Over the remaining laps Massa tracked Raikkonen to the chequered flag, no doubt frustrated at having missed out on the victory that for much of the race had looked to be a sure-fire bet, but on the flipside encouraged by
Ferrari's long-awaited return to form.
Hamilton took the flag a distant third, with Kubica a superb fourth on his return, less than ten seconds adrift of the
McLaren, team-mate Heidfeld a solid fifth and Fisichella holding off Alonso to the end for sixth. Button's eighth place – after setting the fifth-fastest lap of the race along the way – was almost like a victory for the beleaguered
Honda squad, and a welcome boost ahead of his homecoming next weekend.
A disappointed Rosberg would ultimately finish where he had started – ninth – followed by Schumacher, Webber, Coulthard, Wurz, the delayed Kovalainen, Sato and Sutil.
Although Magny-Cours may never echo to the sound of
Formula 1 cars again, it can at least lay claim to one honour – re-igniting the 2007 world championship fight. The real
Kimi Raikkonen – as requested by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo after Indianapolis – has finally arrived, and with a Brit leading the standings and Ferrari back on-form,
Silverstone looks set to be a thriller.
