- Mercedes news
Mercedes won't replace Heidfeld
Norbert Haug has confirmed that Mercedes will not appoint a formal replacement for Nick Heidfeld as the team's reserve driver.
With just seven races to go in 2010, Mercedes agreed to release Heidfeld so that he could become Pirelli's permanent tyre development tester. Virgin tester Andy Soucek was mentioned as a possible replacement but Haug said the team would not fill the vacant role for the last third of the season.
"We do not intend to fill this role for the remaining races in 2010," he told the SID news agency.
Haug tipped 33-year-old Heidfeld to use his new Pirelli role as a springboard back onto the Formula One grid.
"Absolutely, don't forget that Nick has already beaten the current championship leader Mark Webber as a team-mate (at Williams in 2005)," Haug added.