Heidfeld could also miss Spa
Antonio Pizzonia, the team's long-term test driver, stepped into Heidfeld's shoes last weekend in Monza, after he was declared unfit after Friday practice at the Italian Grand Prix following a testing accident on August 26. Given the intense schedule of back-to-back races, the team have decided to allow Nick sufficient time to fully recuperate. In addition, the team will avoid the need to make fitness assessments and driver nominations on the Friday of the Belgian Grand Prix, which would otherwise handicap the team by requiring Antonio Pizzonia to run first in the Belgian qualifying session.
In relation to this decision, Frank Williams said, "Our first priority is prudence in relation to Nick's condition. Although the broad view is that he may well be ready to race by Friday, the back-to-back calendar at this time does not allow the luxury of more time to reach this conclusion, so it is best both for Nick, and indeed the team if we make a clear and early decision that Antonio will race this weekend. In addition to allowing Nick more time to recover, we can nominate Antonio now and he can benefit on Saturday in Belgium with a good starting position for qualifying from the strong seventh place finish he secured in Monza."
09/05/05 Nick Heidfeld may be forced to sit out yet another grand prix after the Williams driver missed Monza with a bad headache.
The German, who knocked his head in a fairly big shunt at the Lesmo corner in pre-Italian grand prix test running, was checked on Saturday at a specialist hospital in Spain (Barcelona).
''Everything is okay in terms of my long term health,'' the 28-year-old commented ahead of Sunday's Belgian grand prix.
''Doctors are of the opinion that I should be fit to race at Spa.''
'Quick Nick' will, though, be checked again on Wednesday, and then at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in eastern Belgium by FIA doctors.
Grove based Williams, meanwhile, conceded that it 'remains to be seen' whether the probably BMW-bound driver will be fit to drive this weekend.