Preview - French Grand Prix 2003.

There's no time for rest for the F1 contingent. After last weekend's European Grand Prix it's off to France for the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours this weekend, round ten of the 2003 Formula One world championship.

Vive la France!

France has its own Formula One team with the Renault team, and national pride may well be upheld if the nimble R203 chassis can key in well to the Magny Cours track. Another potential for French pride to be boosted is if Olivier Panis, someone who knows the Magny Cours track rather well after his time at Ligier and Prost, has a good result.

There is, however, another French factor that has to be considered; Michelin. The French tyre maker is certainly having a good time of it at the moment and much of the resurgence of both Williams and McLaren this year car be attributed to the four black bits of rubber holding their cars to the road.

Team Talk

Williams went from a 2-3 in Canada to a 1-2 in Germany at the European Grand Prix. With so many problems with pace at the start of the year this is a pretty remarkable turn around and both Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya are pretty buoyed at the moment.

McLaren seem to get better and better in terms of pace with the MP4-17D, if only at the hands of Kimi Raikkonen. In Germany the young Finn took his first pole and looked set to be in with a shout for the race win before the engine went bang, so once more in France he's sure to be a factor.

As for Ferrari? The European Grand Prix was ''probably the worst of the season,'' according to Jean Todt, though if you finish third and fifth and keep the lead in the drivers' and constructors' title it can't be all that bad.

Ferrari

Michael Schumacher extended his championship lead after his marshal assisted fifth placed finish at the Nurburgring. It was a hard race for Schumacher in that it was one where he just didn't have the pace to win as Jean Todt explains. ''Even if we have had more difficult races, it's the first time that we're not in a position to compete, to win the Grand Prix,'' says Todt, ''In all the other races, even if Ferrari didn't win during the first three races of the season, they have been the quickest on the track."

During the race Schumacher was passed around the outside by Juan Pablo Montoya. This probably surprised both Schumacher and his traction control system and a half spin into the gravel resulted. Luckily there were marshals about and a push back on to the track and into the race again was fortunate for the reigning champ. Some saw Montoya's overtaking move differently than others, but quite what ranting Ross Brawn was on about to the television cameras after the end of the race is anyone's guess. To any observer, surely, Montoya did squeeze Schumacher in his overtaking move, but ultimately left space for the reigning champ and that's even the way Michael says he saw the event.

Maybe master tactician Brawn was just trying anything he could to boost Michael's point lead; if Montoya was excluded from the results Michael would have moved up a place in the points. Or, maybe, Ross is just a bit touchy because the F2003-GA hasn't quite proved to be quite as big a step forward ahead of the field that it was talked up to be before its launch. Or maybe he's just tired, or the car was wrongly tyred for that race...

McLaren-Mercedes

Kimi Raikkonen and car looked very strong again at the Nurburging, but ultimately pole position and a fast pace counted for nothing as the weekend was ended without points as the Mercedes powerplant let go. A bit embarrassing at home for the bods at Mercedes but there you go. McLaren are still very strong with the old car, which may even stay in use for the rest of this year, meaning that poor old Adrian Newey and the technical staff will soon be working on 'last year's' MP4-17D, 'this year's' MP4-18 and 'next year's' MP4-19 at the same time...

Raikkonen's team-mate, David Coulthard, isn't having the best of seasons and to acknowledge as much there's even criticism coming from the team. ''David is a very analytical individual,'' McLaren's MD Martin Whitmarsh told Britain's Daily Telegraph, ''Sometimes that's a useful quality, but it may not be when you've got to put it on the line in one lap. He has got to recognise that he can do it, relax and drive instinctively - without the analysis.'' Unfortunately Coulthard, with all his experience of F1 and with so much of it at the McLaren team, has not hit the ground running this year.

''We'd like David to get his form together,'' Whitmarsh continues. ''He's racing well, but you've got to qualify well too. It's all about driver confidence and how a driver qualifies is a mind game. He has got to get that fixed.'' And that's exactly what it looks like from outside the team too.

