Schuey backs Heidfeld decision

World champion Michael Schumacher has backed Williams' decision to hand Nick Heidfeld his dream opportunity of racing with a front-line team - even though it now means the friends may have to start racing wheel-to-wheel

Speaking during testing at Valencia in Spain, Schumacher said he fully welcomed the decision to put Heidfeld in a race seat alongside Mark Webber - especially because he got on so well with his fellow German.

"I am happy for him, first of all," said Schumacher. "I know him very well and have done so for a very long time. We sometimes spend time together off the track as well, so I am happy for him. I think he deserved it."

When asked whether he believed that Heidfeld could now become one of his major opponents, Schumacher said: "I think so - yes. But that is the nice thing in this business - that you can look forward to having competition. Otherwise it can get boring."

Late last year former world champion Niki Lauda believed Williams should opt for Heidfeld and claimed that there was little reason why the former Prost, Sauber and Jordan star could not become Germany's second-best driver behind Schumacher.