And so it comes, the 2008
Formula 1 season makes its way around to France and what looks likely to be the final race held at Magny-Cours.
With last year's race remembered for
Ferrari's dazzling display in re-asserting its supremacy following two off-colour outings in Monaco and Montreal – and the
Scuderia boasting the best modern-day record of any team in the French Grand Prix – it would be a surprise not to see either
Kimi Raikkonen or
Felipe Massa on the podium this time around, but BMW-Sauber's
Robert Kubica will certainly have something to say about that.
On the back of an excellent win in Canada, the Pole will be looking to continue his recent form with another rostrum finish, and will surely be regarded as one of the favourites. After his superb fourth place display last year – coming on the back of his terrifying accident in Montreal – the 23-year-old won't want to miss out on the podium.
Nick Heidfeld in the sister
F1.08 also needs to do well in France, with a 17-point gap separating him from his championship-leading team-mate in the standings. The experienced German will be looking to at least equal the fifth place finish he achieved there last year.
The pressure, therefore, will be on the Ferrari drivers to live up to expectations in Magny-Cours. Raikkonen will be seeking to repeat his 2007 triumph as he bids to reclaim his advantage in the drivers' table, whilst Massa has finished third and second respectively in the last two outings in France, and is aiming to keep that trend going this time around.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, will need to have the race of his life, good fortune and an excellent strategy if he is to overcome the ten-place grid penalty given to him for his misdemeanour in Canada.
