Quick Nick not living up to his name

What in the Wide World of Sports is up with Nick Heidfeld lately? A guy I considered to be fighting for some wins this season has really fallen off the radar lately. He's making me regret coping his trademark neck-beard. But seriously what has happened to the young German?

BMW's motorsport director, Dr. Mario Theissen, may have an answer in what is wrong. Apparently, Heidfeld has been having troubles in warming up his tires which is costing him dearly come qualifying. But Thiessen putting that doctor title to good use says that he and the BMW-Sauber team have figured out Nick's problem and hope to have him in fighting condtion real soon.

"We have to make a joint effort to help him overcome this situation as quickly as possible," Theissen told his team's official website. "He has significant difficulties getting the tyres up to working temperature for a fast lap.

"While Robert only encounters first hints of this problem, Nick is already in massive difficulties. This is a situation we have witnessed throughout the season. However, as soon as his tyres are warm, the problem is history.

"Nick fully immerses himself in the technology and tackles the situation. He is going to analyse the issue together with our engineers. I hope that we will quickly succeed in isolating the cause.

"We have to discover if there is a factor which represents a bigger obstacle for Nick than for Robert, a task that will require a lot of fine-tuning."

Theissen is encouraged by the fact that the team helped Kubica overcome similar difficulties he had last year - when Heidfeld outshone him for much of the year.

"In 2007 Robert encountered a similar low. Together we analysed the situation and defined remedy measures. And we did so successfully.

"Nick will return to the road to success, we are fully aware of his true competitiveness. I have often watched him under pressure and in these situations he delivers at his very best. I know that he has what it takes to cope with the pressure and to analyse the technology. These are two crucial basic requirements for solving the problem."

Well I hope Nick can get back on track soon or I'll be shaving real soon.

Thieissen: Hiedfeld will overcome problems (Autosport.com)