Last-second call pays off for Heidfeld

Nick Heidfeld admitted he had made the wrong tyre choice during the Malaysian Grand Prix, despite being the only driver to pit just once in today's chaotic event

The BMW-Sauber driver finished in second position after the race was suspended because of the poor weather conditions.

Heidfeld had started from 10th place and pitted for extremes when the rain began to fall. The track, however, was not sufficiently wet and most drivers pitted again for intermediates before a downpour hit the track.

Heidfeld admitted he came within seconds of pitting again, but the German made a last-second call and stayed on track, a decision that paid off in the end.

"It was a very difficult choice in these conditions," said Heidfeld. "We didn't do perfect tyre choice - I went straight to extremes as normally it's heavy rainfall here.

"Then the team told me heavy rain was expected, and I told them inters would be a lot quicker now. Just as they told me to pit, it started to rain heavier.

"I was actually just 200 metres from the pit area and I said 'no, no, I'll stay out, it's starting to rain more heavily'. As I'd tried to preserve my tyres in the beginning, some other guys were quicker than me on the extreme wets, but I knew if the rain started then hopefully I could stay out.

"That worked, but still my rear tyres were destroyed completely and were basically slicks, and when it started to rain I just tried to stay on the circuit."