Heidfeld’s F1 career with middle-order teams has so far been no more than steady, leading some to question if he is able to handle the pressure of a front-line drive.

But former motorsport director at BMW, who provide engines to Williams, Gerhard Berger thinks the racer from Monchengladbach deserves his big break.

“I think most people underestimate Nick,” the 10-time GP winner told Kicker magazine.

“Up until now he’s not really had the chance to show what he can really do.”

Berger claimed the 27-year-old stood out in 2001, when he lined up at Sauber next to notable F1 young gun Kimi Raikkonen.

Heidfeld had been the test driver for McLaren in the late 1990s but when Mika Hakkinen retired in 2001, the Woking-based team chose the Finn rather than the German as his replacement.

“I think Nick would be a good choice,” said Berger.

Berger’s fellow Austrian, triple world champion Niki Lauda, claimed Heidfeld had the potential to become a superstar – if he was a little more vocal.

He told German newspaper Bild: “Nick’s only problem is that he always sells himself short. He must learn that sometimes you can open your mouth.

“If BMW put together a good car, then Heidfeld can become Germany’s new number two.”

And current McLaren test driver Alex Wurz believes the all-German Heidfeld-BMW combination would make “a lot of sense”.

He added: “I think Nick could genuinely become a winner, with a good car and a little bit of time.

“To be honest, I don’t see a huge difference between Webber and Heidfeld.”