New injury to put Heidfeld out for season?

Despite hopes that he would be able to return to the cockpit of his Williams-BMW at the Brazilian Grand Prix in a fortnight's time, Nick Heidfeld may now be forced to miss the rest of the Formula One season after allegedly being injured while recuperating form his Monza concussion.

The German has been replaced by Antonio Pizzonia for the past two races, and mischievous rumours had been doing the rounds at Spa suggesting that the Brazilian would remain on board for the remaining three rounds as part of an evaluation of potential replacements for Jenson Button in the 2006 line-up. However, the truth behind the gossip could be that Heidfeld has indeed suffered a further setback in his recovery, having apparently been knocked off his pedal cycle during a training ride

According to Reuter, the German was collected by an errant motorcycle while riding around his home region in Switzerland and has sustained a cracked shoulder blade in the ensuing fall. The injury is apparently similar to the one sustained by McLaren's Juan Montoya earlier in the season - although the Colombian apparently injured himself playing tennis - and could keep Heidfeld out of the remaining three flyaway races.

Heidfeld has an option in his contract for Williams to retain his services next season, but his performances this year have made him an attractive proposition for other teams, including both BAR and the BMW works team that will grow from the company's purchase of Sauber. Button is expected to join Mark Webber at Grove next season, although Button is hoping to be able to get out of the deal.