[TimoDass]

The Mercedes GP team has confirmed that it has released Nick Heidfeld from his contract in order for the German to become Pirelli's official test driver.

Heidfeld was the team's reserve driver for this season, but will start driving for Pirelli at the start of today's test at the Mugello circuit, where the German will be at the wheel of a 2009 Toyota F1 car.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85989


Well, if insider knowledge on the Pirellis doesn't get him a race seat next year, I don't know what will!

[Katrinsitter]

Poor sod. Half a season of waiting for Schumacher to slip on a banana skin, and instead of getting rewarded with a drive with last year's championship-winning team he gets to plod round in an old Toyota testing rubber.

As you say, maybe this is route to better things.

[IodinkBoilk]

The first to find out how bad they will be. He'll enjoy that...

[drugimpotence]

Poor sod. Half a season of waiting for Schumacher to slip on a banana skin, and instead of getting rewarded with a drive with last year's championship-winning team he gets to plod round in an old Toyota testing rubber.

As you say, maybe this is route to better things.

I think this is actually a good way to find a race seat for 2011. His knowledge of the new tires may come in handy for a lot of teams.

[Poll Pitt]

As you say, maybe this is route to better things.

Better than waiting around another 2 and a half years for Rosberg or Schumacher to get injured!

[DoctoBuntonTen]

As you say, maybe this is route to better things.

Perhaps even a route back to a Mercedes race seat

[vvxtiopmx]

It may turn out to be a huge mistake when Schumacher quits later in the season

[Svatudjw]

I think this is actually a good way to find a race seat for 2011. His knowledge of the new tires may come in handy for a lot of teams.

I don't think it will make a big difference, it's an old Toyota and I'm not sure what he can transfer from the tests to another team. To me Heidfeld is less likely to get a drive for next year than this year, people just forget so quickly in F1.

[popillio]

Tyre knowledge is fine shame it will be a car with little resemblance to what's being raced in 2011. The bigger tragedy is that Nick isn't in a race seat right now.

[fluistulkn]

Ba-bye

[markkisil]

We may get a idea of how good the tyres might be for next year if after testing them, Heidfeld announces he is going to race lawn mowers next year.

[Jenisoisy]

If it doesn't work out with Schumacher, I don't see that they still would not take up Heidfeld. It's not like he was doing anything when he was their test driver and they're in no hurry to replace him, all that this means is that he's allowed to test last year's Toyota with next year's tyres, and Mercedes don't have to pay him any more.

[markphata]

Maybe Mercedes should have released Schumacher instead. That way, he would be back doing his beloved testing and getting a head start for the 2011 season. This season is done and dusted as far as Schuey (Schumi for St. Devote) is concerned, anyway. And Heidfeld would get to show what he can do relative to Rosberg.

[YonkFiorc]

Anyone else find all this talk about Heidfeld and old Toyotas a bit depressing? It was more fun when we had Bridgestone and Michelin coming in partnering with existing teams and their drivers, splitting the field in two and ramping up to take it to the incumbent tyre manufacturer, mixing the field up and so on.

Control. Tyres. Are. Boring.

[Donlupedron]

Its not a totally worthless situation butthe issue is how valuable can it be?

The control tyres are the most awful idea that f1 has ever come up with.

The car must adapt to the tyre that is forced on them and the driver then has to hope to god that his style suits it.

In the "good old days" when we had competition - remember it IMPROVES the breed - there were also boutique tyres. It is this situation that has allowed drivers to compete at their best head to head.

One of the best examples was the situation between Rindt and Stewart - Jochen had tyres that were 2 cm wider and they run at different pressure compared to Jackie. Imagine if they were both forced to used the same tyre and it was the sort that favored ONE driver. A mess.

And a mess is what we have now.

And exactly HOW will a 2009 car testing tyres for 2011 be of any use besides Heidfeld only being able to report back based on his style of driving?

It is a load of crap and if FOTA really had BIG ONES they would tell the FIA what to do and go out and make tyre deals with tyre companies themselves and make a stand.

I detest governing bodies without exception. Their power creeps until THEY become the reason for living! By all means have a body that will adjudicate issues based on a RATIONAL body of rules - something that we do not have now.

But at the end of the day it is the teams that have to pay the money and money talks while bs walks!

Schumacher would NEVER have been able to achieve his success with control tyres and all the buggery that it enforces.

Who cares what Heidfeld does? He is over the hill and there are a whole host of up and coming drivers that are far better than he ever was.

Driving an old car on 2011 tyres? Get real!

[gniewkoit]

yeah it's a real shame. A guy who's career never really took off.

my more detailed thoughts lol : http://formula1worldchampionship.wor...nick-heidfeld/

[Donlupedron]

Anyone else find all this talk about Heidfeld and old Toyotas a bit depressing? It was more fun when we had Bridgestone and Michelin coming in partnering with existing teams and their drivers, splitting the field in two and ramping up to take it to the incumbent tyre manufacturer, mixing the field up and so on.

Control. Tyres. Are. Boring.

Absolutely! This is motor racing and we have socialism on the tyre side - socialism is evil and ALWAYS leads to death and that is what has happened to f1 tyres. BOREDOM and crap.

[nikolapegayyyaasss]

on tyres
http://www.mibz.com/18352-michael-sc...k-results.html

says the main reason for the lack of results is given by the F1 car primarily caused by poor compatibility with Bridgestone tires. 2007-2008 Bridgestone with honda
2009 Bridgestone with brawn gp

[JackTimQSR]

This does also pose the question: Who is the reserve driver for Merc? Is it Ant Davidson?

By the way I'm 90% that Heidfeld will get a race seat next year - he's too good to sit out 2 years in a row.

[Donlupedron]

This does also pose the question: Who is the reserve driver for Merc? Is it Ant Davidson?

By the way I'm 90% that Heidfeld will get a race seat next year - he's too good to sit out 2 years in a row.

Davidson is a Peugot works driver and cannot also work for Mercedes - in the unlikely event he would be asked he should and will refuse. He has a great future at the top of endurance racing.

F1 has never be well disposed to him and he is well rid of the aggravation.

I think Mercedes will appoint another German driver. I would not be surprised if Ralf Schumacher is nominated as he is already a DTM driver for Mercedes.