Adapted from GMM
Nick Heidfeld is fully prepared to step into a top race seat in 2011, according to his manager.
German Heidfeld, 33, was believed close to returning to Mercedes as reserve driver for this season before his former BMW teammate Robert Kubica was badly injured in a rally smash.
As the favourite for Kubica's full-time Lotus Renault seat, the 33-year-old will test the R31 over a day and a half at Jerez this weekend.
Nick Heidfeld's manager Andre Theuerzeit is confident.
"Nick kept himself fit through the winter, prepared to go racing," he told Welt newspaper.
Andre Theuerzeit indicated that Heidfeld's other option - the Mercedes reserve seat - is probably more lucrative than the Renault drive. "Nick is a heart and soul racing driver. To him, racing is more important than money," he said.
Nick Heidfeld insisted he is relaxed and will not change his normal approach as he effectively auditions for a place on the 2011 grid.
"I'm not going to build up slowly or try to get there quickly. I will do it at my pace, which is best because it's how I've always done it," he is quoted by Dutch website f1today.nl.
"It may take some time for me to adapt to new systems and a new car, but I'm used to this type of situation," added Nick Heidfeld.
Asked about the pressure of the situation, Nick Heidfeld said: "I don't think like this. It's not my first time in this position. I had a shoot-out in Formula 3 with a load of guys, and something similar with the McLaren junior team in Formula 3000. And there was a head-to-head with Antonio Pizzonia at Williams. So I'm very confident that I can deliver. The test here is the first and most important step for me to have the chance to race."
Nick Heidfeld only knew on Wednesday that he would drive the car, but he is optimistic that he can get up to speed quickly in the R31. "I will push the limit as soon as I feel confident to go there," he added.
Nick Heidfeld is fully prepared to step into a top race seat in 2011, according to his manager.
German Heidfeld, 33, was believed close to returning to Mercedes as reserve driver for this season before his former BMW teammate Robert Kubica was badly injured in a rally smash.
As the favourite for Kubica's full-time Lotus Renault seat, the 33-year-old will test the R31 over a day and a half at Jerez this weekend.
Nick Heidfeld's manager Andre Theuerzeit is confident.
"Nick kept himself fit through the winter, prepared to go racing," he told Welt newspaper.
Andre Theuerzeit indicated that Heidfeld's other option - the Mercedes reserve seat - is probably more lucrative than the Renault drive. "Nick is a heart and soul racing driver. To him, racing is more important than money," he said.
Nick Heidfeld insisted he is relaxed and will not change his normal approach as he effectively auditions for a place on the 2011 grid.
"I'm not going to build up slowly or try to get there quickly. I will do it at my pace, which is best because it's how I've always done it," he is quoted by Dutch website f1today.nl.
"It may take some time for me to adapt to new systems and a new car, but I'm used to this type of situation," added Nick Heidfeld.
Asked about the pressure of the situation, Nick Heidfeld said: "I don't think like this. It's not my first time in this position. I had a shoot-out in Formula 3 with a load of guys, and something similar with the McLaren junior team in Formula 3000. And there was a head-to-head with Antonio Pizzonia at Williams. So I'm very confident that I can deliver. The test here is the first and most important step for me to have the chance to race."
Nick Heidfeld only knew on Wednesday that he would drive the car, but he is optimistic that he can get up to speed quickly in the R31. "I will push the limit as soon as I feel confident to go there," he added.