KUBICA: I'M STILL THE OUTSIDER

Kubica - playing down title chance.

Robert Kubica continues to play down his chances of winning the World Championship, although he insists he is not in second place "by chance".

The BMW Sauber driver finds himself second in the dtandings after a string of good results, including the team's first ever pole position and race win.

The Pole is adamant that they did not fluke their way to second place, but warns that he is still the underdog.

"We are almost halfway through the season and I don't think that my second position in the championship is just by chance. Nevertheless, I still consider that I am the outsider and I'll only tell you if I am a 'hot' candidate when we're in Brazil," he told the official Formula One website.

"For the time being, I feel more like a 'David' against lots of 'Goliaths'."

Kubica also warned that BMW need to improve if they want to keep up with the pace of Ferrari and McLaren.

"We are currently far from the pace we need in order to challenge our front-running competitors and it's no secret that we need some good updates to get back to the level of competitiveness we showed in the early part of the season."

FANTASTIC RESULT FOR US - KUBICA

KUBICA IN DARK OVER FUTURE

WHITMARSH DEFENDS DRIVERS

Whitmarsh - defended drivers.

Martin Whitmarsh has shrugged off suggestions that McLaren's youthful line-up is costing them, saying that although the team has under-performed of late they have the drivers needed to win the title.

McLaren endured a difficult month of June, failing to make it onto the podium never mind win either the Canadian or French grands prix.

Added to that the team was hit with three penalties during that same period for crashing in other drivers, blocking in qualifying and cutting chicanes.

The team's fall from grace has also lead to heavy criticism in the British media of Lewis Hamilton, who has been slammed for making too many mistakes.

However, Whitmarsh reckons that whatever the media throw at them it doesn't compare to McLaren's own self-criticism.

"Dealing with a disappointing result is an inevitable part of the ebb and flow of a Championship assault," he said.

"As a team, we exist to win - and when we aren't winning we're tough on ourselves. We're aware that we've under-performed recently but there are no bigger critics than ourselves."

The CEO, though, is confident McLaren's drivers, Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, have the ability to bounce back and fight for the World titles.

"With both Lewis and Heikki, we're convinced we've got the right blend of youth and enthusiasm to tackle the challenge of winning races and challenging for the Championship," he said.

Hamilton is currently fourth in the Drivers' Standings, 10 points behind Ferrari's Felipe Massa, while Kovalainen is sixth, a further 18 points adrift.

McLAREN FAITH IN HEIKKI

KOVALAINEN BACKED TO SHINE

COULTHARD NOT READY TO RETIRE

Coulthard - not ready to retire.

Although David Coulthard concedes Sunday's British GP could be his final home race, the Scot has once again stated that he's not ready to retire.

At the age of 37 Coulthard is the oldest driver on the grid, with this season being his 14th successive year as a Formula One driver.

But despite his longevity in the sport, time is fast running out for Coulthard with many wondering if this year's championship could prove to be his last.

"In theory it should be. We're all different, and I'm quite a realist," Coulthard told Autosport.

"When something has happened, or a decision has been taken or whatever it happens to be, it's not something I dwell on, I just get on with the next thing.

"It's just one of those things. When that moment comes, it's the journey of life. You just move on to the next thing.

"I'm currently a grand prix driver, I have been for many seasons, and I'm sitting here still as a grand prix driver because I still enjoy it, and I get a buzz from it, and clearly I deliver a value enough for the team to commit to me for the last few years.

"There will be a point, naturally, where that's not going to continue and... boo hoo, you know? There are a lot of worse things that can happen to you. You just move on to the next challenge."

COULTHARD QUIET OVER F1 FUTURE

COULTHARD DELIGHTED TO BE BACK IN POINTS

COULTHARD ‘LUCKY’ TO ESCAPE

BOURDAIS: NO REGRETS

Bourdais - no regrets.

Sebastien Bourdais says he has "no regrets" about moving to Formula One even if it turns out that his career is over at the end of this season after just one year.

Despite a strong start to the Championship, which saw him get the better of his team-mate in the opening races and even bag Toro Rosso's first points of the season in Australia, Bourdais has fallen off the pace of late.

While he has suffered three retirements in five race, team-mate Seb Vettel has bagged five points in those same events, leading to rumours linking the German to a Red Bull seat for next season.

In sharp contrast, though, there have been no reports of Bourdais's future or whispers of other teams wanting him.

His situation is further compounded by the imminent fifty percent sale of Toro Rosso, which should it fail to go ahead could result in the team dropping out of F1 at the end of the season.

But despite the possibility of his F1 career ending only a year after it began, Bourdais says he has no regrets about making the move over from the States.

"Obviously if you start looking at this then you can get worried," the former ChampCar Champ told ITV.

"You either completely disregard it, which is pretty much the approach I choose to adopt - after all, we've only had eight races so we're not even mid-season yet.

"I can't really say I feel that I've shown what I wanted to show this year so far. What happen will happen.

"I'm kind of a free man. If I get fired because of this or because of that then so be it.

"What's really important for me is that I give my best. And I am giving my best, even if it's not paying off right now.

"But you can only influence so many parameters, so I will have no regrets, that's for sure.

"I'm doing the very best I can, and if it's not enough in some people's opinion then fine."

HAMILTON LEARNS FROM ROAD RAGE

BOURDAIS: FRENCH GP MUST STAY

SUTIL IN POSITIVE MOOD

Sutil - upbeat after testing.

Adrian Sutil is hoping the new upgrades that Force India tested at Silverstone this week will help them close the gap at next weekend's British GP.

Instead of making progress Force India appear to have fallen right off the pace, proving to be the slowest team on the grid at the previous event in France.

