Heidfeld expects strong BMW in Britain

Nick Heidfeld is confident his BMW Sauber team will be back to their place as the third fastest F1 outfit at next weekend's race at Silverstone

The German squad struggled to get close to their main rivals at the French Grand Prix last weekend, with Robert Kubica finishing a distant fourth and Heidfeld down in 13th.

But Heidfeld, like Kubica earlier this week, reckons the team made some mistakes with their decisions for the French race, and the German driver expects to be back in form in Britain.

"I think so," said Heidfeld when asked if the team had made a step forward since France.

"But it looks like for Magny-Cours we made one or two wrong choices unfortunately especially because at Magny-Cours the laptimes are always very close together.

"Although we don't know the fuel levels, here looks more normal. Unfortunately right now Ferrari and McLaren are quicker, but we should be the third fastest again with Toyota looking not bad."

Heidfeld admitted, however, that it is unlikely BMW, or even McLaren, will be able to match Ferrari's pace unless they make significant progress.

"I think that on most of the circuits Ferrari will be the quickest," he added. "If McLaren or ourselves do not make a big step taking out Monza which is a different circuit a bit like Canada where we have been strong but on the more normal tracks I expect Ferrari to be the strongest."

The BMW Sauber driver also said that he was hopeful his qualifying form will be improved after getting close to Kubica in France.

"I hope that it will continue like in Magny-Cours when I was only six hundredths slower than Robert in Q2 which was acceptable. Of course it was not my target but it was better in the previous races. We're still looking at it."