Quick Nick in, Pedro a go-go

Good bit of news today.

Well, I say good. Good if you're Nick Heidfeld. Not very good at all if you're Pedro de la Rosa.

Heidfeld has been twiddling his thumbs this season whilst being Mercedes Test Driver, which in real terms means he's done rugger ball since the start of the year except for wearing headphone at races and generally looking as cool as possible without actually being in an F1 car. A bit of excitement (not to mention a bit of driving and some dosh probably) came his way recently when new-for-next-year tyre suppliers Pirelli wanted someone to drive the completed Toyota that didn't get a run this year with their new rubber on the corners, to see how it all went.

It's unclear if this helped him get the seat at Sauber for the rest of the year, if it was his undoubted talent, the fact that he's driven for them before or (and this seems most likely) because Pedro de la Rosa was a bit crap. Kobayashi has substantially outperformed him this season, and he was pretty hopeless when he did a few races for McLaren.

Heidfeld on the other hand is a reliable driver who largely slipped under the radar in his career. Regular podiums and some quality drives, but he remains in that range of drivers including Fisichella, Frentzen and many more. Give them a decent car and they'll do a fine job, but they'll rarely set the world alight. Nick also holds the record for most podiums without a win, and he'll be unlikely to alter that unfortunate stat in a Sauber.

But I'm pleased to have him back - I always hoped he could have achieved more and he still deserves a place on the grid.

In a similar vein, Kimi Monsosyllabic Raikkonen has apparently be talking to Renault about driving for them next year. If he can be bothered, I guess.

How many more ex-drivers can we get back? Villeneuve hasn't made it but Schumi is back. How about Damon Hill? Alain Prost? Gerhard Berger? Ralph Schumacher?! Maybe not....

(Cassette of the night: Jean Michel Jarre's "Jarremix" from 95. Funnnnnky!)

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