By BMW Sauber F1
January 27 2009

Over the course of the past decades, the job description of a Formula One driver has changed massively. To have what it takes to successfully cooperate with the engineers, at the pinnacle of motor racing, the drivers have to be more and more skilled when it comes to technical understanding.

Nick Heidfeld, however, underlines that he as a driver can only play a part in selected areas to support the BMW Sauber F1 Team experts.

"It goes without saying that a driver can't know and understand every component of a car, today," says the 31-year old. "We have got a staff off several hundreds team members, among them many engineers who have studied different fields. For a driver, it's just impossible to keep up with their special knowledge. Nonetheless, it definitely is helpful to possess a certain understanding and - of course - interest."

Nick definitely meets these demands: after all, he is regarded as one of the best drivers on the Formula One grid when it comes to continuously enhancing the car together with the engineers. "The most important task for a driver still is to provide significant feedback and information regarding the car's balance," he describes his job. "I try to get involved in the enhancement of the car - but only as far as I'm able to do so. As I said: I'm no engineer, so my contribution is my experience as a racing driver."

Nonetheless, the feedback of a racing driver is particularly important when a new car is executing its first tests - as the BMW Sauber F1.09 recently did at Valencia. Then, the drivers' input helps the team to quickly move into the right direction while developing the car.