Heidfeld Australian Second

Nick Heidfeld Australian second place winner in the season-opening Grand Prix in Melbourne has warned that the full potential of the F1.08 has still been far from put on display.

Heidfeld – who has historically run with a heavier fuel load than his team-mate – looked to be sitting pretty in fifth place, and he proved that to be the case by producing a strong run on race day, overcoming Williams' Nico Rosberg during the first round of pit-stops and going on to pressurise McLarenstar Heikki Kovalainen for the runner-up spot before the Finn was caught out by the final safety car period, guaranteeing his BMWrival the position.

Heidfeld – At the start I had too much wheelspin and couldn't keep Nico Rosberg behind me. I thought it was going to become a difficult race because I expected him to pit earlier, but we stopped on the same lap and our crew did a really great job to get me in front of him.

“With my second pit-stop I was lucky that the safety car didn't come out earlier and I could refuel as planned. In the last stint I had to take care not to kill the option tyres. Overall the first race without traction control was less difficult than expected.”