French GP preview: Predictions
Who’s going to win the French Grand Prix?
Ferrari look set to be very strong this weekend and Lewis Hamilton is out of contention for the win before practice has even begun. Read my podium prediction below and make your own.
Ferrari look irresistible this weekend – indeed, they often have at Magny-Cours. In the past 11 races here they’ve won seven times and finished one-two last year.
This time last year we saw Kimi Raikkonen assert himself after a difficult start to the year. I’d put my money on him doing the same again and edging team mate Felipe Massa. He proved last year he could beat Massa even starting behind him – just as he did at Sepang this year.
Although Massa has qualified strongly this year Magny-Cours, oddly, tends not to favour the pole sitter. In the last ten races at Magny-Cours the pole sitter has only won three times.
Hamilton will have done something truly remarkable if he managed to get even on the bottom step of the podium but starting no better than 11th it should be impossible for him if the front runners keep their noses clean.
With a pace advantage over BMW, McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen should be back on the podium for the first time since Sepang. So my podium prediction is:
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Felipe Massa
3. Heikki Kovalainen
No-one managed to nail the top three last time – least of all myself – but M Smith, Mac, Martin Land theRoswelite correctly predicted Robert Kubica’s maiden Grand Prix victory.
What is your podium prediction for the French Grand Prix?
James B said on 20th June 2008, 20:21
Dry Race
1. Raikkonen
2. Massa
3. Kovalainen
Wet Race
1. Raikkonen
2. Hamilton
3. Alonso
Martin B said on 20th June 2008, 21:24
1. Raikkonen
2. Massa
3. Kubica
Becken said on 20th June 2008, 21:24
QUALY
1. Felipe
2. Kubitza
3. Kimi
RACE
1. Felipe
2. Kubitza
3. Heikki
FIGHT
I´ll put all my Money in “Sugar” Lewis.
Tamil said on 20th June 2008, 22:44
“Lewis is out of contention for the win.” What a ridiculous statement to make.
1. Hamilton
2. Alonso
3. Massa
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 20th June 2008, 23:37
Here’s why I think Hamilton is out of contention for the win already:
Alonso started tenth last year and finished seventh – and Hamilton will be starting even lower than that. On a dry day, with few retirements and no safety car periods (i.e. pretty much every French Grand Prix since 1999) he’ll have done extremely well if he gets in the top five.
Que Buen Guebo said on 21st June 2008, 4:07
Felipe Massa
Kimi Raikkonen
Robert Kubica
Thats the Podium buenos mamaguebos
cyanide said on 21st June 2008, 7:12
1] Massa
2] Kimi
3] Heidfeld
Zooropa said on 21st June 2008, 8:57
This is really tough, but I think Hamilton will go light and get the pole. He will then try the “Schumacher” 4 stop strategy. I like the idea of Kovi going light too in order to mess up the leaders. So official Qual Top 5 will be:
Kovi
Massa
Kimi
Alonso
Kubica
Kanyima said on 21st June 2008, 9:36
I predict only one of the Ferraris is going to be on the podium and Hamilton to finish in the top 5.
Derek said on 21st June 2008, 9:37
1. Massa (from pole)
2. Kubica
3. Kovi
4. Hamilton (4 stopping)
5. Kimi (after loosing a nose cone)