Nick started his career at the tender age of nine in the club championship of karting, club Kerpen-Manheim. By the time he was thirteen he had come first in the DMV Karting Championship of Nordrhein-Westfalen as well as capturing a fifth place in the Nordrhein-Westfalen Cup. The following year, 1991, he came third in the ADAC Junior Trophy and was a member of the ADAC Junior national team and the winner of the International CIK junior run.

In 1992 he took 5th place in the German junior karting championship before gaining entry in the World Championship in Laval, France (Formula A). In 1994 he took victory in the German Formula Ford 1600 Championship when he won eight out of a possible nine races. This was followed by yet another victory in 1995 this time winning the FF1800 International German Championship with 4 victories and five podium finishes as well as being the runner-up of the Formula Ford 1800 German Championship.

1996 saw him involved in the German Formula 3 championship, with the Opal Team BSR. He had three victories, and finished third place overall. He also took pole position in the Grand Prix Macau, was the winner of the first heat and finished in 6th place overall. 1997 saw him move to Mercedes as a junior driver and he was signed as a test driver for West McLaren Mercedes. He continued to drive for the Opal team in the German Formula 3 championship and took the title. He was runner-up in the FIA F3000 International Championship in 1998 with victories at Monaco, Hockenheim and the Hungaroring. He had two pole positions and two fastest laps.

1999 saw him still test driving for the McLaren Formula One team as well as becoming the Formula Three Champion for the West team with 53 points for the season. He made his debut in Formula One in the 2000 season with the Prost team, however all endured a very hard year and his initial impression was marred by constant reliability failures.

Switching to Sauber for 2001, Nick made his debut appearance to the podium with a third place in Brazil. He went on to secure eighth place overall with a total of 12 points, helping the Swiss outfit to fourth in the constructors battle, their best finish to date. He will remain with the team for the 1002 season, partnering yet another up and coming star, Felipe Massa, however the team slipped back to fifth place in the constructors battle while Nick only managed seven points overall.

In 2003 he will have yet another new teammate, but this time it isn't a rookie driver, instead Nick will partner veteran driver and fellow countryman, Heinz-Harald Frentzen.