Heinz-Harald graduated from karts with the title, to move to Formula Ford 2000 in 1985, but was promoted to Formula Opel in 1988, winning the German title before entering the GM Euroseries late in the season. He was runner up in the 1989 German Formula Three series, then he moved into sports cars with the Mercedes junior team, while at the same time driving in Formula 3000 for Eddie Jordan Racing.

He didn't debut in Formula One until 1994 with the Sauber team, and his best finish was a fourth in the French Grand Prix. In 1995, he drove a superb race, coming third in Monza, in a car that was well below the competition. 1996 proved fruitless for him, and he was signed by the Williams team to replace Damon Hill for the 97 season.

Partnering Jacques Villeneuve, he won the fourth race of the season, at Imola, but that was to be his one and only victory for Williams. Plagued with mechanical failures, and a fast teammate, he finished third overall for the season, but was then moved to second when Michael Schumacher had his second place stripped from him by the FIA.

The Williams team changed engines for the 98 season, and their Mecachrome just wasn't up to the speed of the dominant Mercedes. Achieving only one podium finish, a third in Australia, he finished the season equal with Alexander Wurz on 17 points, in 7th place.

Signing with Jordan for the 99 season appears to have been the key to his success. Fitting into the team with ease, he has flourished, giving the team and himself, a second win, in France. This win was extraordinary in the fact that he drove and won while suffering fractured knees from an accident in Canada, two weeks earlier. He continued to score consistent points and even another win and with only three races left in the season, he was in contention for the title. Although he didn't win the illustrious crown, he came third and at the same time gave Eddie Jordan third in the Constructors championship.

He outpaced his World Champion teammate, Damon Hill all season and 2000 saw the 1996 champion retiring, his empty seat taken by Italian driver, Jarno Trulli. Together the du had hoped to retain that their place Heinz had fought so hard to achieve, however constant reliability problems saw them drop back to sixth in the constructors championship with Heinz finishing ninth in the drivers battle.

With the addition of works Honda engines for 2001, Heinz-Harald was hoping he would be back at the front of the grid again, fighting to reclaim the positions lost last year. However after some dismal performances and some heavy shunts that saw him sit out the Canadian Grand Prix, the German was let go in a shock sacking right before his home Grand Prix at Hockenheim in July. Sitting the race out, he was soon contracted to Prost for the remaining five races after Jean Alesi took up residence in the EJ11 for Jordan. Unfortunately Prost fell into the hands of the receivers at the end of 2001 due to their dire financial problems and despite wanting to remain with the French outfit, Heinz moved on to the Orange Arrows outfit to partner Enrique Bernoldi for the 2002 season.

Once again his season was thrown into turmoil after financial problems plagued the Walkinshaw run outfit and he eventually walked away from the team after they continued to sit out the scheduled races. A off on appearance in the American Grand Prix after Sauber Petronas' regular driver Felipe Massa was to be penalized for an incident at the Italian Grand Prix, led to a position with the Swiss based squad in 2003.