Nick Heidfeld's Future

Among the second tier drivers and teams in Formula One (defined as everyone except Ferrari and McLaren), it seems that Heidfeld has received a lot of press this week. Even America's New York Times wrote a detailed article summing up his career and his current predicament.

Nick better pick up the pace.

With the game of driver musical chairs about to start, Scuderia Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel is rumored to be going to Ferrari (assuming Kimi retires). The buzz this week is that if Heidfeld does not shape up at BMW Sauber, he'll move to STR, which is not exactly a promotion.

Today, Heidfeld did an admirable job in qualifying, finishing fifth behind the Ferraris and McLarens. More importantly, he qualified ahead of teammate Robert Kubica.

Heidfeld has a decent shot of finishing third tomorrow at Spa Francorchamp. One of the Ferrari's con rods will probably break, again. Heikki Kovalainen will finish fifth. And voila, we have third place. If it rains, and the stars align just right, Heidfeld may even win the race.

In the end, I believe that as long as Quick Nick finishes in the top four or five and ahead of Kubica this weekend, his job will be safe, at least until next week's race at Monza.

CKY