Formula One news

BMW confirms 2007 driver line-up

BMW announced on Thursday that they will stick with their current racing pair of Nick Heidfeld, 29, and Robert Kubica, 21, for 2007. In addition, 19-year-old Sebastian Vettel, who has impressed in the Friday practice sessions, will be promoted to regular test and reserve driver.

"We are very pleased with our drivers and believe we have a good line-up for the future," said BMW Motorsport director Mario Thiessen.

"Nick was already a firm fixture for 2007. He is the experienced driver in the team, both in terms of Formula One and from the point of view of his affiliation with the team."

Thiessen also praised the rapid progress of a previously unknown quantity in the team's Polish protégé Robert Kubica.

"From the outset he made an outstanding impression on his test drives and in the Friday practice sessions. The reward was the switch to a racing cockpit in Budapest, a move that was vindicated when, in only his third grand prix, he made it onto the podium."

Sebastian Vettel is another talent to come through the BMW ranks and is set to be groomed for future stardom by BMW.

"After Robert's promotion, an even younger driver was tapping at the door:
19-year-old Sebastian. He has accumulated major successes in the junior racing
arena but hasn't yet clocked up many kilometres in a Formula One car. Even so, he
immediately picked up from Robert's achievements in Friday's practice sessions,
both in lap times and set-up work. This debut was reason enough for us to confirm
him as our test driver," Thiessen added.

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