Nick Heidfeld Minichamps 2010 collection

Though Nick got a gig testing Pirelli tires for F1, his future as a racer in F1 is still iffy.  My favorite diecast carmaker, Minichamps, neglected to make a model of him this season.  But I've got to get my Heidfeld Minichamps fix so I fudged my rules a little and expanded my collection.

I first started by collecting his Sauber BMW cars.  I then upped the ante by acquiring his 1999 McLaren and 2005 Williams.

So now what?  Well.  He is, after all, testing the Pirelli tires with the 2009 Toyota TF109.  So I got this:

And no, I am not going to paint it white.

Then, I figured: He was the reserve/test driver for Mercedes GP this year.  So I am bidding on this:

Yes, I know that is Nico Rosberg in the car.  But I have been rooting for Nico all season.  And no, I am not going to paint his helmet black.

And there you have it, the complete Nick Heidfeld F1 Minichamps collection.*

*Less his cars from Jordan, Prost, etc.

Young Hamilton and Rosberg

For some reason, I'm thinking Fine Young Cannibals and Rick Astley.

Source.

Nico Rosberg: my favorite F1 driver (active)

After a topsy-turvy pre-season and five races, I am ready to announce my new favorite driver.  Another German:

Schumacher continues to struggle behind Rosberg

(For all stats below, Nico's numbers are listed first.)

Bahrain

Qualifying position: 5th, 7th

Q3 time: 1:55.241, 1:55.524

Finish: 5th, 6th

Seconds MSC was behind Nico at finish: 3.9

Fastest lap: 2:00.236, 2:00.204

Australia

Qualifying position: 6th, 7th

Q3 time: 1:24.884, 1:24.927

Finish: 5th, 10th

Seconds MSC was behind Nico at finish: 52.7

Fastest lap: 1:28.489, 1:29.185

Malaysia

Qualifying position: 2nd, 8th

Q3 time: 1:50.673, 1:51.717

Finish: 3rd, DNF

Seconds MSC was behind Nico at finish: N/A

Fastest lap: 1:38.129, 1:42.084

China

Qualifying position: 4th, 9th

Q3 time: 1:34.923, 1:35.646

I have been really hard on Schumacher and his come-back.  Now, I kinda feel bad for him.

Nico Rosberg Michael Schumacher head-to-head stats

The stats speak for themselves.  Me thinks it's time for Nick to suit up.  Paging Herr Heidfeld...

(For all stats below, Nico's numbers are listed first.)
Bahrain
Qualifying position: 5th, 7th
Q3 time: 1:55.241, 1:55.524
Finish: 5th, 6th
Seconds MSC was behind Nico at finish: 3.9
Fastest lap: 2:00.236, 2:00.204


Australia
Qualifying position: 6th, 7th

Q3 time: 1:24.884, 1:24.927

Finish: 5th, 10th

Seconds MSC was behind Nico at finish: 52.7

Fastest lap: 1:28.489, 1:29.185

Malaysia
Qualifying position: 2nd, 8th
Q3 time: 1:50.673, 1:51.717

Nick Heidfeld 2010 photos: Malaysia, driving a W196, helmet

A year ago, Nick Heidfeld placed second in the Malaysian GP.  Since then, he has been promoted to GPDA chairman and demoted to test driver for Mercedes GP.  Here are some recent pictures for you poor Heidfeld fans.

Heidfeld with some random people who may be famous or respected in the F1 world.

Heidfeld driving a W196 Mercedes

Heidfeld with a couple of German drivers, one of whom he'll replace during the middle of this season (it's not Nico).

Heidfeld's new helmet

2009 Suzuka Drivers Parade Round-Up

Can Vettel pull a Kimi and beat Button in Abu Dhabi? I, for one, am still pulling for the sentimental favorite, Rubens Barrichello.

Here are pics of some of the drivers in a pre-race parade, followed by a video.

Webber (set fastest lap despite 5 pit stops) in a ???. And is that Fisi in a Fiat Dino?

Winner Vettel in a wee Bugatti

Roman Grosjean in a ??? followed by Quick Nick in a BMW 507

Nico in a Toyota S800, which I saw at the Concours d'Lemons

Lewis in a Merc

Kimi in a Ferrari

Kaz Nakajima in a Toyota (?)

Jenson in a Seven (?) followed by Rubihno in a Merc

Alonso in some kind of British automobile

Any help with identifying the above autos would be appreciated.