Heidfeld a ‘midfield’ driver – Howett

(GMM) Toyota's team president John Howett has dealt a knockout blow to rumors that Nick Heidfeld could be shaping up to join the Japanese squad next year.

To the German magazine Sport Bild, the Briton said that he considers 29-year-old Heidfeld to belong only to formula one's "upper midfield".

Howett also denied contact with Heidfeld's manager Werner Heinz, and – music to the embattled Ralf Schumacher's ears – insisted that replacing either Schumacher or Jarno Trulli would "not improve" the Toyota lineup.

It is believed that Howett also argued strongly against Toyota signing Heidfeld at the end of 2004, when the Japanese squad moved to tab Schumacher following his five year stint at Williams.