Sunday March 18th, 2001

Formula One team owner Peter Sauber does not want his young drivers sidetracked by sexual distractions. And they are not very happy about it.

"It's true, for the first couple of races, because he wants us to be more concentrated," said 23-year-old German Nick Heidfeld when asked about the Swiss-based team's ban on girlfriends attending the first three races of the season.

"I told him that in my opinion it's the wrong move," Heidfeld said at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

"I would like my girlfriend to be here, I think she just makes me stronger and she knows that on the race weekend Formula One racing has the priority.

"But he asked me to leave her at home and (Finland's) Kimi (Raikkonen) as well. Of course I agreed to that.

"I think she could come to Brazil already but I guess she will come to the first race in Europe now."

The next Formula One race is in Brazil in two weeks' time, followed by the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. The season started in Australia on March 4.

Both Sauber drivers were in the points in Melbourne, Heidfeld fourth and 21-year-old Raikkonen sixth on his debut.

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