A Good Story From Spa 08/09/2008 As Verasaki pointed out in the comments to my last post, the controversy over the stewards' decision to penalize Hamilton at Spa overshadowed the best race we have seen in ages. There were innumerable overtaking maneuvers, collisions and valiant efforts all the way through the field, so much so that the TV broadcast missed some while concentrating on others.Nick Heidfeld pit stopOne of the pivotal moments in perhaps the most amazing story of the day was Nick Heidfeld's pit stop to change to intermediate wet tires just two laps before the end of the race. The fact that the TV missed this event made Nick's subsequent charge through the field seem the more remarkable. But the story of his race is well worth telling again with hindsight to celebrate such a reversal of fortune between lap one and the finish.It is no secret that Nick has been under tremendous pressure to start producing better results or be out on his ear next year. Lately, he has overcome his qualifying problems, only to see bad luck rob him of the results he so desperately needs. It was no surprise (although monumentally galling), therefore, to see his excellent fifth spot on the grid instantly negated by Heikki Kovalainen's bumping him sideways in the first corner.Nick was amazed and grateful that the car had not been damaged and he emerged from the mess in tenth spot. He then began his customary dogged race through adversity and had climbed to seventh by the time the rain began to fall. And it was then that he made a surprising decision.There is no question that it was his - Nick mentions in the post race interview that the team queried his initial request for wet tires. I have high regard for Nick's strategic ability and this serves to confirm that his clever usage and timing of pitstops last year to get ahead of his team mate were at least partially thanks to his input into the team. He came in, had the required tire change and charged out again, having slipped back down to ninth.There were others who made the same decision and they, too, reaped a reward in the last two laps. Alonso delayed the change one more lap and thinks he could have won the race had he timed it as well as Heidfeld. That may well be, for the extra lap gave Nick time to warm the tires for his assault in the final lap of the race.By the end of lap 43, Nick had moved up to seventh and was really flying. In the last lap he passed Kubica, Vettel, Bourdais and Alonso to be third at the line. One can only imagine Alonso's frustration as Nick came hurtling past, the Spaniard still struggling on his colder wets. That third place becomes second with Hamilton's penalty (no, appeals to the FIA Court do not succeed) and Heidfeld at last reaps the benefit of his hard work in defeating his problems this season.It is a stirring tale and one that demonstrates the old adage that one should never give up. Nick may not have that charisma and flair that some of the younger drivers exhibit but he has the qualities that one expects of a top quality competitor in F1: speed (they don't call him Quick Nick for nothing), racecraft and perseverance. Last Sunday should have been his much more than has been possible, given the inevitable row over the stewards' latest horrendous error. It may not have been sufficient to guarantee his BMW seat next year but it does remind Dr Theissen of the reasons for Nick being in the team for so long. The good doctor has a hard choice to make in the next few weeks.
Clive
Journeyer Clive, your thoughts on the 'Alonso signing for BMW for 2009 onwards' rumor?And we all know that if this pushes through, BMW isn't gonna replace Fernando's friend Robert Kubica... :) Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive What do I think of the "Alonso to BMW" rumor? I think it's a rumor, Journeyer. :DIn my humble opinion, Alonso will be at Honda next year but I am not prepared to bet on Heidfeld still being at BMW. Even if the rumor is true, however, there remains a possibility that Kubica will be tempted elsewhere for 2009 - not likely, I grant you, but possible even so.Maybe I'm being gullible, but I believe Dr Theissen when he says that Nick still has time to prove himself. On past form, the Doctor does not make impetuous decisions and he will take his time before deciding who gets what seat for next season. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Ollie A good article Clive. As you say, some races yesterday have been forgotten about already. But I was impressed with Heidfeld as well, it was a strong performance and he totally deserved that podium.I'm of the opinion that Nick deserves the '09 BMW seat. As we've all seen this year, Raikkonen is a little off-form, perhaps his own fault, but more likely the car not being to his liking. But he has an '09 contract with his current team. I know that may be an apples and eggs comparison, but given Heidfeld's results from earlier in the year, and of course, yesterday, I think the man deserves at least another year with the team. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Journeyer 'What do I think of the "Alonso to BMW" rumor? I think it's a rumor, Journeyer. :D'I was setting myself up for that, wasn't I?Here's my line of thought on BMW: Kubica is a lock - but for 2009 only, then Kubica is a free agent for 2010. And it's either Alonso or Heidfeld taking the other seat for 2009. If Heidfeld loses his seat to Alonso, then what? Well, since Renault will almost definitely go for an RRD graduate (Grosjean or di Grassi) if Alonso or Piquet (or even BOTH) needs replacing, Heidfeld may not have anywhere else to go, really. Unless Force India make room for him or something.On an unrelated note, your site was in a bit of a rut the last few days, Clive. It's come alive again, thanks to Spa. Not for all the right reasons, mind you. But discussion is discussion. :) Date Added: 08/09/2008
Steven Roy Brilliant decision by Heidfeld and shows the advantage a mature driver has. Imagine if Hamilton had that kind of experience in China last year as an example.Heidfeld's last lap was 44 seconds faster than Massa's and 30odd faster than Hamilton's. Had the rain arrived a lap earlier he would have won by 30 seconds at least. Date Added: 08/09/2008
verasaki thanks. not a word about this did i see anywhere yesterday. it was really annoying me. there i was expecting to see vettel come across the line and there was heidfeld. i was as equally amazed to see alonso in 4th. yeah, experience is a great thing to have on a team. i was amused to read that when they told him how many laps were left his initial reaction was he'd made a bad choice but just put the pedal to it. good man. i believe thiessen, too. that man has time after time that he really does have a plan and it is paying off. and while you can't always tell the truth, he strikes me as someone who wouldn't actually say anything he didn't mean. but, on the alonso or heidfeld debate- how is nick in developement and set up? i don't really mean in comparison but just on his own merit? my heart sort of sank when i saw that alonso rumour. i think bmw would be a good place for him but, being a real optimist sometimes, i keep hoping kimi sticks to his '09 contract, alonso sticks it out another year at renault, honda gets it's act together somewhat and alonso goes to a rejeuvenated honda in '10. i love the idea of him and brawn pairing up. no logic there i just think it would be a good relationship for them but, alonso has got to start making good decisions for his career and if honda isn't well on their way by the end of '09 then ferrari or bmw are his best options. i think it's just too soon to tell what honda needs to do to sort itself and to tell how long it's going to take. having a driver who is brilliant at set up and developement may be just as big a waste there as it is at renault. Date Added: 08/09/2008
