Nick Heidfeld has refused to respond to the insult of a Toyota boss, after John Howett said the German driver belongs no higher in formula one than the “upper midfield”.
“With him, we would not improve,” team president Howett recently told Sport Bild.
Howett’s comments follow the speculation that the Cologne based squad might be contemplating signing Heidfeld – who has an expiring BMW-Sauber contract – as a replacement for the embattled Ralf Schumacher in 2008 and beyond.
But even though it appears that Heidfeld, 29, can now strike the Japanese team off his list of potential suitors, he refused to rise to the bait of firing back at the hugely-financed outfit that in nearly six years has failed to win a grand prix.
Heidfeld said: “I know what I can do.
“I would rather keep driving quickly than try to respond with my mouth.”
