Best start to a season for Heidfeld

For the journalists, Nick Heidfeld currently represents one of the most sought-after interviews in the paddock. This doesn't come as a surprise: having finished fourth in both the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix, he has been one of the most competitive drivers of the 2007 season so far.

"Prior to the race I hadn't even dared dreaming about such a result," Heidfeld beamed, following the 56-lap race at the 'sepang International Circuit'. As was the case in the season opener in Australia, Nick came close to securing a podium finish, taking the chequered flag in fourth position. Nonetheless, the result in Malaysia was even more significant, for Nick, after all, he succeeded in controlling the Ferrari of Felipe Massa - which is widely regarded as a more competitive car than the BMW Sauber F1.07 - for nearly the entire race.

"In Australia, the Ferraris proved to be a second faster than us," says Nick. "Therefore, I hadn't expected to be able to prevail against Felipe. But I quickly realised that it was possible, today. Every time I had to lap a car, the Ferrari succeeded in closing in on me, however, it never represented a real threat. The performance of my car was just fantastic."

In the end, Nick crossed the finish line in fourth position, behind the two McLarens of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton as well as Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, thus repeating the success celebrated three weeks ago in Australia. And with ten points on his tally, he also holds fourth position in the Drivers' Championship.

"I would be truly happy should we succeeded in continuing at this level," adds Nick. "It would be great if we would establish ourselves among the top six and defeat a Ferrari or McLaren, every now and then."