Heidfeld Signs With Bmw For 4 Years

[Chris Strange 0]

GMM) Williams' injured driver, Nick Heidfeld, travelled to Munich (Germany) on Thursday to sign a four year BMW contract, according to media reports.

German sources claimed that the 28-year-old, who - apparently due to two distinct injuries - will have missed three grands prix including Brazil, will drive for the works BMW-Sauber outfit in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

'Bild' newspaper said 'Quick Nick' - on a tiny Williams retainer this year - is set to earn $37.7 million ($9.4m a year).

The news comes after Sir Frank Williams apparently decided not to take up a 2006 option, with a September 15 deadline, on the highly rated German so as not to complicate the Grove based team's pursuit of Jenson Button.

Deal in place, and injuries to heal, Nick's manager - Werner Heinz - commented that the diminutive driver could be back in action in Japan or China.

''Nick wants to help Williams secure the best possible result in the constructors' world championship,'' he stated.

This surely spells bad news for JB, I don't think Sir Frank Williams will go for a Webber-Pizzonia or Webber-Rosberg line up andit gives a clear signal about his intentions about Button.

[nojvnof1 0]

A 4 year deal is a long amount of time. I'd expect there to be a few exit clauses, both ways considering. I think his salary is more than fair for Nick. All that's left now for BMW is to confirm Jacques...

[shel 0]

poor Williams losing Nick because they don't want to complicate the move by Jenson and the rumours (http://www.newsonf1.com/2006/lineup.htm) that Mark Webber And Fisi are swapping places, it looks like its all change and possibly not for the better!! Glad Nick has a secure race seat for (depending on which site you read) at least 3 years.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

Good for Heidfeld, its about time he's got what he deserves. I wish williams would just get rid of webber, he's a waste of space!

[Sato 0]

Its good for Heidfeld to get a decent pay, probly for the first time in his career, but i don't think he will be in a competitie car....

[nojvnof1 0]

from what I've read, Nick has a 3 year deal, not 4.

[Shadow 0]

3 years is ok. but 4 is too little too much

[AutoRacer5 0]

Well this will leave that other seat open at BAR since they cant confirm him for 2006 and JB will most likely go to Williams now and Sato's, well, Sato's just an idiot I guess.

[KoolMonkey 0]

How hard is it for Williams to say once and for all that Button will be driving for them next year? Not hard. But clearly they are trying to hold out for a good price for him from BAR. I'd love to see Webber and Fisi swap. I dislike Webber and this move would surely end his career lol. Fisi seems like an ok guy but maybe doesn't have that killer instinct, I don't know.

Good luck to NH on his BMW drive. I like his style and also his no opening his mouth every 2 seconds to say I did this and I did that, unlike Webber. So what if he pushed to have NH in the car next to him. He's made Webber look rather crap this year IMHO, so not a real smart thing to be saying lol.

[Null 0]

flipping hell, I'd only heard 3 years, but even then, I was thinking that's one hell of a long time to be contracted to an "unknown" team. Williams have been doing BMW V8 testing which is better than them just jumping into th deep end, the Sauber team are a fantastic team to be taking over and hopefully, second driver dependant (JV to williams, Nico Rosberg to BMW... PLEASE!!!!) this will be a very good team. It may take them a year or two to get their footing but I think BMW have all the workings to become a very competitive team in the near future.

I hope jenson stays at BAR and williams have to run pizza boy (and nico goes to BMW, obviously), then williams will regret not taking up the option on nick ha.

[Null 0]

Considering the regulation changes next year, I would say this would be the best time for a new F1 team, like BMW taking over Sauber, or even a completley new team, to come into F1. Look what happened to Ferrari after they completley misjudged other teams winter progression.

Will BMW be on michelin or Bridgestones?

[rock 0]

Poor Williams, long year ahead, lost the engine, lost the sponsers, changed tires, lost NH their #1 driver this year,...What else, they could lose ? Some engineers ? Next year they'll have Webber and probably a rookie or Pizzaboy, he'll probably have the edge over them and his ego will rise up again.

As for NH at Bmw, that's a lot of money, maybe too much. But he's German and he'll please everybody. For JV I really hope he stay's at BMW he's been faster then Massa recently, he's also very motivated, experienced and also has a contract why not keep him. As for Button well maybe he'll announce us that he's still linked with Renault, hahaha.

[Null 0]

If williams get button next year, they don't have HP anymore, they don't have a works engine, they've only tested the BMW V8 and not the Cosworth V8, dear oh dear, I predict Williams' next season will be terrible. That would be hilarious if Pizza boy and Webber were team mates!

[Senna 0]

This news is hardly surprising

[pumpdoc 2]

This news is hardly surprising

[Buttonfan 0]

Indeed he was the fav driver of BMW

[nojvnof1 0]

"Will BMW be on michelin or Bridgestones?"

Michelin.

[Null 0]

good, that should make the transition even smoother

[Shadow 0]

if JV is confirmed soon i think you will have two more hoping for a smoother transition kaiser

[cavallino 2]

I'd definitely like to see JV at BMW next year. next year might be interesting, there might be a nice midfield battle b/w Red Bull, Williams, BMW. Renault, Mclaren could be at the top. BAR and Toyota are unknowns. Williams and BMW are in a similar position, though BMW probably have more cash.

as for ferrari, fingers crossed.