Theissen praises Heidfeld's Spa turn

Heidfeld is currently fighting to prove he deserves a 2009 contract at the Hinwil-based team, with Theissen insisting that no decision will be taken until later in the year.

However, with Heidfeld equalling his best qualifying performance of 2008 in Belgium and then grabbing second with a perfectly timed switch to wets, Theissen has been left with nothing but praise for the German.

And his comments will serve to suggest that Heidfeld is all but assured of the seat unless a big name star, like Fernando Alonso, becomes available.

"Certainly it has been a very strong weekend from Nick, maybe the strongest this year in qualifying as well as the race," Theissen told autosport.com about Heidfeld's performance and the decision to change tyres.

"It tells you something about race craft and about racing experience, to judge a situation like this in just a few seconds. We saw other drivers who came in, do it one lap later and they lost rather than won.

"If you compare (Fernando) Alonso against Heidfeld. Nick was the only guy who decided to come in right away, take the risk - and that was the only chance to win. That takes experience, which was worth five points in Spa."

When asked if Heidfeld's seat was guaranteed if he continued delivering the form he showed at Spa, Theissen said: "This was the performance that we expect."