“My start was pretty bad, I had a lot of oversteer in the car and I don’t think I got heat into the rear tyres. I went back to fourth, got back up to third and eventually got back to the front and I was pretty happy,” he said.

“Our pace was good and then the rain started. Choosing the tyres became difficult because when it rains here it usually pours, but it didn’t to start with. We went for the full wet tyre and it just destroyed itself.

“I saw Timo flying up behind us on the inter so we put the inter on. Just as he came by I saw his tyres were bald. It was raining out the back so he had to pit.

“I was then able to get one lap in at reasonable pace before I had to pit and was able to get back out in front.

“It was a very interesting race but I still haven’t seen a chequered flag without a safety car.”

Heidfeld, who finished down in 10th last week in Melbourne, was delighted to claim second place and four championship points after battling his way from 10th on the grid.

“It was very difficult to make choices in these conditions,” he said. “I didn’t make the perfect tyre choices as I went straight to extras as there is normally heavy rain fall here.

“The team then told me there was heavy ran expected but I told them intermediates would be quicker and then when they told me to pit, it started to rain heavier and it was just 200m from the pit entry so I decided to stay out and preserve my tyres.

“In the beginning some other guys were quicker than me on the extra wets but I knew if the rain started I would be able to stay out.

“That worked but my rear tyres were destroyed completely and it was a slick, and when it stared to rain I just tried to stay on the circuit.”