BMW WilliamsF1

From pole and a 2-3 finish in Canada to taking the top two steps of the podium at the Nurburgring, BMW-WilliamsF1 are certainly on a roll at the moment and the news that BMW have committed their powerplant and backing to the team until 2009 comes as very good news indeed, especially when some of the rumours and stories about supposed BMW unhappiness with the squad that appeared in the press are considered.

BMW's Motorsport director Mario Theissen attributes some of the team's upturn in form to tyre supplier Michelin in for its recent success. Michelin is, of course a French company. ''Playing a major role in our recent successes is tyre partner Michelin, for whom Magny-Cours is a home race,'' explains Theissen. ''We are certain that the French company will, as always, provide us with an excellent capability here as well.''

Renault F1

Home Grand Prix for the French Renault squad whose solid season continued with a fine fourth last time out from Fernando Alonso, holding off Michael Schumacher in the closing stages of the race. Both Renaults had been very good in qualifying again but come the race it was Alonso came home first for the team, though Jarno Trulli ultimately was taken out by reliability issues.

According to Pat Symonds from the team all looks good for a Renault result at home. ''The circuit has been modified since last year, and we will need to establish the effect of these changes, but I think we can be competitive,'' Symonds said, ''The circuit favours the Michelin tyre, and contains one long fast corner, as well as a number of quick chicanes, where we know our car performs well. Furthermore, the circuit demands good traction, another area in which we are strong.''

Sauber-Petronas

At Sauber Nick Heidfeld went from pits to points last weekend, an impressive performance indeed. What chance of another storming drive in France? Good, Heidfeld likes the track and overtaking should now be easier.

''Magny-Cours is a very modern, smooth circuit, and I like it,'' he explains. ''It has a nice series of corners and a quick chicane, and the second corner is quite difficult and therefore challenging. It is a long corner that gives the car more time to react, and if you have to you can get off the throttle to adjust your line without losing too much momentum. They have made some changes this year to the final section, which will be interesting and may give better chances for overtaking.''

Heinz-Harald Frentzen has won in France, back in 1999 driving for Jordan. Four years later there doesn't look like much chance of Frentzen winning again but, as ever, he'll be putting on a professional performance.

Toyota

Olivier Panis, just like so many times this year, proved to be quick on the sessions when it didn't count then come the race the car encountered problems. Locking brakes afflicted the Frenchman's race, though he was pushing all the way. Cristiano da Matta was also looking strong until once more the car not making it to the end of the race was a Toyota.

For da Matta, it's another circuit he wasn't been to for quite a while. ''As usual, my priority will be learning the track on Friday morning,'' notes the Brazilian, ''Like at the N?rburgring, I raced in Magny-Cours seven years' ago in F3000, but the track has altered a lot, so I need to get up to speed ahead of qualifying. I deserved to score points in Canada and at the N?rburgring, but mechanical problems forced me to retire shortly before the chequered flag.''

B.A.R-Honda

Jenson Button in the points, Jacques Villeneuve racing Minardis. That was the story of BAR's European Grand Prix, and Villeneuve will certainly be wishing for better luck in France. The French-Canadian is not too optimistic however.

''We expect a hot race and we will be fighting the tyre war in Michelin's own backyard, so I am a little concerned as to how competitive we will be in Magny-Cours,'' says Jacques. ''To be honest, I am not really looking forward to driving there. The race should still be exciting though. There is heavy breaking at the Adelaide Hairpin, so there should be some good overtaking there.''

Button continues to get the better luck at BAR, though the package they have, and the Bridgestone tyres could well mean a great result is a little far off yet.

Jordan Ford

In Germany Ralph Firman looked stronger than he has done so far this year, though as the season enters its closing stages Eddie Jordan's decision to dispense with the services of Takuma Sato, and then opt for another season with a rookie in the squad, seems to be an interesting decision in terms of race performance prospects. That said, you never know quite what's going on behind the scenes at and F1 team, and that is certainly true of Eddie Jordan's squad.

Performance-wise great things are expected of either Jordan in France. This year the car just hasn't been one that has starred, even though there is a race win to its credit. Hopefully Mercedes power should make a difference next year, and that's probably where many of Jordan's thoughts lie.

