Heidfeld already signed

UPDATE According to tabloid Die Bild, the German driver will get the nod ahead of on-off Williams tester Antonio Pizzonia, having impressed in a couple of recent test sessions in Spain. The German article says that Heidfeld has signed a one-year $5 million plus bonuses deal with the BMW-powered team, with an extension option to follow at the end of 2005. However, it remains unclear, without official confirmation from either driver or team, whether the agreement is to race or test. 12/09/04 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld may already be signed as Williams' second F1 racer for 2005, a German newspaper claimed. 'Bild' said the 27-year-old former Jordan and Sauber star – a German from Moenchengladbach – is 'stoutly' supported by German team engine partner BMW, even if Frank Williams would apparently prefer Antonio Pizzonia. The paper also said that if Heidfeld's drive is vetoed by Grove management, a 'provisional' contract guarantees him Pizzonia's vacated test spot. Nick is impressed with the scale of the Oxfordshire/Munich-collaboration: ''At the circuit,'' he said at Jerez, ''the greater number of experts (there are), the better the responsibility assignment.''