Like most other F1 drivers, Heidfeld got a start early in life. He began racing at the age of 11 when most kids learn to bike! And at just 17, he made quite a splash at the German Formula Ford series winning eight of the nine races in the year. A year later, he was making an even bigger noise winning the German International Formula Ford 1800 Championship and finishing second in the Zetec Cup.

As a natural progression, in 1996 this led to a drive in the German International Formula 3 Championship where he finished third with three wins. Over the next few years, he won the German Formula 3000 Championship and was the runner-up in the European version of it. In 1998, he made his first foray into the world for Formula 1 racing when he became the test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes team. A contract with a Formula 1 team thereafter was just a matter of time. The call up to the big time happened in 2000 when he was signed up by the Prost Grand Prix team to drive alongside Jean Alesi. Not a happy season with far too many retirements, things weren’t too good with co-driver Alesi either. It is rumoured that things almost came to a blow between them.

Heidfeld chose to move on after the season and Sauber offered him a three-year contract in a team that had rookie Kimi Raikkonen as well. Things didn’t quite work as per plan and at the end of 2003, after an unhappy marriage with Sauber, he was dropped from the team. He was in danger of being without a team for the 2004 season, but some test drives with Jordan earned him a spot with them. But plagued by another poor car, he could not do much although most thought that with a better car, things could have been better. Once again, Heidfeld was in danger of not having a team for the next season. During the winter of 2004, he was involved in some testing for Williams F1 team and it resulted in a shootout between him and Antonio Pizzonia for the second driver’s seat. Heidfeld won the seat and his career continued.

Six-and-a-half years after his debut, in the seventh race of the 2005 season, Heidfeld took his first pole position. The same year, he also had his best ever result as an F1 driver when he finished second in Monaco. That has been the closest he has ever been to winning a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Thereafter, though, the season went downhill once again as two accidents—one on the track and one off it—forced him to miss first two races and then the remainder of the season. It’s not like things are not improving for Heidfeld and his team, though. He started 2006 in good form and could also have earned a few points had it not been for Nico Rosberg who hit him from behind. A couple of similar accidents followed that robbed him of some well-deserved points, but in Hungary, he managed the best ever result for his team BMW, finishing third. Starting from 10th on the grid, he drove a faultless race to reach the podium. The last two years have been by far the best of his career as he has risen through the ranks.

BMW’s continued efforts with the engine and a long contract for Heidfeld (till the end of the 2008 season) means he could well be a challenger over the next couple of seasons. Towards the end of the last season, he was reported to have said that the media is giving undue attention to rookie Robert Kubica as “the next big thing”.

2008 was a tough year for the German. He managed four podium finishes including one in the opening race of the season, but couldn’t go on to bigger things finishing only sixth in the driver’s championship. Teammate Robert Kubica outshone him with seven podium finishes including one win. The German, though, remains an imminent threat for 2009 and if the car can deliver, there is a good chance that he too, can make it to the top step of the podium.

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride is an adage that is apt for Heidfeld. While he tries his best, it always seems like the universe is plotting against him! He wouldn’t want to leave much to chance this year, though. There is much that has changed in the rules and regulations and it would bode well if he adapted sooner than others. It’s as level a playing field as there has been for years. And this could be his best chance.