The aim is to win a race next year - Heidfeld

Nick Heidfeld has raced in Formula One since 2000 - yet this year has attained his highest-ever ranking in the Drivers' Championship. The 30-year-old scored 61 points and placed fifth in the championship, testifying to his impressive performance.

Just one year after the end of the Michael Schumacher era, he is held in the highest regard by German Formula One fans. Mönchengladbach-born Nick has certainly not disappointed his compatriots, and was the only German driver to score podiums this year. In Montreal he finished second behind Lewis Hamilton (McLaren); in Hungary he scored third place.

With these performances, Nick aided the BMW Sauber F1 Team in achieving its objective of not only scoring top-three places, but doing so on merit. In addition, he impressed greatly with his consistency. In only three races did Nick fail to score points, whilst his most numerous placing was fourth - achieved on five occasions in total. No other driver managed to break into the quartet of Ferrari and McLaren drivers more regularly than did Heidfeld. Accordingly, his confidence level is suitably high. "This year everything came together: the new car, the new team members, our own wind tunnel,' he says. "The aim is to win a race next year, and to fight for the title thereafter."

His personal highlight occurred during the Bahraini Grand Prix, where he managed to pull a spectacular overtaking manoeuvre on Fernando Alonso (McLaren). "I thoroughly enjoyed that, and certainly received numerous compliments about it - not only from fans, but also from within the paddock." During 2007 Nick emphatically proved that, given a competitive car such as the BMW Sauber F1.07, he is certainly one of the strongest performers on the grid.