Topic: Nick Heidfeld

Nick Lars Heidfeld (born May 10, 1977 in Mönchengladbach, West Germany) is a German Formula One racing driver, who is currently driving for the BMW Sauber team.

Despite his recent success, Heidfeld is yet to win a race during his nine seasons in Formula One. This means that amongst the current drivers, he has had the most GP starts without standing at the top spot on the podium. Heidfeld has now started over 150 races, so if he were to eventually win a race he would break the record for most starts before a maiden victory. This is currently held by Rubens Barrichello, who claimed his first victory on his 123rd attempt. Heidfeld also currently holds three other dubious records; he is the driver who has scored the highest number of world championship points without a Grand Prix win, shares the record for the most podium finishes without a Grand Prix win with Stefan Johansson, and has the most second place finishes without a win, with 8. He also holds the record for the most consecutive race classifications with his current ongoing tally of 34, as well as the most finishes in a season when he finished 18 races in the 2008 season. This record is tied with Tiago Monteiro's 18 finishes in the 2005 season.

Heidfeld was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, on May 10, 1977, and began racing karts at the age of 11 in 1988. In 1994 he moved into the German Formula Ford series, gaining widespread attention by winning 8 of the 9 races to take the title that season. In 1995 he won the German International Formula Ford 1800 Championship, and came second in the Zetec Cup. This led to a drive in the German Formula Three Championship championship for 1996, where he finished third overall, after taking 3 wins. The following year Heidfeld won the German F3 Championship, including a win at the Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race. In 1998, he won three races and was runner-up in the International Formula 3000 championship, with the West Junior Team. At the final race of the season he was demoted to the back of the grid from pole position, after his team used non-compliant fuel. He finished the race ninth and out of the points, losing the championship by seven points to Juan Pablo Montoya. During that season, he was also the official test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team. In 1999, he won the International Formula 3000 Championship. that year he also took the official track record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed which still stands today.