Nick fulfilled our expectations - Theissen

With a fifth place in the drivers' championship, Nick Heidfeld can look back on the most successful Formula One season of his career to date. However, BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen was not unduly surprised by Nick's improvement in performance.

In 2006, the BMW Sauber F1 Team driver finished ninth in the drivers' championship, collecting 23 points. One year later, Nick managed to gather 61 world championship points thanks to his excellent performances on the race track. The best example of his outstanding season was, without doubt, the spectacular overtaking manoeuvre he made against Fernando Alonso in Bahrain.

According to Theissen, Nick has repaid the trust the team invested in him. The BMW Motorsport Director comments: "We relied on Nick because we had already recognised his strengths in the past. We believed he would perform much better than he had been able to before."

In 2007, there remain no doubts regarding his ability behind the wheel of the F1.07: Two podium finishes as well as twelve further points finishes are an impressive result. In addition, he substantially contributed to the BMW Sauber F1 Team being able to establish itself as the third force in Formula One racing. "Nick fulfilled our expectations and, therefore, provided a major contribution to the progress we are experiencing now," adds Theissen.