Development is crucial for Heidfeld

This year, Nick Heidfeld is contesting his seventh season at the pinnacle of motor racing. During his career as a Formula One driver, the German has realised that consistent development is crucial if you want to be successful.

For the BMW Sauber F1 Team, the 2006 season will be mainly used to gather experience and create the structures that will allow closing the gap to the front-runners in the future. To successfully do so, the staff - particularly at the Hinwil site - is progressing step-by-step making optimum use of tools such as the state-of-the-art wind tunnel and the super computer ALBERT. According to Nick and the rest of the team, however, it's just as important to keep on developing at racing speed during the 2006 season.

"Before the season started I said that we shouldn't put too much pressure on ourselfs," says Nick Heidfeld, "But at the same time we need to be sure that we are heading in the right direction and maintain a consistent rate of improvement. That's certainly been the case in the first three races of the season."

In the first three Grands Prix of the year, Nick and his team mate, Jacques Villeneuve, scored a total of ten World Championship points. For the curtain-raiser of the European season, the San Marino Grand Prix, nearly all the teams, including the BMW Sauber F1 Team, had enhanced their cars. As a consequence, the field was even more competitive than before and neither Jacques or Nick succeeded in securing a top-ten grid position. Furthermore, due to the lack of overtaking opportunities at the 'Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari', they had to settle for midfield results in the race. Nick's conclusion is simple: "We will keep on working hard and making further improvements."