Nick: BMW the most competitive team I've raced for

By BMW Sauber F1 Team
December 1 2006

The BMW Sauber F1 Ream represents the fifth stop in Nick Heidfeld's Formula One career. The German is convinced that it offers him the best preconditions he enjoyed in his career.

"Most definitely it's the most promising initial position I've been in, so far," reveals Nick. "Never before have I raced for such a competitive team. I'll have to defend a podium finish, 23 World Championship points and ninth position in the Drivers' Championship, still, I'm truly optimistic regarding the future."

On the other hand, Nick is fully aware of the tough competition in Formula One that is again going to make his hunt for World Championship points anything but easy, next year. "You currently have to cope with lot of extremely competitive opponents," the German admits. "Other than in the past, there aren't just three teams that have got what it needs to win races. The small teams of the past don't exist any longer. We've got some major companies in Formula One, today."

In the past season, the BMW Sauber F1 Team finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship. For Nick, however, this hasn't been more than a sub-ordinate goal. "We assume that we keep on improving but it will get harder and harder. It's the goal of BMW to win races but we are well aware that it won't be possible to secure the World Championship crown within one year. I would be happy should we succeed in moving up from fifth to fourth position in the Constructors' Championship."