Very difficult to have to bid farewell - Heidfeld

Nick Heidfeld ended the 2009 Formula One World Championship season with fifth place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The BMW Sauber F1 Team driver looks back at the events on and off the "Yas Marina Circuit".

"It is a great shame that that BMW is bidding farewell, but it makes an enormous difference whether you finish with that kind of race or end up outside the points," said Heidfeld after the final World Championship race for the team from Munich and Hinwil.

The German felt an even better result was possible on the island of Yas in Abu Dhabi. He narrowly missed out on fourth place. "I had a problem in the middle stint as the car jumped into neutral," said Nick. "I lost two seconds there. I was then very close to Barrichello during the pit stop. It was a fast stop, but was not quick enough to overtake him."

Despite this, Nick was predominantly pleased with a satisfying end to what has, at times, been a difficult season. His four points at the season finale propelled the BMW Sauber F1 Team ahead of Williams and into sixth place in the Constructors' Championship. Nick was nostalgic as he looked back at the four-year history of the team: "The atmosphere is very special," he said. "During the final few laps I had to very quickly push a few thoughts and emotions to one side in order to avoid making any mistakes. When you have worked together so hard for four years, and built everything up from scratch together, then it is very difficult to have to bid farewell."