Nick Heidfeld Q&A
Nick Heidfeld was almost an invisible man at Prost last year, but winter proved that the German and Sauber could be one of the surprise packages of 2001. That form carried on into Friday's first session in Melbourne. For a while he lay fifth, and he finished the day in seventh despite ending the session in the gravel after a brake problem pitched him off the road. As he alighted from the car he had a grandstand view of Michael Schumacher spinning off and pitching into a spectacular roll. Adam Cooper spoke to Heidfeld after the session
"Yes, definitely. I didn't expect to be on seventh position, although it's only Friday. If it's the same tomorrow I think we'll be very excited."
"Apart from the end it was fine. I had a brake problem then. We did quite some changes on the car, and most of them were in the right direction. And I think we still have some ideas for tomorrow."
"I hit the brake and it was solid. I don't know if it was because of a stone or something, but it was just locked. Then 50 metres later it started working, but obviously it was too late by then."
"Yes. I had just got out of the car, but next time I'll try to be quicker. I spoke to the team on the radio and said I was fine, and what happened. Then I just saw when he was rolling over. It happens sometime when you go sideways in a gravel trap, there's a big chance that you can roll over."
"Yes, compared to last year it's wonderful. I hope it goes on like this!"
"I don't know... It's difficult to say at the moment."
"Definitely, for sure."
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