It was the culmination of a disappointing decline for the team who had been hoping for a breakthrough into Q2 this season.

Sutil, though, reckons this past week's Silverstone test has laid the starting blocks needed for Force India to close back up to their rivals.

"We hope so, for sure," he told Autosport when asked if the new parts could improve the team's performances. "Let's see if we can catch back Honda a little bit.

"All the other teams are too far away and Toro Rosso are quite far with the new car, so our goal is to keep up with the other cars. Then we want to make the gap closer and then be able to race again.

"There were a few bits that worked quite well and a few bits that needed to be tested a little bit more. Aerodynamic wise I think we did a step.

"We had a new damper, which needs a bit more testing because there was a lot of understeering, but we really need the updates.

"I think we have about three tenths with these updates. Let's see how much we can get out of it, but overall it was positive."

PIQUET CLAIMS TOP TIME IN TESTING

MASSA MASTERS SILVERSTONE

SUTIL HEARTACHE SHARED BY MALLYA

HILL PREDICTS SILVERSTONE NAILBITER

Hill - expects it to go down to the wire.

Damon Hill fears the future of the British Grand Prix could go down to the wire in negotiations with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Silverstone's contract to host the race expires at the end of next year's event, and not for the first time, Hill has admitted the odds on winning a new deal are "50-50".

Plans for a new Ј30million pit and paddock complex were recently approved by the local council, in the hope work will start towards the end of the year.

Whilst that will at least appease Ecclestone, who has long derided the facilities at the Northamptonshire circuit, negotiations with regard to another contract are a different matter.

It is understood the price from 2010 onwards is Ј11million to host the race, with a slight increase per annum throughout the course of the contract.

Compare that to Abu Dhabi, who will make their debut at the end of next season, and who are believed to be paying Ј30million per annum for the privilege.

Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers' club who currently own Silverstone, said: "We're definitely making progress.

"We've the planning consent for our pit and paddock complex, but it is one step at a time.

"Typically, negotiations will be ongoing and I expect won't come to a conclusion until the final hour, whenever that is.

"But if we're going to fulfil building requirements then ideally we have to get going on it before the end of this year.

"So at this moment it's situation normal."

Ecclestone recently stated he was in talks with Donington Park as a potential alternative, although that could be viewed as a tactic to get Silverstone to dig deeper.

"I would never discount any other option," remarked the 1996 F1 world champion.

"It's the nature of this free market that there's always another option to go to, and we have to compete.

"But a tremendous amount of work has gone into getting Silverstone teed up to become a leading centre for world motor sport.

"I think it's ideally placed to cater for Formula One, and for all motor sport.

"We think we've everything in place there to make us a very strong candidate for either investment or for grand prix contracts.

"We're certainly not making any demands, but I think Silverstone is the UK's premier venue.

"It's right we don't lose it, and that it represents the best of what the UK can offer."

Hill, meanwhile, has urged Lewis Hamilton to remain focused if he is to win next weekend's British Grand Prix, and potentially go on to become world champion.

Mistakes, penalties and a row with the media have engulfed the 23-year-old of late, leaving him 10 points adrift of Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the four-way fight for the title.

"It would be an enormous boost for him to win the British Grand Prix," said Hill.

"There would be such a feel-good factor about a British driver winning his home race, and especially for Lewis who is trying to fight for the world championship.

"There has been a little bit of a wobble of late from Lewis, but I think it's to be expected

"As for any advice, I would just say to him, focus on what you can control, and that is how you drive and how you do your job."

SILVERSTONE OPTIMISTIC OVER GRAND PRIX

HILL HOPEFUL FOR HAMILTON HOME WIN

PLANNERS BOOST SILVERSTONE FUTURE

RAIKKONEN BACKS YOUTH

Raikkonen - upbeat about Silverstone.

Kimi Raikkonen has rejected suggestions the inexperience of Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen is McLaren's Achilles heel this season.

Hamilton, in particular, has made mistakes not seen in his rookie year when he was pipped to the Formula One world championship by a point by Ferrari's Raikkonen.

Kovalainen has also had his fair share of problems, not all of his own making, but the end result is that McLaren trail Ferrari by 33 points in the constructors' title race heading into next weekend's British Grand Prix.

When asked whether the duo's lack of experience was costing McLaren dear, Raikkonen replied: "I don't think so because there are a lot of people who know what they are doing.

"Sometimes you have a difficult car, sometimes you have a better one. That's normal."

Ahead of the race at Silverstone, Raikkonen is hopeful of repeating his victory of a year ago

Speaking at the end of a three-day test at the track where he set the fifth best time of the week, the 28-year-old Finn said: "We have a good car here.

"It is hard to say from the testing what fuel loads everybody else was running and where we are exactly, but the feeling is good.

"We need to wait until next Friday to see where we are against the others, but we were strong here last year, so I expect us to be in with a good chance of being able to win the race again.

"I hope to be in a position - we should be in a position - to win, and we will see if we can achieve it."

Raikkonen believes it will be a straight shootout between Ferrari and McLaren, effectively writing off the chances of BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica.

Kubica is two points clear of leader Felipe Massa and three ahead of Raikkonen due to a consistent run of points finishes.

But Raikkonen added: "McLaren are always strong here, and I'm expecting that next weekend.

"I think it's going to be quite close between us and them. I don't see the other teams being close enough for the win."

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

DE LA ROSA BACKS LEWIS

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

HAMILTON DISQUALIFIED AFTER CRASH

Hamilton - disqualified.

British Formula One star Lewis Hamilton was involved in yet another high-speed collision on Saturday - but this time it was on the water in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.

The McLaren driver was aboard double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie's Hugo Boss boat, which was disqualified for its part in an incident which broke the mast of a fellow competitor - just three weeks after Hamilton's crash into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari at the Montreal Grand Prix.