verasaki not vettel. bourdais. what are the odds there'd be 2 sebastian(iens) in the same series. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive Ollie: You may remember that I tipped Heidfeld for the championship this year and I have to admit that his struggles with the car this season disappointed me severely. I still hope for a miracle but know the mountain is almost insurmountable now (how would it be if Nick grabbed the title at the last by a mere point - he would have to thank the Spa stewards, wouldn't he?).I hope he has done enough to warrant his seat for 2009 but, if Alonso is genuinely available, I doubt he'll get it. To have arguably the best driver in F1 in one of his cars would prove impossible for Dr Theissen to resist, I think. But I also think it would be a huge mistake for the Beemer team - Alonso/Kubica could be as explosive a combination as was Alonso/Hamilton... Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive Journeyer: You're quite right, I've been in a rut for a while, for which I must apologize. The emptiness of the three-week break had much to do with that and then the disappointment of the Valencia GP after looking forward to it for so long. I find it hard to write when there's not much to say except roll on the next GP!And Spa has been a gift, both in the excellence of the race itself and the passionate indignation inspired by the stewards' decision afterwards. I do love a bit of controversy to get my teeth into. :D Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive Steven: If the rain had arrived a lap earlier, it is quite likely that the leaders would have stopped for wets too, so I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Nick would have won. It remains a gutsy decision to make and I'm glad it paid off as well for him and Alonso as it did. Both of them deserved their higher finishes. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive Verasaki: I think both Heidfeld and Kubica are pretty good at setting up the car. Kubica had a year's experience of test driving in which his input was all that mattered to the team and Heidfeld is experienced and wise enough to know that it is set up that can make the difference in a race. Hence Nick's frustration at not being able to cure his cold tyre problem in the first half of the season - when it's your driving style that's the problem, it's hard to adjust the car sufficiently to compensate.As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I don't think Alonso to BMW would be a good idea if they keep Kubica (and they'd be mad to get rid of him). Who would want the problems the McLaren team encountered when confronted with a similarly explosive combination of drivers? Date Added: 08/09/2008
verasaki good point on the style. zanardi had the same score to the extreme on his return to f1. and agreed bmw's driver combination is a good one and personally i think that temptation or not they should stick with it. alonso aside, i can't think there's a better option than heidfeld, certainly none of the one's i've heard mentioned. there's no guarantee that another driver's style would suit the '09 any better, he is fast, he works hard and they know what to expect from him. tough decision if alonso is available-maybe (and i think thiessen will look at every side of that before acting). if not-i just don't see a reason to change. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Haplo When I saw Nick cross the line, my thoughts were "wow, he must have turned god-mode on!"(what about an email notification plugin? most of the commenters here follow 3 other F1 blogs, and it really gets confusing to see where are my comments... just a suggestion tho) Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive I am beginning to suspect that SpeedTV showed a little more of the action in the last lap than did other broadcasters. We were treated to seeing Nick overtaking three cars in one go and so it did not come as a complete surprise when he whistled over the line in third. It was a brilliant achievement, even though he was on the right tyre for the conditions and the others were struggling.That's a good idea about email notification, Haplo, and I will ask Mad if he can throw together some sort of addition to the program for us. I do get notification myself, so it might not be too difficult for him to extend the thing to commenters. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Ollie
I am beginning to suspect that SpeedTV showed a little more of the action in the last lap than did other broadcasters.
Pootle It was a brilliant race by Nick and very impressive as he so often is, an excellent finish for a driver that truely doesn't know the meaning of giving up.Although I do think his tactical decision (as good as it was) can't be over-hyped as Nick was low down and it wouldn't mean too much of a loss if it went pear shaped. Well done to him though, thoroughly deserved. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive Ollie: Thanks for that clarification - it makes me grateful for SpeedTV's excellent coverage of the races and their knowledgable and cool commentary team. It is somehow ironic that Speed should be so much better at this game than ITV, given F1's ignorant and arrogant treatment of its American fans to date. If there is any justice in the world, the USGP should return in 2010m as currently rumored. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Clive Pootle: Good point - Nick had very little to lose in taking the gamble of changing to wets. That it paid off so well is surely justice, however, given his atrocious luck earlier in the race. Date Added: 08/09/2008
Steven Roy I think BMW would be crazy to drop Heidfeld next year. His problem this year is generating tyre temperature with the current tyre/aero combination both of which disappear at the end of the season. Given his years of experience he is the ideal guy to have in the team and if Kubica does go to Ferrari at the end of next season who better than Nick to work with the new driver who comes in. Date Added: 09/09/2008
Clive I agree completely, Steven. The trouble is, does Dr Theissen? He is a very sensible man but plenty of other team managers have lost their heads when presented with the possibility of signing Alonso (witness Honda's reported offer of a blank cheque to the Spaniard). His reputation and the skills he has shown in an uncompetitive car this year make him a very tempting proposition - and then there's the matter of those extra six tenths he brings with him... ;) Date Added: 09/09/2008
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