Formula 1: Heidfeld blown away by podium finish

Sauber racer Nick Heidfeld admitted his third place at the Brazilian Grand Prix will take some time to sink in.

The German scored his maiden podium finish in his second season in Formula One.

And he revealed he was delighted for his Swiss-based team following the Sao Paulo race.

"I don't think I've realised what I've done yet," said Heidfeld. "For me to be on the podium is just amazing. I really cannot quite believe this result.

"To visit the podium for the first time is incredible for me. I'm so happy for the team.

"We have really worked for this result. And for me it is just amazing - it's a lot more fun this year to be in the points, especially to finish on the podium.

His team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, in his first year in F1, was forced out of the race with a puncture after 56 laps.

But the Finnish driver admitted the puncture was his own fault, however, after he spun in the wet.

"To begin with I had a little too much understeer, but when it started to rain my car felt good," explained Raikkonen.

"Unfortunately I spun once, and couldn't get enough traction on the grass to move uphill in the direction of the track, so I had to lose a lot of time rolling downhill before I could get back on to the track.

"The second time I spun it was just my fault. I know what the right rear tyre looked like on television, hooked over the rim, but that happened as the car skipped over the grass.

"I thought at one stage it was going to roll over, but it was okay. I'd like to say too that I´m very happy for Nick for his great result," he added.

Team owner Peter Sauber congratulated the whole team on a strong race.

"This was a fantastic result, and confirms all the promise we have shown so far this season," said Sauber.

"For the team is was a difficult thing to advise the drivers on tyre choice, but Nick Heidfeld made a very good decision to inform us that he preferred intermediate tyres in the conditions.

"Both he and Kimi Raikkonen drove strongly all race, and were in points-scoring contention throughout."