And 23-year-old Hamilton, who will be hoping for better luck in next week's British Grand Prix, insists he enjoyed the experience despite the crash.

"I am gutted because it is a beautiful boat and I have been to the front and the bow has been snapped off," he said.

"This is the first time I have been on a sailing boat. It is very technical and the cool thing is it has a lot in common with Formula One.

"It is very complex and I was very fortunate they allowed me to drive it for 30-40 minutes but surprisingly I did a pretty good job.

"Working with Ben Ainslie has been phenomenal, especially with him on the same boat telling me I am doing a good job.

"This is one of the coolest things I have ever done and I will hopefully I will be invited here again."

Britain's America's Cup strategist Rob Greenhalgh helped TeamOrigin take the honours in the JPMorgan Asset Management Cup after completing the 55-mile Isle of Wight course in a time of three hours 23 minutes and 50 seconds.

Over 13,000 people aboard 1,875 boats - a record entry for the Round the Island Race - took part, including Beijing Olympic medal contenders Paul Goodison, Joe Glanfield and Nick Rogers along with Dame Ellen MacArthur.

Race winner Greenhalgh is already setting his sights on America's Cup glory for Britain.

"The Brits were not involved in the last America's Cup so it is fantastic to be getting involved again," he said.

"We have got the basis for a very good team now we need a rule and a date so we can start designing and start working towards the goal of winning it."

LEWIS PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER PIT CRASH

HAMILTON PAYS FURTHER PENALTY

HAMILTON: FANS WILL INSPIRE ME

HILL HOPEFUL FOR HAMILTON HOME WIN

Hill - expects Hamilton to get stronger.

Damon Hill has warned Lewis Hamilton that victory in the British Grand Prix would be nothing more than "a stay of execution" from the pressures of fighting for the Formula One world title.

The 23-year-old is currently experiencing what Hill describes as "a wobble" after failing to score a point in his last two grands prix.

Mistakes and penalties have seriously harmed his world championship chances, leaving him 10 points adrift of Felipe Massa in a four-way scrap for the title.

Hamilton has also become embroiled in a row with the media, opting to direct his frustrations towards them after he was criticised for crashing into the back of Kimi Raikkonen at 30mph in the pit lane in Canada.

It was hardly the ideal preparation for the French Grand Prix in which he suffered a drive-through penalty that robbed him of the chance of a points finish.

With his home race fast approaching, Hamilton cannot afford to fall further behind the Ferrari duo of Massa and Raikkonen, as well as BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica.

In front of a sell-out 90,000 crowd, Hamilton will be under intense pressure to deliver, but Hill has urged him to simply focus on what he does best.

"There has been a little bit of a wobble of late from Lewis, but I think it's to be expected," said Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, who own Silverstone.

"Nobody else can really help him. He is on his own. It's something he has to go through, but he will pull himself through it, and he will get stronger.

"It's a phase all drivers seem to go through, part of the growing process in becoming a champion.

"As for any advice, I would go with what (Honda boss) Ross Brawn said the other day - just focus on the driving.

"There is so much that goes on beyond your control you are wise to just focus on what you can control, and that is how you drive, how you do your job, and the rest of it is in the lap of the Gods.

"Clearly, it would be an enormous boost for him to win the British Grand Prix.

"There would be such a feelgood factor about a British driver winning his home race, and especially for Lewis who is trying to fight for the championship.

"But you know it's only a stay of execution until the next race two weeks later because you start again every time.

"The clock goes back to zero after you've won a race. You don't go back to the next one as automatic victor."

Hill, though, feels a win would at least help Hamilton mature and become a better driver due to the experience he would gain from it.

"Every driver thinks they are the best they can be," added Hill

"But there is something about experience which builds them into a formidable driver, one who can take all the knocks as they go on, and so make them stronger.

"Every driver when they first start has confidence, talent, speed, and all the rest of it.

"It's the scrutiny and pressure, whether or not you can take that part of it, and you can't learn about that until you get there.

"So you are in a learning process all the time, and that's where you can start to worry, but I wouldn't.

"Racing drivers are people who overcome difficulties - they have to in order to just be in contention for a Formula One drive."

Hill's primary concern, though, is ensuring the British Grand Prix retains its place on the F1 calendar beyond the expiry of its current contract after next year's race.

Plans were recently approved for a new Ј30million pit and paddock complex, but negotiations remain ongoing with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone with regard to a new deal.

"We're definitely making progress," insisted Hill.

"Typically, negotiations will be ongoing and I expect won't come to a conclusion until the final hour, whenever that is.

"But I am 100% confident we have what it takes, and we can deliver what F1 and the UK will be proud of."

HILL PREDICTS SILVERSTONE NAILBITER

HAMILTON HOPEFUL OF MAKING A SPLASH

HAMILTON RETURNS TO GOODWOOD

HAMILTON: FANS WILL INSPIRE ME

Hamilton - ready for Silverstone.

Lewis Hamilton claims racing in his home grand prix makes him more determined than ever to succeed and is looking forward to the support of the British fans next weekend.

Hamilton finished third in his first British GP last season and needs a strong result to get his title charge back on track after slipping to fourth place following his retirement in Canada and his troubled time at Magny-Cours last weekend.

And he believes the sell-out crowd will help to push him on to a good performance.

"There's something about racing in your home country that affects you," he said. "The constant support of the crowd gives you a boost throughout the whole weekend. It's not something you experience anywhere else, but it does make you that bit more determined to succeed.

"It gives an extra boost to your confidence to know you're getting more support, and it seems to make you perform better. Last year I found the support was immense and made the weekend a lot easier to get through.

