The Brackley-based Mercedes Petronas team have signed Nick Heidfeld as reserve race driver and test driver for the 2010 Formula One season.

He completes the team's line-up with race drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

Like Michael Schumacher before him, Heidfeld is another former Mercedes Junior who returns to his motorsport roots. After winning the 1997 German Formula 3 Championship, as a junior driver supported by Mercedes, Heidfeld tested a McLaren Mercedes Formula One car for the first time.

Heidfeld was the McLaren Mercedes test driver for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, during which time he had two successful years in Formula 3000, as runner-up in 1998 and winning the Formula 3000 Championship, held alongside the Formula One races, in 1999.

Heidfeld began his Formula One career with the Prost team in 2000 and since then has participated in 167 Grands Prix driving for Sauber (2001-2003), Jordan (2004), Williams (2005) and BMW Sauber (2006-2009). He had his best Formula One season in 2007 when he finished in fifth position in the World Championship. To date in his Formula One career, Heidfeld has achieved 12 podium finishes.

Heidfeld said: "It's the team which has attracted the most interest in the close season, not only because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher, but also because this season sees the return of the Silver Arrows cars as a Mercedes-Benz works team for the first time in over 50 years.

"Whilst I would of course have preferred a seat as an active driver, I am really proud to be part of the new Silver Arrows team. I have seen how committed everyone at the team is and I feel the same. I will be doing my very best to support Michael and Nico this year."

Ross Brawn, team principal, said: "It's a great pleasure for us to have signed a driver of the calibre and experience of Nick Heidfeld as our reserve race driver and test driver for the 2010 season.

"Nick has over ten years of experience in Formula One working with established teams and he will be a great asset to Mercedes GP Petronas. I am confident that his input into the development of our MGP W01 car will be invaluable. We look forward to welcoming Nick to Mercedes GP Petronas and working closely with him."