More than a victory, the title for Heidfeld in 2009?

After seeing his BMW-Sauber teammate, Robert Kubica, secure his first victory at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix (also BMW’s first win), it would be logical to think that Nick Heidfeld would want to perform as well as his Polish counterpart in 2009. However, the German has a much more ambitious goal and hopes to challenge for the title. The F1.09 just needs to be up to the task.

« I don’t constantly think about that first Grand Prix that I have to win, » said the German on his team’s official website. « After all, my goal is to win the title and not just one race. If the car allows me, I can do it. »

Heidfeld made his Formula 1 debut in 2000 with the Prost team and has since driven for Sauber, Williams, and Jordan, achieving a total of 11 podiums, but a victory proved elusive. The greatest opportunity came in Montreal in 2008, when his teammate Kubica took the win and he finished second.

« So far, there has only been one race where my car could allow me to cross the finish line as a winner. It was last year in Montreal, » he added. « But it was my teammate who was the big winner, and we were able to celebrate a one-two finish. »

After the first tests of the new BMW-Sauber on the Spanish circuit of Valencia fifteen days ago, Heidfeld seems convinced that the F1.09 will disappoint no one.

The German will need to focus on his qualifying performances, which regularly in 2008 were not up to the level of the driver he represents.

Indeed, while Kubica was regularly in the top 6 and even secured a pole position, Heidfeld was unable to get the most out of his car on a single lap and never qualified beyond fifth place. The main problem he cited at the time was an inability to heat his tires quickly enough. He might benefit in 2009 from the return of slick tires.

The BMW driver is expected in the F1.09 next week for the Bahrain tests alongside Ferrari and Toyota.