"Winning your home race is something every driver wants to achieve. My goals are that I want to win the first race of the season [which he did this year], I want to win Monte Carlo, which I did this year, and I want to win my home grand prix, so I'm ready for the challenge at Silverstone."

Hamilton is also eager to race again at Silverstone, which he believes is one of the world's best driver's circuits.

"It's one of the best on the calendar, a real driver's circuit," he added. "It's super-fast. The first half of the lap doesn't require any braking at all, just little lifts and shifts down through the gears.

"You need to watch the brake temperatures don't drop too low because you're not using them much, where else can you experience that?

"Formula One just wouldn't be the same without Silverstone, it's become a British phenomenon."

Hamilton also thinks the media "will be back on my side" once he starts performing strongly following the criticism he has been subjected to.

The McLaren driver was criticised by the British media after his crash with Kimi Raikkonen during the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton had another race to forget in France last weekend after having to serve two penalties, one for his Canadian crash and another for cutting through a chicane at Magny-Cours.

The Briton was defiant after Sunday's race, saying the press will not distract him.

Hamilton admitted he is not a fan of facing the media as soon as he gets out of the car, but the McLaren driver is convinced he will get support when he starts winning again.

"You've just done an hour-and-a-half race and worked your backside off, and then they expect you to sit down and straightaway get out of the car and talk to people," Hamilton told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Are you crazy? Damn man, I'm knackered! I need a drink! Sometimes I like to do that.

"But I feel that I've had so much support from the media, especially last year and in the build-up to this year, and I know that with the performance that I'll have coming up, I feel that they'll be back on my side and they'll continue supporting (me)."

HAMILTON DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM STRIKE

SILVERSTONE SELL-OUT

PLANNERS BOOST SILVERSTONE FUTURE

STEWART PONDERS CONSPIRACY THEORY

Stewart - McLaren conspiracy theory.

Sir Jackie Stewart has brought into focus the latest conspiracy theory to surround McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were both hit with penalties for Sunday's French Grand Prix by race stewards representing world governing body the FIA.

Hamilton started the race at Magny-Cours from 13th due to a 10-place grid penalty for his shunt into the rear of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pit lane in Montreal during the Canadian Grand Prix.

There were those who felt such a punishment was excessive, despite the stupidity of his error.

However, he suffered further early in the race when he was handed a drive-through penalty for gaining an advantage in passing the Toro Rosso of Sebastian Vettel, wrecking his bid for a points finish.

Again, it was suggested that was harsh, as was the five-place grid penalty handed to Kovalainen for apparently blocking Mark Webber's Red Bull during Saturday qualifying.

In light of the way many felt McLaren were hounded by the FIA during last year's spy scandal, these latest batch of penalties have stirred up strong emotions.

"A lot of people - and not McLaren personnel - are saying the FIA are more interested in finding faults at McLaren than at other teams," said three-times former world champion Stewart.

"For example, in the French race, Kimi Raikkonen's exhaust system broke and part of it was visibly hanging off the car.

"Why wasn't he called into the pits to have the loose piece removed? That could have been the 'make it happen' moment of the race.

"Eventually the loose bodywork flew off the car, which could easily have been dangerous to the public or to another driver.

"Some people will say that if it had happened with a McLaren, the team would have been fined."

However, it has to be remembered Raikkonen was hit by a drive-through penalty of his own in the Monaco Grand Prix as Ferrari did not have his tyres fitted to the car at the appropriate time before the race.

As far as Hamilton is concerned, he may currently feel he is being picked on, not just by the stewards, but also the media who he roundly condemned on Sunday.

But as far as Stewart is concerned, it is yet another part of the learning curve for the 23-year-old.

Speaking in his column on the RBS sport website, Stewart added: "He's now experiencing both the privilege and the penalty of celebrity. He's excited the media so much, and now some people are starting to feel let down.

"But we should remember Lewis has only been in F1 for 15 months. He's not the finished article yet, and it's wrong to think he should be.

"He might not like to hear this, but he has a fundamental lack of experience at the top of the sport. If he asked for my advice, I'd say, 'take your time, and don't expect too much of yourself'.

"I know because I've been there myself. I had a big accident in my second year, which I was lucky to survive.

"Over the next few years I changed. I gained experience, which gave me knowledge, which in turn enabled me to deliver."

HAMILTON CAN HANG ON THIS TIME - STEWART

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

WILLIAMS BACKS RUSSIAN F1 HOPES

Rosberg - thrilled with Russia visit.

Formula One will move a step closer to racing in Russia next month when Williams spearhead a demonstration in the heart of Moscow.

The Moscow City Racing event has been confirmed for Sunday, July 13, with Nico Rosberg to represent the team in the first display of F1 in the Russian capital.

With supremo Bernie Ecclestone known to be keen on staging a grand prix in Russia, the exhibition will test the water.

However, over a million Muscovites are expected to line a street road circuit that will see Rosberg drive past the Kremlin, taking in the embankment of the Moskva river.

A thrilled Rosberg said: "This is just great. I know Williams race cars have demonstrated in some impressive locations over the years, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to downtown Buenos Aires, or in the centre of London.

"But for a spectacle, driving past the Kremlin will take some beating.

"There is clearly a massive appetite for Formula One in Russia, and it is great to be contributing to spreading the sport's popularity."

Team principal Frank Williams will join Rosberg on the trip, and he added: "It was with great pleasure we accepted the offer to take part in Moscow City Racing.

"This will be our first visit as a team to Russia, a country of great interest to us. Demonstrating our cars at such a global landmark is an extraordinary privilege.

"I personally will also be fascinated to make the journey to Moscow and see the reaction to Formula One at first hand."