Jaguar-Cosworth

Sixth place for Mark Webber last time marks a solid performance from the squad and rookie Antonio Pizzonia nearly finished in the points so all can't be bad, ''The reliability of the car has become more consistent and the pace is continuing to improve,'' Webber explains. France should be another opportunity for the Australian to show his worth. ''The circuit at Magny Cours is one I enjoy,'' he explains.

Antonio Pizzonia has been a bit quieter of late; no big crashes and no major difficulties. He's simply adopting to F1 and keeping his head down, which is a good thing after an interesting start to the year.

Minardi-Cosworth

Both cars made it to the finish but the pace was hardly there last time out, though both Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen put on solid displays of racecraft to hold up Jacques Villeneuve for more than a corner or two. In fact the French-Canadian enjoyed his dicing with the Minardis so much that he threw himself off the track so he could have another go...

The team has been the centre of much controversy this year, with Paul Stoddart embroiled in nearly every argument along the pitlane. This, and Minardi's money woes hasn't added up to a good season so far. Using old spec Bridgestone rubber and only getting the new spec stuff when Minardi's old supplier, Michelin, has the upper hand can't be the best thing either. The pity is the driver line-up is very strong; Wilson has adapted very well to F1 and Verstappen is a charger. Unfortunately both are likely to be at the back of the field come Sunday.

Rookie round-up

In the closing stretch of the F1 season, with nine races down and seven to go its time to look at how the 2003 rookies have been faring. Brit Justin Wilson has been raising many eyebrows with his rocketing starts and hard-charging driving in a Minardi that has not turned out to be quite the car that it could have been given it has a more competitive powerplant than the Italian squad has had access to in recent years. Wilson is partnered by hard-charging Dutchman Jos Verstappen who has had to share the frustration at Minardi and provides a good measure of Wilson's worth.

Cristiano da Matta has been having a solid year and is quietly impressing with his performance at Toyota. Whilst not quite matching the vastly experienced Olivier Panis the reigning CART champion has gone his own way and makes few mistakes.

Ralph Firman has had a bit of a hard time of it at Jordan. Giancarlo Fisichella is a hard team-mate to match, just ask Jenson Button, but in qualifying and in the race last weekend the Brit seemed finally to get everything in hand and was racing solidly and comparably to his team-mate. Hopefully this wasn't a one-off and Firman continues this for the rest of the season.

Antonio Pizzonia meanwhile, had a trying start to the year, but looks to be settling down better now. It's about time for a strong run however...

Michelin men rule?

Much talk, especially from the Bridgestone shod contenders, is of the importance of tyres with the inference being that currently the French Michelin concern seem to have the upper hand, as long as it's dry of course. Currently the win tally stands in Bridgestone's favour, though if you discount the Brazilian GP Michelin certainly look the stronger. Much of the lack of expected pace from the Ferrari F2003-GA and improvement in form from McLaren's car, based on last year's contender can therefore be seen in terms of tyres.

''Given the team's relatively poor form at the last two races, we will be working hard to improve the performance of the cars with the Bridgestone tyres at Magny-Cours, another low-grip circuit,'' says BAR's Geoffrey Willis whilst Ferrari's Jean Todt is a bit more precise at pinpointing where he thinks the problem lies. ''At the Nurburgring we weren't the fastest. So we need to analyse, to understand. We have already quite a good idea of the situation, we just have to work very hard with our technical partners and mainly with Bridgestone,'' explains the Frenchman.

Track time

Smooth. That's the important factor to be considered about the Magny Cours circuit. The track surface is billiard table smooth, which makes for interesting considerations when it comes to tyre choice.

Since last year there have been some minor modifications to the layout of the circuit, with the Chateau d'Eau corner bring tightened and at the very end of the lap. Both should help the potential of overtaking.

There is also a new pit entry which should make for faster pitstops, so some interesting strategies could well could result. The weather, at this stage, is predicted as being good, another factor in Michelin's favour.

Predictions

With the latest tyre factor, and the likelihood of good weather Michelin have to be favourites which means Williams or McLaren. At Williams either driver could star, whilst McLaren's Kimi is the man most likely to lead the charge for the Woking concern.

That said, Bridgstone and Ferrari will not be sitting back and the Japanese tyre concern is likely to have spent a lot of time over the year looking at Michelin's home track and how best to put of over their rivals on their home turf.