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Race Report - France; Round 7
Topic Started: Jul 1 2007, 02:18 PM (201 Views)
Paul_Murtagh
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Race Report
By Paul Murtagh


With Magny-Cours F1 chapter coming to an end, Kimi Raikkonen began a new one in his Ferrari career by taking his second win for the Scuderia, and with team-mate Felipe Massa finishing second, it could be the beginning of a comeback from the Italian team. They looked dominant all weekend and championship leaders McLaren had no answer. It was a big result that could have massive consequences come the end of the season.

It looked like Ferrari would dominate after a strong qualifying – Massa on pole and Raikkonen third. Hamilton had managed to split the red cars and qualify alongside Massa on the front row, but his team-mate Alonso suffered gearbox problems and never set a time in the final part of qualifying, starting tenth. Ahead of him were Kubica, Fisichella, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Trulli and Rosberg. Coulthard also failed to set a time and started 16th, while Sato started at the very back after his penalty of overtaking under yellows in Indianapolis.

Off the start Raikkonen managed to jump Hamilton and move into second place, with Massa leading the pack out of the first corner. At the back Davidson tipped Liuzzi into a spin, but as Liuzzi corrected the car Davidson collected him again, wiping off the Toro Rosso’s left front tyre and punching a hole in the Aguri’s sidepod. As the cars braked into the Adelaide hairpin for the first time, Trulli left his braking too late and went into the back of Kovalainen, spinning the Renault and destroying the front of the Toyota. Kovalainen pitted to change tyres and check the car, while Trulli made it to the pits before retiring.

A battle then began between Heidfeld and Alonso for 6th place. Coming down into Lycee Alonso made his move and passed the BMW Sauber, but out-braked himself and allowed Heidfeld back through. Alonso then continually tried to pass the German down the outside into both Lycee and the Adelaide hairpin, before pitting on lap 16. Just ahead of him, Hamilton also pitted just before Alonso came in, making him the first driver to stop. It was obvious at this point that Ferrari were the better team, leaving McLaren scratching their heads. Massa then pitted two laps later, followed by Raikkonen 3 laps after that.

After the pit stops Alonso managed to pass Fisichella into the hairpin, yet despite his lack of pace Heidfeld had managed to come out after his pit-stop ahead of Alonso and maintained position. But Christijan Albers had problems when it came to his pit-stop – he left the pits with his fuel hose still attached, ripping it from the fuel pump luckily without causing injury or fuel escpaing into a crowded pit lane. At this point Button was running 5th and had yet to stop, and eventually made his stop on lap 31. He emerged still in the points and looked strong.

Alonso then eventually passed Heidfeld after a daring move into the Imola hairpin, making the BMW Sauber driver dive across the run-off area and give up the position. When the second round of pit-stops came around, Hamilton was first in, followed quickly by Alonso and then Massa. Raikkonen then stayed out a few more laps than Massa, and with those extra laps plus some traffic for the Brazilian meant the Raikkonen was able to leap-frog his team-mate and take the lead. It was the first time that the Finn had led a race on merit since the season opener in Australia and wasn’t about to let the opportunity safe.

So Raikkonen held on to score his second win for Ferrari, ahead of team-mate Massa and the three-stopping Hamilton in third. Kubica scored a strong fourth, with Heidfeld fifth, Fisichella sixth, Alonso seventh and Button scoring Honda’s first points in 8th. With this dominant display Ferrari could be about to stage a comeback, and this further puts pressure on Hamilton’s shoulders as the young Brit heads to his home grand prix for the first time.
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