DE LA ROSA BACKS LEWIS

BERGER BACKS MOSLEY

BRAWN BACKS FALTERING HAMILTON

DOES HAMILTON NEED A HELPING HAND?

Hamilton - constantly in the spotlight.

The going has got somewhat tough for Lewis Hamilton in recent weeks, and yet again the question has arisen of whether he needs an advisor to help him when matters on and off the track are not going so well.

It is remarkable that just when everything appears to be going so right, it can all go so horribly wrong.

The 23-year-old is in need of stability, a calming hand to see him through the growing pains of Formula One, as Michael Schumacher had with Ross Brawn at a time when he set off on the rocky road to stardom.

Last season was phenomenal for Hamilton, no two ways about it, but after the title was ripped from his grasp in agonising fashion, who knows what effect that had on his psyche.

Hamilton had previously been wrapped in a safety blanket afforded him by McLaren for the best part of 10 years as they nurtured him on the path towards F1.

That was steady enough as he let his talent do the talking on the track, enough to impress team principal Ron Dennis who decided to throw his protege into motor sport's deep end.

The precocious Hamilton showed no fear, but then there was no pressure as no-one realistically expected him to perform so brilliantly.

However, in becoming the most successful rookie in the history of F1, that inevitably brought about expectations and demands, a new experience for Hamilton to cope with.

With the championship his for the taking with two grands prix of last season remaining, to then walk away empty-handed would have scarred many a more experienced sports star.

Hamilton may have ultimately missed out, but he had assured himself of global celebrity, a rare status for one so young.

But as Sir Jackie Stewart rightly remarked this week, that is "the privilege and penalty" of being thrust into the spotlight.

It occurred to such an extent in Britain - Hamilton was subjected to door-step journalism and prying camera lenses - that he sought refuge in the tax-haven that is Geneva.

There are those who criticised him for such a move, while others felt it would allow him to clear his head, to regain his focus for this season.

His pole-to-flag victory in the season-opening race in Australia, while behind him chaos ensued, suggested his mind was on track, that there was little trauma after the agony of just a few months previously.

It was a perfect weekend, but with that came a heightened level of expectancy, that this would be his year to atone for the near miss of the season before.

The anticipation has since played its part as Hamilton's enthusiasm has occasionally managed to get the better of him, while at other times he has simply appeared to switch off.

Hamilton has made mistakes that were simply not in his make-up last season, and he is dropping points that could come back to haunt him at the end of this year.

In Bahrain, Canada, and now France, Hamilton has looked every inch the rookie he was supposed to be last season, and with it the media have not so much turned on him, but started to question his moves.

There have been times, though, when he has attracted attention and criticism, such as his ridiculous acting/flying stunt in the build-up to the Turkish Grand Prix, courtesy of team sponsors Vodafone's demands.

So when he has made an error on track, it has been magnified ten-fold, as was the case in Canada when he drove into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari at 30mph in the pit lane.

In the aftermath, Hamilton did not help himself by failing to hold his hands up and admit responsibility, instead describing it as "a driving incident".

A barrage of criticism followed, and for the first time the British darling of motor sport was being subjected to poor press.

Hamilton responded in kind by letting rip at the media prior to Sunday's race at Magny-Cours.

It seemed a waste of energy at a time when he needed to channel it all into his driving, and that is when a word in his ear to 'cool it' would have been beneficial, but Hamilton appears to be lacking such guidance at present.

And so, as the British Grand Prix fast approaches and with it the pressure multiplies, the best advice he surely could be given at this time would be: 'Don't believe all you read in the papers.'

HAMILTON KEEPS EYE ON WEATHER

HAMILTON WARY OF KUBICA

HAMILTON CUTS FAST AND LEWIS

Hamilton - happy with testing.

Lewis Hamilton was given a flavour of the 'insanity' that is certain to engulf him at next weekend's British Grand Prix.

A remarkable 10,000 fans were on hand to watch the final day of a three-day test programme at Silverstone as the teams attempted to put the finishing touches to preparations for the race.

Hamilton at least delighted his army of followers by setting the fastest time of the week with a lap of one minute 19.170seconds.

But it was a major surprise to the McLaren driver to see so many on hand anyway for a day's testing that would generally only attract a few hundred spectators.

"Driving into Silverstone this morning felt really cool," remarked Hamilton, eager to revive his title hopes on his home track.

"I couldn't believe how many fans were at the track so early in the morning. They're pretty special, the most dedicated F1 supporters in the world.

"At the start of the day I was really eager to get out on the track. This place is so super-fast, it feels amazing in an F1 car.

"At lunchtime, there were so many people waiting outside my garage, it was insane!

"Whilst I couldn't say hi to all of them, their support always gives me a special lift at this place."

With McLaren testing a number of new parts on the car, Hamilton was happy enough with his day's work which saw him complete 88 laps.

"Today's test was really encouraging," added Hamilton.

"The changes we've made in the last few tests have really improved the car which feels strong around here.

"I now can't wait to be racing in front of my home crowd again."

Hamilton will be back on track next Friday for practice in front of a sell-out 65,000 crowd, followed by further sell-outs of 85,000 on Saturday for qualifying, and then 90,000 on race day.

The majority will all be hoping for a Hamilton victory following his recent problems which have seen him fail to score any points in his last two grands prix, leaving him 10 points adrift.

On a day when there were again a number of red flags for various incidents - including Timo Glock running into David Coulthard - Hamilton avoided any incidents.

Glock was second quickest in his Toyota, and the only other driver to post a sub 80-second lap this week with a time of 1:19.815.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was over a second down on Hamilton, with Fernando Alonso in his Renault fourth quickest, but 1.692secs off the pace and who suffered a mechanical issue at one point.

BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was fifth, followed by the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima, Adrian Sutil in his Force India, the Honda of Rubens Barrichello and Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais.

Coulthard's Red Bull spent most of the day being repaired due to the damage suffered in the collision with Glock.

When he eventually emerged late in the day, the Scot managed a further four laps before smoke emerged from the back of the car to bring the session to a close.

DE LA ROSA BACKS LEWIS

HAMILTON RETURNS TO GOODWOOD

PIQUET QUICKEST IN PRACTICE

Piquet - fastest in practice.

Nelson Piquet followed Fernando Alonso's lead by giving Renault fans further cause to cheer ahead of their home grand prix in France.

Undoubtedly running on low fuel in the final hour-long practice session ahead of qualifying later on Saturday, Piquet set the quickest time at the 4.411km Circuit de Nevers in Magny-Cours.

The Brazilian, enduring a torrid time in his rookie season as he has yet to score a point, posted a lap of one minute 15.750secs, 0.028secs faster than Alonso, who topped second practice yesterday.

Mark Webber was nine thousandths of a second slower as he finally hooked up his Red Bull on a lap that was more than 1.3secs quicker than his best time of yesterday.

That mark was set in the closing stages as a number of drivers ran light on fuel, with Sebastian Vettel in his Toro Rosso and Williams' Nico Rosberg also dipping under one minute 16 seconds for the lap.

The consistent Kimi Raikkonen was fifth fastest in 1:16.003 in his Ferrari, with the Toyota of Jarno Trulli sixth and Lewis Hamilton seventh for McLaren.

Both Hamilton and Rosberg face 10-place grid penalties after their accidents in the pit lane at the Canadian Grand Prix 13 days ago.

Sebastien Bourdais, on home soil and in his Toro Rosso, followed in eighth, with Felipe Massa ninth in his Ferrari and David Coulthard 10th for Red Bull.

Overall, less than a second separated the top 18, albeit with the Hondas of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello continuing to struggle in 17th and 18th.

The Force India duo of Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil again brought up the rear, with the young German 1.862secs adrift of Piquet.

HAMILTON QUICKEST

ALONSO GIVES RENAULT HOME BOOST

HEIDFELD: NO TEAM ORDERS AT BMW

Heidfeld - not in Kubica's shadow.

Nick Heidfeld says BMW are treating their drivers equally despite Robert Kubica's string of good results.

While Heidfeld has struggled to keep pace with the top four drivers, his colleague has already claimed not only the team's first pole position but also their maiden grand prix win.

But Heidfeld, who is 18 points behind his team-mate in the drivers' standings, insists BMW have no team orders.

He told their official website: "There never was and still isn't a No 1 or No 2 driver in our team.

"Robert had already delivered in great style prior to the Canadian Grand Prix."

The German believes having two competitive drivers is one of the main reasons why BMW are competing with Ferrari and McLaren.

"It pays to have two competitive drivers in the team, particularly when one of them has some difficulties," he said.

"Last year, it was Robert who had his problems. This year I'm in a similar situation.

"In such a situation, it is vital to co-operate closely with the engineers and to be provided with the high reference values of your team-mate."

HEIDFELD HOPES FOR BETTER

THEISSEN: WE’LL KEEP PUSHING

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

HAMILTON VOWS TO FIGHT ON

Hamilton - hit by drive-through penalty.

Lewis Hamilton is adamant he will not let his head drop, no matter how many times the stewards hit him with penalties.

Hamilton now finds himself 10 points adrift of new championship leader Felipe Massa after the Brazilian took the chequered flag in Sunday's French Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old McLaren star could only finish 10th after being on the wrong end of a dubious decision by the stewards.

Starting from 13th on the grid courtesy of a 10-place penalty after he ran into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pit lane in Canada, the Briton was then hit with a drive-through penalty 19 minutes into the race in Magny-Cours.

The stewards felt Hamilton had gained an advantage by cutting a corner to pass Sebastian Vettel's Toro Rosso on lap one.

It was a decision that cost Hamilton a shot at a points finish, but in a defiant mood post-race he said: "There is nothing you can do that can distract me.

"You keep on giving me penalties, whatever you want to do, I will keep battling and trying to come back with a result."

Hamilton certainly battled around the Circuit de Nevers, but it was all in vain and he has now failed to score in his last two races, and three out of eight this season.

In contrast to his remarkable rookie year, Hamilton only failed to pick up points in two of the 17 grands prix.

But with the next race at Silverstone now around the corner, he has vowed to thrill his fans and come out fighting.

"I absolutely 100% aim on bouncing back at the British Grand Prix in front of my home crowd," insisted Hamilton.

"Regardless of what's written in the papers, I will go back to the workshop and push with the team.

"I will see the engineers now, focus on the next race and then hit 'em (my rivals) hard."

Hamilton's reference follows what he felt was some harsh criticism for his gaffe in Canada, and for barely showing any contrition, despite the fact the error was all of his own making.

Prior to yesterday's race, and speaking to ITV, he said; "I found out there was a lot of negativity in the media, and that's to be expected.

"That's what they do: they build you up and then they break you down, but they can't break me. I'm here to race, and I don't want all this stuff.

"But I'm very strong mentally, and my belief in my own ability is stronger than ever and there's nothing that can break me."

It is yet another indicator of Hamilton perhaps feeling the weight of the world is currently on his shoulders.

But he rejected an assessment he looked angry after the race, adding: "I feel cool. All is good.

"I am going to keep battling because there is a long way to go. I don't care how far I am behind.

"Kimi was 17 points behind with two races to go last season and he still won the title.

"If I'm 20 points behind I don't care, I will still come back."

