidfeld', 'Leid is German for 'misery'. The opportunity to establish himself as a title contender had once again passed. Nevertheless, at the Canadian GP, luck and good fortune intervened to give BMW Sauber their best result to-date and illustrated that Kubica and Heidfeld could take an opportunity when presented.
Heidfeld was running in eighth place when a safety car was deployed, all seven cars ahead of him pitted, and Heidfeld and Kubica remained on track in first and second places. Heidfeld changed to a one-stop strategy and was able to pit and emerge just ahead of his teammate. Kubica had not pitted so his car was much lighter and quicker. Heidfeld, recognised the situation and moved off the racing line allowing Kubica to make an easy pass, which then allowed the Kubica's lighter BMW Sauber to build up a considerable lead on Heidfeld, who was occupied with preventing Fernando Alonso, also in a lighter car, from chasing Kubica. The gap built by Kubica allowed him to rejoin the race comfortably in the lead after his final pitstop with no threats behind him. By racing as a team Kubica and Heidfeld recorded BMW Sauber's first one two finish. The remaining races were somewhat mixed, with strong performances at the British GP, finishing in second in wet conditions and another second at the Belgian GP, however, in the last three races of the season he was off the pace and recorded just four points to end the season in sixth place.
Heidfeld and Kubica remained with BMW Sauber for the 2009 season. A tenth place finish in Australia for Heidfeld was not the emphatic start of the season hoped for by BMW. The situation improved at the next race; when the Malaysian GP was stopped in torrential rain. Heidfeld was running in third place but in such circumstances, the regulations stipulate the result was taken from the end of the penultimate completed lap, when Heidfeld had been running second. Because less than 75% of the race distance had been covered, the drivers only received half points. The second place for Heidfeld at Malaysia equalled Stefan Johansson's record for most podium finishes without a win. The remaining season was a disappointment; he finished the season in thirteenth place in the Driver's championship.
BMW withdrew from F1 at the end of 2009, and Heidfeld struggled to find a new contract for the 2010 season. He was appointed in February 2010 the test driver for Mercedes; however, by August 2010 he was yet to have driven the car. The team released him from the contract to allow him to become the Pirelli tyre company test driver. (Pirelli are replacing Bridgestone as the sole supplier from 2011).
In September 2010 Sauber dropped Pedro de la Rosa to be replaced by Nick Heidfeld from the Singapore GP. He was unable to make much of an impression in the last five races of the season, with a best result of eighth in Japan. At the end of the season, Sauber did not renew his contract for 2011, and it appeared that he would not have a drive for 2011.
In early February 2011, Robert Kubica, the confirmed driver for Renault 2011, was seriously injured in a rally car race. Kubica is likely to be unable to compete for the season. Renault invited Heidfeld to test against the young Bruno Senna, it was of little surprise that the vastly more experienced man would win the battle.
Heildfeld has been given a great opportunity by Renault, the car is quick and the team want success, if he performs, he may well find he can extend his career a few more years.
F1 record
| Season | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 2000 | Prost |
17 | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20th |
| 2001 | Sauber |
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
8th |
| 2002 | Sauber |
17 | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 | 10th |
| 2003 | Sauber |
16 | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 | 6 | 14th |
| 2004 | Jordan |
18 | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
18th |
| 2005 | Williams |
14 | 0 | 1 |
0 | 3 |
28 | 11th |
| 2006 | BMW Sauber |
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
23 |
9th |
| 2007 | BMW Sauber |
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
61 |
5th |
| 2008 | BMW Sauber |
18 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
4 |
60 |
6th |
| 2009 | BMW Sauber |
17 | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
19 |
13th |
| 2010 | Sauber |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
18th |
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Tags : Nick Heidfeld | Renault
