Nick Heidfeld stopped short of predicting an assault on the front runners, but the German driver agrees that his BMW-Sauber team could have a strong season in 2007.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa sensationally claimed last week that the Swiss outfit is currently ahead of both his red-shod camp and McLaren, after BMW usually appeared near the top of the test times.
Ferrari tester Marc Gene, meanwhile, tells the newspaper Diario As: “It seems like (BMW) have made a bigger step forward than anyone else.”
Heidfeld, 29, pointed out that teams often struggle the year after an impressive season, but admitted to motorline.cc: “I think we will have a good second season.
“But outside expectations are very high and it will be difficult for us to make the same kind of big step forward (as in 2006).”
Following the acquisition of Sauber by the German carmaker BMW, Hinwil based BMW-Sauber moved from eighth place in the constructors’ standings to fifth at the end of 2006.
For 2007, BMW is publicly targeting podiums rather than wins.
Heidfeld reiterated: “To repeat the kind of step we made (last year) is of course much more difficult, because the higher you go, the thinner the air becomes.
“We are competing with a lot of manufacturers who have a lot of money. I am sure that we will move forward some more, but I don’t think we will again be the surprise of the year.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
