By BMW Sauber F1
February 23 2009

Nick Heidfeld enjoys testing the new BMW Sauber F1.09. For him, the numerous technical changes compared to last year represent a special challenge he loves to meet, in view of the forthcoming Formula One season. Last week, the BMW Sauber F1 Team tested at the "Bahrain International Circuit". The tests in the desert emirate offered the Nick his first opportunity to drive the F1.09 in dry and warm conditions.

"Testing is more enjoyable this year because there are so many new things," Nick admitted following the tests. "We are learning new things and many new perspectives are coming up. I have to change my driving style, and it's something that comes partly by experimenting and partly automatically."

"We are also still working on finding the right balance and set-up for the car - and this task also is more interesting than it used to be," added Nick. "You are not there spot on yet, so there is a lot of potential and it's a lot of fun to find new ways for improvement."

There was only one factor that made the team's quest for progress difficult in Bahrain: the occasional problems with the weather conditions such as the sand storms that cost the team vital time. Nonetheless, Nick, Robert Kubica and Christian Klien succeeded in gathering lots of valuable data which will help them to better understand and set up the F1.09.