According to this article no change. So most likely no change at Ferrari or Renault either? We shall see. BMW hints at unchanged driver line-up in '09. Thu 17 Jul, 10:57 AM - Crash.net via Eurosport Both Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are likely to remain at BMW in F1 in 2009, the team's motorsport director Dr Mario Theissen suggests... For the first time this year, Dr Mario Theissen has suggested that BMW-Sauber will retain an unchanged driver line-up in Formula 1 in 2009 - seeming to quell speculation about Nick Heidfeld's future at the squad. The experienced German has endured a trying start to the 2008 campaign, struggling to heat up his tyres sufficiently quickly in qualifying and consequently leaving him on the back foot come the races, an issue that prior to the British Grand Prix had seen him out-qualified by team-mate Robert Kubica eight-nil - twice indeed failing to make the top ten Q3 shoot-out at all - and out-scored 48 points to just 26. Claiming to have made a breakthrough in the run-up to Silverstone, however, Heidfeld went on to out-pace Kubica in qualifying for the first time this year, earning himself fifth spot on the grid around the Northants circuit. Even more encouragingly still, his race performance - when he twice pulled off double overtaking moves on a charge that took him to the second step of the rostrum, his third podium finish of the season to-date - seemed to back that assertion up, and has instilled the under-pressure 31-year-old with a new lease of life as he approaches his home event at Hockenheim this weekend. Both Kubica and Heidfeld are understood to be under contract with BMW for 2009. There have previously been suggestions that the Munich and Hinwil-based concern is interested in securing the services of disenchanted Renault incumbent Fernando Alonso - seemingly in place of Heidfeld - but Theissen has sought to play down any such talk. "A team that wants to play a role in the world championship needs two strong drivers," the Bavarian manufacturer's motorsport director asserted in an interview with German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. "However, even the best driver is not a robot. He can only deliver maximum results if the equipment, the environment and everything else is right. "At Silverstone Nick gave a convincing performance; strong in qualifying, fast in the race, with spectacular overtaking manoeuvres and very good vehicle control in very difficult conditions. "For me this is the fruitful result of the past weeks of intensive work. I am convinced that, in the second half of the season, we will see a strong Nick Heidfeld. "We will announce our driver pairing for 2009 between the [August] summer break and the end of the season, so for the moment nothing has changed."
Good news for Heidfeld. He needs to up his game because Kubicka is getting a lot of attention. Nick could find himself becoming another Fisi.
+1 Kubica has taken a very unstable car from testing and made it work beautifully for himself. The margin between himself and Nick is very very wide. I think he may have the development skills ala Fernando. He is a good catch for any team if and when he leaves BMW. Nick is very very lucky to be able to stay there and he is not a bad driver to begin with.
1 good result is all it takes ? Not convinced. The good Doc might simply be placing the Bims in a better bargaining postion with someone new while giving Seinfeld a public pep talk.
Nick pulled off an excellent performance when he really needed one. If he keeps this up, then he deserves to keep his seat.
Vettel just signed for RBR for 2009. Kubica is likely to stay at BMW. And Alonso (sigh), will be at Ferrari in 2009 or 2010, that being the reason that Kubica won't be at Ferrari. Oh, and Massa to Toyota or maybe Honda. I am going to start liking sushi.
well, why change something thats not broken? i have no problems with BMW's current lineup, or with Ferrari's either.
