Finland's Kimi Raikkonen won the French Grand Prix yesterday,
leading Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa in a Ferrari one-two to
end McLaren's winning streak.
McLaren's 22-year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton was third
but extended his lead over team mate and double world champion
Fernando Alonso to 14 points with his eighth podium finish in as
many races.
Spaniard Alonso salvaged some precious points and showed all his
fighting spirit by clawing back to seventh place after starting
10th due to a gearbox failure in Saturday's final qualifying.
The victory, from third on the starting grid, was Raikkonen's
second of the season and 11th of his career.
It was also Ferrari's first one-two since Germany last July, and
Sunday marked a return to form for a team that had struggled to
match McLaren's pace in the last three races.
"Finally the start worked for me," said a relieved Raikkonen,
who started with three laps more fuel than Massa and won the race
in the pitstops after seizing second place from Hamilton into the
first corner.
"I think we are back where we expected to be."
The impassive Finn had not been on the podium in his last four
races and was a hefty 26 points adrift of Hamilton going into what
could be the last Grand Prix at the Magny-Cours circuit. He took
the chequered flag 2.414 seconds ahead of Massa, who had started on
pole position.
"I lost the race today because of the traffic," said Massa. "I
was so disappointed with the traffic in the second stint."
Hamilton now has 64 points to Alonso's 50. Massa, who conceded
the lead definitively after his second pitstop on lap 43, is on 47
with Raikkonen fighting back into contention on 42.
"I didn't get the best start, all I saw was Kimi come flying
past," said Hamilton, who was seeking his third win in a row.
Instead, he crossed the line 32 seconds behind Raikkonen after
being overtaken for the first time in his Formula One career.
"But I've got good points for the championship, which is the key
and I still think we can take it to them at the next race," added
the Briton, who made three stops to the Ferrari drivers' two.
"You can't win every race, the important thing is to be
consistent."
Poland's Robert Kubica, returning after a big crash in Canada
last month forced him to miss the US Grand Prix, finished fourth
for BMW Sauber.
The Pole slipped ahead of Hamilton as the McLaren driver came
out from his second stop but the Briton forced his way back in
front in impressive fashion.
Kubica's German teammate Nick Heidfeld was fifth, ahead of
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella for champions Renault in sixth.
Briton Jenson Button scored Honda's first point of the season
with eighth place, a relief for the 27-year-old who can look
forward with greater optimism to his and Hamilton's home race at
Silverstone next weekend.
(China Daily via Agencies July 2, 2007)