Formula One veteran Nick Heidfeld will replace the injured Robert Kubica in the Lotus Renault R31 Formula One car for the 2011 season.
Heidfeld is one of the most experienced drivers on the F1 grid, having started 172 Grands Prix to date.
Heidfeld, a teammate of Kubica’s for four years on the BMW-Sauber team, was already signed as a Lotus Renault test driver before being tapped as Kubica’s replacement.
Robert Kubica was severely injured in a rally accident on Feb 6, and is expected to miss the entire 2011 Formula One season.
Heidfeld started racing in Formula One in 2000, and had a full-time ride through 2009. He only competed in five races in 2010, and was not scheduled to race in 2011.
“I would have liked to come back to Formula One in different circumstances, but I’m proud to have been given this chance,” Heidfeld said on the Lotus-Renault website. “Everything has happened so quickly, but I’ve been very impressed by what I have seen so far in terms of the facilities and the dedication of the people at Enstone [home of Lotus Renault.]
“The team has been through a very difficult couple of weeks and we had to react quickly,” Lotus Renault team principal Eric Boullier said on the team’s website.
“We always said the priority was to have an experienced driver in the car and we feel he is the ideal man for the job. We are pleased to welcome Nick to the team and look forward to a strong start to the season with him and Vitaly in Bahrain.”
Heidfeld is one of the most experienced drivers on the F1 grid, having started 172 Grands Prix to date.
Heidfeld, a teammate of Kubica’s for four years on the BMW-Sauber team, was already signed as a Lotus Renault test driver before being tapped as Kubica’s replacement.
Robert Kubica was severely injured in a rally accident on Feb 6, and is expected to miss the entire 2011 Formula One season.
Heidfeld started racing in Formula One in 2000, and had a full-time ride through 2009. He only competed in five races in 2010, and was not scheduled to race in 2011.
“I would have liked to come back to Formula One in different circumstances, but I’m proud to have been given this chance,” Heidfeld said on the Lotus-Renault website. “Everything has happened so quickly, but I’ve been very impressed by what I have seen so far in terms of the facilities and the dedication of the people at Enstone [home of Lotus Renault.]
“The team has been through a very difficult couple of weeks and we had to react quickly,” Lotus Renault team principal Eric Boullier said on the team’s website.
“We always said the priority was to have an experienced driver in the car and we feel he is the ideal man for the job. We are pleased to welcome Nick to the team and look forward to a strong start to the season with him and Vitaly in Bahrain.”
