Heidfeld looks forward

Nick Heidfeld believes it is time for Formula One to stop mourning the retirement of Michael Schumacher.

Seven-times world champion Schumacher brought the curtain down on his remarkable career at the end of last season.

Since then many observers have claimed the sport will not be the same without the former Ferrari star.

Fellow German Nick Heidfeld, however, feels Schumacher should be lauded, not lamented.

“People should be happy with Michael’s achievements, instead of being sad about him leaving and things changing,” said Heidfeld at the launch of the new BMW Sauber F1.07 in Valencia.

“I think it will be the supporters who will miss him, not just in Germany, but around the world.

“For me as a driver, it doesn’t change things too much. I got on with him, but it’s not as if we spent much time together.

“I would prefer him to still be around, but at the same time with me in a more competitive car to fight him.

“That’s because I spent a lot of time last season watching him in my mirrors as he was lapping me.”

Heidfeld will be hoping BMW have given him a competitive car for the new season, which begins in two months’ time with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The team showed significant improvement last year, claiming fifth in the constructors’ championship, albeit still 50 points adrift of fourth-placed Honda.

All eyes, though, are again likely to be on Ferrari and their new driver line-up of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

Former team owner Peter Sauber, who merely serves as a consultant these days after selling to German car manufacturing giant BMW in 2005, will be among the interested spectators.

Raikkonen and Massa both started their Formula One careers at Sauber before moving on to bigger and better teams.

In particular, Sauber wonders whether Raikkonen is cut out for the life at Ferrari, issuing a warning to team boss Jean Todt.

“I think it will be a different year at Ferrari with no Michael Schumacher,” commented the 63-year-old Swiss.

“He was an excellent driver, not only fast, but he also knew about the technical side.

“I’m sure Jean Todt knows exactly how good Kimi is, and is aware of his strengths and weaknesses.

“For many years he has been a big fan of Kimi’s, but does he know his weak side because Kimi is not so interested in the technical side of things?

“If you are to develop the car that is very important, but he will have good support in Felipe, who made a big step forward last year alongside Michael.”