27/07/2005
NEWS STORY
Looking ahead to 2006, there is much speculation as to which drivers BMW will choose for its first foray into Formula One as a team in its own right.
Naturally, Nick Heidfeld has been linked with the German manufacturer, whilst there are rumours of Felipe Massa and Rubens Barrichello also making it known that they could be available. Then there's the 'faithful', who dream that Jacques Villeneuve might be retained.
However, the one name we're not hearing - and we should be - is Nico Rosberg. The twenty-year-old, was given his first F1 test, with the BMW powered WilliamsF1 team, as a reward for winning the 2002 Formula BMW ADAC Championship, his first season of single-seater racing.
This year, in addition to his duties as test driver with WillamsF1, Nico has been impressing the F1 paddock with his performances in the inaugural GP2 series, and is currently second, just six points behind championship leader Heikki Kovalainen, with five rounds remaining.
As if all this isn't enough, unlike his father, 1982 Formula One World Champion Keke Rosberg, Nico is German.