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

HAMILTON COMES OUT FIGHTING

MASSA WARY OF McLAREN

Massa - still wary of McLaren threat.

Felipe Massa is refusing to write off McLaren at the British Grand Prix early next month.

Brazilian Massa spearheaded a Ferrari one-two in the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours on Sunday to claim the lead in the Formula One world championship for the first time in his career.

Ferrari's domination at the Circuit de Nevers suggests they will take some stopping at Silverstone on July 6.

Last season reigning world champion Raikkonen led home Massa in France, with the Finn following up with a victory in Britain.

McLaren have struggled of late, in particular with Lewis Hamilton failing to score in his last two grands prix.

But Massa, speaking at the current test programme at Silverstone, said: "I think we (Ferrari) can definitely be competitive here.

"At Magny-Cours, we didn't see the real performance from McLaren in the race as they were always blocked in traffic, but for sure, they can be a lot more competitive here.

"We are at least heading in the right direction. Let's hope we are doing so more than them."

Hamilton and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen's race was scuppered by a number of penalties in France, resulting in them finishing 10th and fourth respectively.

Massa's thoughts, though, were borne out by the fact Kovalainen set the quickest time in testing this week with a hot lap of one minute 20.015secs.

That beat Massa's mark from yesterday by 0.173secs, offering hope to McLaren who find themselves lagging a miserable 33 points behind Ferrari in the constructors' championship.

Massa could only manage seventh fastest of the 10 drivers on track during a day in which there were a spate of red flags for several incidents.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli set the second best time of the day late on with a 1:20.391, followed by Nico Rosberg in his Williams, Nelson Piquet for Renault and Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel.

Robert Kubica was sixth for BMW Sauber, just under a second down on Kovalainen, with Massa 1.054secs off the pace.

Red Bull's Mark Webber caused the first red flag due to an engine problem that led to him running just four laps before lunch, with further issues posed in the afternoon as he managed 39 overall.

The Australian was eighth quickest, ahead of Jenson Button who ran for 106 laps, but was still 1.430secs behind Kovalainen.

Giancarlo Fisichella brought up the rear for Force India, spinning off at high speed at Becketts just before lunch, wrecking the car and resulting in a wrist injury.

The Italian was taken to the nearby hospital for precautionary x- rays, and although given the all clear, currently has his wrist in a brace.

Fisichella, who will be fit to take part in the British Grand Prix, said: "Unfortunately, I just got caught out by a change in grip and balance going through Becketts, went off the track and hit the barriers.

"I wasn't hurt at all, but I did not take my hands off the wheel and they had to do some checks to make sure my wrist was okay."

Hamilton, Raikkonen and Renault's Fernando Alonso will all be on track tomorrow.

MASSA FASTEST IN PRACTICE

TITLE CHANCES FADING FOR HEIKKI

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

SILVERSTONE SELL-OUT

Silverstone - will be packed out.

The British Grand Prix will be a record-breaker this year as the event is a guaranteed sell-out over all three days.

For the first time in Silverstone's history, the circuit will be full to capacity for Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and on Sunday for the race.

After recently confirming a 90,000 sell-out for the grand prix on July 6, organisers have now sold all 65,000 tickets for Friday and 85,000 for Saturday.

Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone Circuits Ltd, said: "The demand for tickets has been incredible.

"Only three weeks ago we announced that race day had sold out, now practice and qualifying have sold out too.

"We will be at full capacity over all three days with a record combined crowd figure of 240,000. The atmosphere is going to be amazing.

"I have said it before, but we really do have the best fans in the world.

"They are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the sport, and will get right behind the three British drivers - Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and David Coulthard.

"It's going to be a fantastic event."

Organisers are already planning for next season's event, and aim to put tickets on sale the day after this year's race.

ECCLESTONE QUESTIONS SILVERSTONE

PLANNERS BOOST SILVERSTONE FUTURE

SILVERSTONE OPTIMISTIC OVER GRAND PRIX

FRENCH GP SET TO STAY ON CALENDAR

The chequered flag at Magny-Cours.

The French Grand Prix is set to remain on the Formula One calendar after the French Motor Sports Federation confirmed they have made an application for France to host a round in next year's championship.

The FFSA are responsible for organising the event and their contract runs until 2011, but the future of the race was thrown into doubt due to the location of the Magny-Cours circuit.

But FFSA president Nicolas Deschaux said in a statement: "I've anticipated the decision of the FFSA General Assembly by confirming the entry of the French Grand Prix on the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar.

"Of course the (FFSA) general assembly, which will meet on Thursday, will have to confirm this decision and also determine the future of the French Grand Prix from 2010 onwards."

BOURDAIS: FRENCH GP MUST STAY

MAGNY-COURS SET TO RACE ON

KOVALAINEN REMAINS DEFIANT

KIMI NOT EXHAUSTED BY FRENCH WOE

Raikkonen - broken exhaust ruined victory chance.

Kimi Raikkonen's hopes of a French Grand Prix victory were wrecked by a broken exhaust, but he is confident of firing on all cylinders for the rest of the season.

After failing to score in the previous two races in Monaco and Montreal, Raikkonen appeared poised to take the chequered flag until the exhaust problem just before the midway point that resulted in a loss of power.

Leading the race up until that point from Ferrari's 200th pole of their illustrious history, Raikkonen slowly started to go backwards.

It was not long before he was passed by team-mate Felipe Massa who went on to win by 18 seconds and become the fourth different leader of the championship at the end of the last four races.

There was natural disappointment from reigning world champion Raikkonen that the win had slipped through his grasp, but then relief also he managed to finish the race at all.

"We maybe should have won, but I still took eight points and we're in a more comfortable position in the championship," said Raikkonen, who trails Massa by five points and BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica by three.

