Mercedes sign Heidfeld for reserve role

Mercedes has announced that Nick Heidfeld will join the team as test and reserve driver, thereby completing the team’s all-German driver line-up.

"I am very pleased to be joining the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team,” said Heidfeld. “It’s the team which has attracted the most interest in the [off] season, not only because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher, but also because this season sees the return of the Silver Arrows cars as a Mercedes-Benz works team for the first time in over fifty years.

“Whilst I would of course have preferred a seat as an active driver, I am really proud to be part of the new Silver Arrows team,” he continued. “I have seen how committed everyone at the team is and I feel the same. I will be doing my very best to support Michael and Nico this year."

Like Michael Schumacher before him, Heidfeld is another former Mercedes Junior driver who returns to his motorsport roots. After winning the 1997 German Formula 3 Championship, as a junior driver supported by Mercedes, Heidfeld tested a McLaren Mercedes F1 car for the first time.

Heidfeld was the McLaren test driver for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, during which time he had two successful years in Formula 3000, as runner-up in 1998 and champion in 1999.

"It’s a great pleasure for us to have signed a driver of the calibre and experience of Nick Heidfeld as our reserve race driver and test driver for the 2010 season,” said team principal Ross Brawn. “Nick has over ten years of experience in Formula One working with established teams and he will be a great asset to Mercedes. I am confident that his input into the development of our MGP W01 car will be invaluable. We look forward to welcoming Nick to Mercedes GP Petronas and working closely with him."

Heidfeld began his Formula One career with the Prost team in 2000 and since then has participated in 167 Grand Prix driving for Sauber (2001-2003), Jordan (2004), Williams (2005) and BMW Sauber (2006-2009). He had his best season in 2007 when he finished in fifth position. He achieved 12 podium finishes in his career.

"To sign Nick Heidfeld as reserve race driver and test driver means another re-enforcement for our team,” stated Mercedes-Benz Motorsport VP Norbert Haug. “We have known each other for many years and Nick was supported by our junior drivers programme from 1997. During his 10 years in Formula One, circumstances often made it difficult for him to achieve his breakthrough. However Nick is extremely capable, he will be an asset to our team and he will show this."