Jordan hits out at Heidfeld 'bullying'

Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has hit out at Lotus Renault GP bosses Eric Boullier and Gerard Lopez over their criticism of German driver Nick Heidfeld.

Heidfeld, who drove for Jordan earlier in his career, was called up into a race seat by Renault this season after Robert Kubica's accident and has gone on to score six points finishes - including a fine podium in Malaysia.

However, despite outscoring team-mate Vitaly Petrov, Heidfeld has come under fire from Renault bosses who have questioned both his results and leadership skills.

Speaking to Sport Bild, Jordan - now a pundit with the BBC - questioned the motives behind the comments coming from Renault's senior management and said he felt pressure was being applied on the 34-year-old ahead of the planned return of Kubica when he is fully recovered from his injuries.

"It could even be described as bullying," he said. "They probably want to wear him [Heidfeld] down so he throws in the towel voluntarily.

"For me, he is Mr Consistency. I know this because Nick drove for me for a year. 2004 was a very difficult year for Jordan financially, and we could not give him the car that he deserved.

"The same is true also at the moment of the Lotus-Renault."