Results of the 2008 French F1 Grand Prix.
Ferrari bounced back at Magny Cours for a dominant one-two finish that now places race winner Filipe Massa at the top of the Drivers' Championship standings. He's the fourth leader of the season in as many races, as Lewis Hamilton failed to score any points and now sits 10 points adrift.
The chequered flag should have belonged to his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen who had built a comfortable lead from pole position, but a problem with his exhaust mid way through the race meant he had to concede the lead to the Brazilian and hold out for second. Luckily he was barely threatened by third placed Jarno Trulli who gave Toyota their first podium finish in more than a dozen races.
McLaren's best effort was fourth, although Heikki Kovailanen pushed hard at the end for six points. Hamilton, who had a difficult task starting from 13th after incurring a 10 place penalty after the Canadian GP, was so eager that he accidentally cut the Nurburgring chicane while passing Sebastian Bourdais on lap 1. He was handed a drive through penalty which effectively ruined his second race in a row.
Last week's winner, Robert Kubica, could manage only fifth for the worse result this season for BMW, but was comfortably ahead of Mark Webber in the Red Bull Racing car. He was followed home by the Renaults of Nelson Piquet junior and Fernando Alonso, who had a disappointing race despite a good grid position.
The race was largely uneventful, except for some light rain which threatened drama in the closing stages, and poor old Jenson Button's Honda continued to let him down as the only retiree of the race. For Ferrari it was a dominant performance which looks ominous for the rest of the season, while McLaren certainly have their work cut out for them.
The Drivers' title remains as exciting as ever, with 10 point separating the top four contenders. Robert Kubica is now two points behind Massa (48) with Raikkonen a further three points back. Hamilton is now 10 points behind, in what is shaping up to be the most exciting season in years.
In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari are now running away with the title, on 91, while BMW offer their nearest competition (74) and McLaren are lost cause on 58.
Official result of French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours1 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari one hour 31 minutes 50.245 seconds
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 17.984 seconds
3. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota +28.250
4. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes +28.929
5. Robert Kubica (Pol)BMW Sauber +30.512
6. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault +40.304
7. Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault +41.033
8. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault +43.372
9. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault +51.072
10. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes +54.521
11. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota +57.738
12. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari +58.065
13. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber +1:02.079
14. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda one lap behind
15. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota one lap
16. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 1 lap
17. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1 lap
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari 1 lap
19. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari 1 lap
R Jenson Button (GB) Honda 16 laps completed