FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[bmwpower]

Yes I am happy to see Nick behind a steering wheel again and not just watch Nico and Micheal in the garage. Mercedes has released Nick Heidfeld to be a test driver for Pirelli Tires and help develope their tires for the 2011 season. This is big news for the 2011 grid because Quick Nick will be THE ONLY F1 driver with the expertise and knowledge of how Pirelli Tires work if he chooses to race next season. Mercedes boss has gone on record to say that Nick Heidfeld will be a valuable assest for 2011 seasonbecause of his role as a test driver for Pirelli Tires and he can practically choose any team next year, I for once happy to see something good happening to Heidfeld.

[vaptin]

I don't share your enthusiasm, I hope that Heidfeld is forbidden from speaking from speaking to Mercedes (and other teams) about his role in testing the tyres unless his feedback is completely open.

[Denthúl]

Yes I am happy to see Nick behind a steering wheel again and not just watch Nico and Micheal in the garage. Mercedes has released Nick Heidfeld to be a test driver for Pirelli Tires and help develope their tires for the 2011 season. This is big news for the 2011 grid because Quick Nick will be THE ONLY F1 driver with the expertise and knowledge of how Pirelli Tires work if he chooses to race next season. Mercedes boss has gone on record to say that Nick Heidfeld will be a valuable assest for 2011 seasonbecause of his role as a test driver for Pirelli Tires and he can practically choose any team next year, I for once happy to see something good happening to Heidfeld.

I wonder if Petrov will find himself having a much harder task ahead of him for the remainder of this season...

[bmwpower]

I don't share your enthusiasm, I hope that Heidfeld is forbidden from speaking from speaking to Mercedes (and other teams) about his role in testing the tyres unless his feedback is completely open.

Heidfeld is RELEASED from his contract from Mercedes so he's open to drive for anyone willing to offer him a contract. No doubt he will use his feedback to his advantage, wouldn't you?

[vaptin]

I don't share your enthusiasm, I hope that Heidfeld is forbidden from speaking from speaking to Mercedes (and other teams) about his role in testing the tyres unless his feedback is completely open.

Heidfeld is RELEASED from his contract from Mercedes so he's open to drive for anyone willing to offer him a contract. No doubt he will use his feedback to his advantage, wouldn't you?

That's better, and of course he'll use the knowledge to his advantage, but it shouldn't really be that way, its unfair to the other teams.

FIA really diddn't think the testing ban through, this is what happens when testing becomes necessary but is banned, an exception that is unfair. Still, I guess looking at the immediate situation, rather than the bigger picture of the rule being in place itself, having someone with recent f1 experience outweighs the unfair advantage, under a few conditions. Nick must not talk to anyone whilst he is working for Prielli (sp) (about the tyres of course, not in general) and the end of season testing on the tyres should give the teams sufficient data so a team having Nick with them next season doesn't gain a massive advantage.

bbc article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 921175.stm

[Rivers]

He`s doing some driving and that`s already better than sitting in Mercedes garage.

Advantage? Could be some, but well he atleast shows he`s still out there and makes a few headlines. Now with him beaing a free agent, he might manage to get a seat for next year.

[bmwpower]

I don't share your enthusiasm, I hope that Heidfeld is forbidden from speaking from speaking to Mercedes (and other teams) about his role in testing the tyres unless his feedback is completely open.

Heidfeld is RELEASED from his contract from Mercedes so he's open to drive for anyone willing to offer him a contract. No doubt he will use his feedback to his advantage, wouldn't you?

That's better, and of course he'll use the knowledge to his advantage, but it shouldn't really be that way, its unfair to the other teams.

FIA really diddn't think the testing ban through, this is what happens when testing becomes necessary but is banned, an exception that is unfair. Still, I guess looking at the immediate situation, rather than the bigger picture of the rule being in place itself, having someone with recent f1 experience outweighs the unfair advantage, under a few conditions. Nick must not talk to anyone whilst he is working for Prielli (sp) (about the tyres of course, not in general) and the end of season testing on the tyres should give the teams sufficient data so a team having Nick with them next season doesn't gain a massive advantage.

bbc article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 921175.stm

Since when has F1 teams been fair to each other? Teams manipulate rules and regulations to their advantage, if F1 is all about fairness, then all teams should be on par with each other instead the haves and have nots. But back to Nick, he's under contract with Pirelli Tires and just like any other drivers under contract with any teams, they can't disclose any info about their current team but if you are released from your contract then its fair game. You don't think Alonso gave up some McLaren secrets to Ferrari? Button gave some technical feedbacks to McLaren from his days at Brawns? or any other F1 personals switching teams each year and along with them they take inside secrets. I am just glad to see Heidfeld back in a car and his desire to drive again, which is the point.

[vaptin]

I'm glad for Heideld, but they are of course different types of unfairness, I'm not making the argument the teams should all end up equal. It's just this situation is reasonably avoidable, there's not much the FIA can do about engineers and drivers switching teams, but in all honesty if we want to talk about fairness, every team should be entitled to the same amount of testing. One team will get (tbh I think it's a small one) an advantage in a situation that I feel the FIA could've controlled.

[The Immortal Dragon]

You don't think Alonso gave up some McLaren secrets to Ferrari? Button gave some technical feedbacks to McLaren from his days at Brawns? or any other F1 personals switching teams each year and along with them they take inside secrets.

That is not the same, though.
Engineers and drivers change teams during their career, it's normal. And it's part of every team sport.
On the other hand Heidfeld will have a UNIQUE set of information of the Pirelli tyres which no other driver will have - that is if he will race next year - so that the team he will drive for might have a massive advantage even in designing parts for the new car. The advantage will effectively disappear after the start of the season, so if some team signs Heidfeld quite soon, it will be a big advantage for them.


Anyway, I think Heidfeld is a good driver and a good guy, so I hope to see him on next year's grid.
This is just FIA not thinking their rules through, as vaptin said.

[Hansy]

Heidfeld 2011 champion.

[Big Azza]

Heidfeld 2011 champion.

[MattMK45]

The thing is there aren't many teams he could go to. Unless he sees real potential in Villeneuve's new team. His best bet is Renault because Petrov is doing too well and he was supposed to go to Virgin in 2010 but something about Virgin not wanting 2 rookies as their drivers meant he went with renault instead.

[ivey]

IF heidfeld gets a seat for 2011 I will be extremely happy for him, whether it's a Renault or a Virgin.

[nish2280]

I'm sure this just upped his market value as both a driver and a reserve as he would be immensely helpful preseason when work is being done on the new car.

[manmonkee]

I'm sure this just upped his market value as both a driver and a reserve as he would be immensely helpful preseason when work is being done on the new car.

He certainly has upped his value, only guy with Perelli experience AND he'll have enormous hours of testing, when testing is so rare now a guy who's been plowing round the track continuously will be a good bet for a seat, He'll want a good one though, he's done his time in awful cars.