Family man 'quick' Nick can't wait for 2007 season

The end of the season does not translate to months of holiday for Formula One drivers. However, the off-season does provide some time for private matters. BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld spends a lot of time with his family, but he is also eagerly anticipating the 2007 season.

18 races lie behind Nick and the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Between spring and autumn, the team constantly travelled around the globe and additionally contucted several testing sessions. This means continuous stress and pressure to perform for all team members. Nevertheless, Nick does not feel burnt out following a long and strenuous year, but is already thinking about his job again: "I don't feel tired this year. If it was up to me, the season could continue straight away," Nick Heidfeld comments. "I'm sure that is also because I'm already looking forward to 2007."

While Nick mainly focusses on his family in the test-free period following the last race of the season and during the winter months, he does not forget his duties. "We do have a little bit of time during winter, but not as much as an outsider might assume," the 29-year-old says. "Right after the season final we pause testing for four weeks. While there are a few appointments to attend, we do find time for the family or a holiday then."

Nick enjoys the spare time, particularly since he has so little of it during overseas and back-to-back races. Following a lenghtier seperation from his girlfriend Patricia and daughter Juni, Nick longs for his home in Switzerland: "It's OK to be away from home for a few days," he says. "But if it extends to two weeks like during the Grands prix in China and Japan, the separation from my family is tough to cope with."