Steve Cooper: On the Limit

There are no easy explanations in Formula 1. Take paddock rumour at face value and you'll invariably be wrong-footed - particularly when it involves money. And everything in F1 involves money.

So when a German newspaper last week ran an article claiming that Nick Heidfeld was talking to Toyota about a deal for 2008, you knew you would have to peel back all the various layers of truth and untruth to get to the essence of the story.

Bringing up the matter during BMW chief Mario Theissen's regular Thursday afternoon press meeting seemed like the perfect opportunity. But he seemed unprepared for the question, squirming visibly in his seat and opening and closing his mouth silently - like a goldfish mouthing bubbles in a fishtank - as he grappled for the most appropriate - and politically advantageous - answer.

His pause drew a few nervous giggles from the handful of journalists gathered round the table. Theissen himself gulped and grinned slyly from the corner of his mouth, attempting to offset the tension and buy himself time. But it was all too much. "Er, I would like to postpone this question," he faltered. "I need to talk to Nick first before I talk to you guys."

The unflappable Dr Mario had been stumped - and this was most odd. Unsettling a team principal is an extremely tricky act - these are collected individuals, multi-faceted thinkers who can easily grasp the nettle in most situations and brush off intrusive questions with effortless ease. And, armed with more facts than most, are invariably several steps ahead of you in any mental chess game.

So why was Theissen left gasping? Well, that newspaper story unexpectedly announced to the paddock that Heidfeld would become a free agent later this year, and not at the end of 2008, something widely assumed by the paddock. And that leaves Theissen facing several uncomfortable problems.

At a stroke, Heidfeld's canny manager, Werner Heinz, had kicked off the F1 silly season by announcing in the least subtle way that his charge was on the market and, gents, if you'd be so kind as to form an orderly queue then he'd speak to you all in turn.

Of course, this was no indiscretion. Heidfeld's career is very healthy at the moment - he has yet to be outqualified by his much-touted team-mate Robert Kubica - and has a handful of strong results that will doubtless ratchet up his market value. If Theissen wants to keep Heidfeld, then it's going to cost him.

And that brings us neatly to Theissen's second problem, namely that 'Quick Nick' is proving just a bit too quick for BMW's comfort at the moment. The 2007 script clearly featured Kubica as the leading man - but the Pole has been distinctly shaded this year by Heidfeld, who has become a much more complete driver over the winter. Why would BMW want to get rid of a guy who's relatively inexpensive, efficient, low-maintenance and more than capable of doing the job?

That led us to Theissen's third problem: he's got a great deal of affection for his youthful protege, Sebastian Vettel, the guy he's reared from Formula BMW and for whom he has a deep, fatherly bond. If Heidfeld's run of form continues there'll be no room for Vettel.

And Theissen knows he would risk criticism back in Germany if he edged out Heidfeld for a less competitive, more inexperienced driver. No wonder he looked so flummoxed as he stalled, searched and finally scrambled for the most appropriate answer to give to that group of journalists last weekend.

The whole incident - sparked by a seemingly glib and apparently untrue aside to a German tabloid - has placed a much sharper focus on how Theissen chooses to play his hand over the coming months. Two races in and we're already talking about the 2008 season. F1 moves fast...