Tuesday February 1st, 2000

Germany's Nick Heidfeld, the latest novice to arrive in Formula One, has the ideal teacher in Alain Prost. The driver dubbed 'the professor' for the calculating way he won four world championships has signed Heidfeld, 22, as partner to veteran Jean Alesi in his Prost-Peugeot team.

"Already I am learning things, but I am enjoying it," said Heidfeld at the launch of the team's new car on Tuesday.

"I did not expect it to be easy but I don't feel I am stretched out of my depth in any way.

"Don't forget I have been testing grand prix cars for some time and that has made it much better. Also, I know the circuits for many of the races and I don't feel under any big pressure."

Heidfeld, International F3000 champion last season, has a long-term contract with McLaren, but has been reportedly 'loaned' to Prost to learn the Formula One trade.

The Monaco-based driver progressed to the top in classic fashion. He began in karts where he won the prestigious 'Kerpen-Mannheim' series in 1988, a prize also gained by Michael Schumacher.

He took the German Formula Ford title in 1994 by winning eight of the nine races, then added the German Formula Three crown in 1997 before entering F3000.

"I have enjoyed all the testing we have been doing so far," he said. "Alain knows everything and he is someone who likes to talk clearly and to pay attention to things in great detail.

"I feel very proud to have the chance to work in a team like this for someone like Alain who is one of the most successful drivers ever. I am lucky too, to have such an experienced team mate as Jean.

"But I know what I can do and I am very keen to do my best and show people my ability. I believe I can do well and that we could be quite competitive. But I know it is dangerous to say too much."

Prost said of the new breed: "I feel that youth is the way we are going and it's true to say that the sport is getting younger and younger.

"I don't know the exact reason but I think it is partly because the cars were so much more difficult to drive in the past.

"You needed a lot more experience but the likes of Nick Heidfeld and Jenson Button have the special talent and the speed to succeed.

"When he tested with us Jenson showed that he was fast very quickly and could handle a grand prix car at a very good level. The younger drivers are very mature and have great strength of character."