F1: BMW pressure 'high' for Heidfeld - Ralf

By GMM

German Formula driver Nick Heidfeld will be in no doubt as to the need to emerge quickly from his performance crisis, former BMW-powered driver Ralf Schumacher said on Monday.

Heidfeld, the 31-year-old who finished dead last at Monaco on Sunday, deepened his run of poor form after struggling in 2008 to match the impressive performances of his young BMW-Sauber teammate, Robert Kubica.

BMW boss Mario Theissen has already alluded to the need for all team members to "contribute" to the outfit's progress.

Schumacher, who was BMW-powered at Williams between 2000 and 2004, told the German newspaper Bild when asked about Heidfeld's form: "Clear words are spoken at BMW; expectations are very high."

Heidfeld on Sunday afternoon was not keen to embrace the concept that Monaco proved he is spiralling into a crisis.

But he acknowledged: "It is obvious that I am not getting all the speed out of the car."