The gamble paid off - Heidfeld

Last weekend, Nick Heidfeld once again demonstrated that he delivers in particularly great style when under pressure. First, he out-qualified Robert Kubica for the second time this season, then he made a courageous decision that helped him to finish second.

Spa-Francorchamps offered Nick another opportunity to prove his talent and his driving skills. In the third practice session he set the fastest lap time, giving a glimpse of what was to come. In the final qualifying phase he clocked a faster time than Robert and reduced the Pole's lead in the team-internal qualifying battle to 11:2. Then, in the race, the 31-year-old made perfect use of the rain that began falling with just two more laps remaining.

"The practice sessions were okay, the qualifying ran really well and to have made it to the podium is just sensational," said Nick Heidfeld, following his successful race weekend in the Ardennes. "Obviously, this result came as a bit of a surprise. Even more so in consideration of the fact that I lost six positions right after the start."

But Nick's decision to have his BMW Sauber F1.08 shod with intermediates when there was just a slight drizzle falling proved to be picture-perfect. "The gamble paid off," says Nick. "When I rejoined the action, continuing on the dry-weather tyres at reasonable speed proved to be virtually impossible." While the rest of the field continued on the dry-weather tyres, the drivers struggling to keep their cars on the track, Nick really went for it, leaped up to third - and gained another position when Lewis Hamilton received a penalty after the GP. "Now I'm truly looking forward to the next race," added Nick. "We are going to race at Monza this weekend and our tests there ran really well."