Nick Heidfeld will join the Pirelli development team in order to prepare the Formula 1 tyres for next season. Mercedes Grand Prix confirmed on Tuesday morning the team's test and reserve driver was released from his contract to take up the position of official test driver for Pirelli.
Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli is currently preparing for its return to Formula 1 and in order to start testing next year's tyres the company needed to sign up an experienced driver to develop its tyres.
Speaking about the team's decision to part company with Nick Heidfeld team boss Ross Brawn said: “We can confirm that the team is pleased to allow Nick Heidfeld the opportunity to join Pirelli and contribute to their development work for the company's imminent return to Formula One.
“Nick is an extremely experienced driver and we are confident that his racing knowledge and technical feedback will prove extremely useful to Pirelli and therefore of benefit to the sport as a whole. Nick has been a real asset to Mercedes Grand Prix since joining our team this year and we are pleased to see his career progressing.”
Heidfeld was pleased with Mercedes' decision to release him from his contract. “First of all I would like to thank Ross Brawn, Norbert Haug and Nick Fry for allowing me the opportunity to become Pirelli's official test driver,” Heidfeld said. “The team has always said that they would not stand in my way if such a chance arose and they have kindly allowed me to take up this exciting new role. I would like to thank everyone at Mercedes Grand Prix for the great cooperation that we have had this year.
“I have greatly enjoyed supporting the team in my position as Reserve Driver and have felt welcome right from the outset. It was impressive to have the opportunity to work with the current World Champions and I wish the team all the best for the remainder of the season and beyond.”
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