"A few laps after the exhaust broke the situation seemed better, but towards the end of the race I ran the risk of stopping.

"This sort of thing can happen in racing, and I have to look on the bright side because luckily I had built up quite a good lead in the first part of the race.

"But it shows the car is definitely strong because usually when you have this sort of problem, retirement is almost inevitable.

"At this stage there is still a long way to go in the championship, and I am in a better position now than I was at this stage last year.

"At the end of the day it was a great result for the team, a one-two, and everybody did their best. So now let's see what I can do in the next part of the series."

Massa now leads the way for the first time in his 95-race F1 career and is the first Brazilian to do so since the late Ayrton Senna in 1993.

Although such a position is special to him, it will mean nothing if he does not win the world title at the end of the season.

"It's a great pleasure to lead, and hopefully we can stay in this position to the end," said Massa after his third victory of the year.

"But for the moment we've won nothing, just some races, and the championship is open 100%, with many races to go.

"We just need to keep doing our job race by race, thinking about the points, about winning, although second and third are good.

"We also need to think about the championship until the last race, and then we will know if we did the right job, had the right luck and did everything we could to win.

"Because my dream is not just to lead the championship, it is to win the championship.

"I am going to do the best I can to try and achieve that. That is my goal, and hopefully one day we can celebrate that."

Lewis Hamilton could only finish 10th, and now trails Massa by 10 points, as a drive-through penalty for an apparently illegal pass on the Toro Rosso of Sebastian Vettel on lap one scuppered his chance of a top-eight finish.

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

MASSA AIMS TO MAINTAIN FERRARI DOMINANCE

MASSA MASTERS SILVERSTONE

Massa - set fastest time.

New Formula One world championship leader Felipe Massa took the honours on the first day of this week's three-day test at Silverstone.

Brazilian Massa heads the drivers' standings for the first time in his F1 career following his third win of the season, and eighth in the sport overall in Sunday's French Grand Prix.

High on confidence, and with the teams fine-tuning preparations for the British Grand Prix on July 6, Massa completed 71 laps of the 3.194-mile circuit, with his best a time of one minute 20.188secs.

Massa comfortably pushed McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen into second place by 0.289secs, with BMW Sauber's title challenger Robert Kubica third and over 0.8secs adrift.

With all 10 teams taking to the Northamptonshire track, only two employed their test drivers, with one of those, Kamui Kobayashi for Toyota, a fine fourth in 1:21.335.

"It was the first time I've driven at Silverstone, although I went around on a scooter yesterday to check the track!" remarked the Japanese driver.

"I spent the early laps getting used to the circuit. It's fun to drive and I especially liked the sweeping, high-speed corners at Becketts.

"The last sector is tricky, especially the double hairpin at Luffield where it is difficult to find the perfect line.

"We tested set-ups and different aerodynamic configurations. We made it through our programme, so it was a good day."

Nico Rosberg was fifth for Williams, followed by the Red Bull of Mark Webber and Renault's Nelson Piquet, who finally scored his first points of his debut season at Magny-Cours.

Jenson Button, desperately looking for any kind of tonic ahead of his home race, was seventh for Honda, nearly two seconds down on Massa.

Force India tester Vitantonio Liuzzi was eighth, the Italian completing 108 laps, the most of any of the 10 drivers.

Sebastian Vettel's day was cut short by a technical issue with his Toro Rosso which allowed the German to complete only 10 laps, with his best a 1:23.853, and he brought up the rear.

The team are hoping to resolve the problem to allow Vettel a full day in the car on Wednesday, with team-mate Sebastien Bourdais taking over on Thursday.

Times
01 F. Massa Ferrari 01:20.188 71 laps
02 H. Kovalainen McLaren 01:20.477 90 laps
03 R. Kubica BMW 01:20.995 82 laps
04 K. Kobayashi Toyota 01:21.335 82 laps
05 N. Rosberg Williams 01:21.410 88 laps
06 M. Webber Red Bull 01:21.565 94 laps
07 N. Piquet jr. Renault 01:21.797 68 laps
08 J. Button Honda 01:22.081 90 laps
09 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 01:22.250 108 laps
10 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:23.853 10 laps

ECCLESTONE QUESTIONS SILVERSTONE

RAIKKONEN PUTS FERRARI IN CHARGE

HAMILTON QUICKEST

MASSA MASTER AT MAGNY-COURS

Massa celebrates his victory.

Felipe Massa leads the World Championship for the first time in his career following his victory in the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.

A broken exhaust pipe on the Ferrari of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen aided his cause, and for the first time since Ayrton Senna in May 1993, a Brazilian now sits on top of the drivers' standings.

Massa has a two-point cushion over BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, and is five ahead of Raikkonen who held on for second place at the Circuit de Nevers, while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is 10 adrift after he finished a troublesome race in 10th.

In a helter-skelter season, arguably more enthralling than last year, there have now been four different leaders of the championship at the end of the last four races.

Appreciably, it is the man in possession of that lead come the end of the final race in Brazil that matters, and Massa is determined to be that man.

"It's a great pleasure to lead, and hopefully we can stay in that position to the end," said Massa.

"For the moment we've won nothing, just some races, and the championship is open 100 per cent, with many races to go.

"We just need to keep doing our job race by race, thinking about the points, about winning, although second and third are good.

"We also need to think about the championship until the last race, and then we will know if we did the right job, had the right luck and did everything we could to win.

"Because my dream is not just to lead the championship, it is to win the championship.

"I am going to do the best I can to try and achieve that. That is my goal, and hopefully one day we can celebrate that."

Starting from what was Ferrari's 200th pole of their illustrious history, Raikkonen made the ideal start and did not put a wheel out of place until the exhaust issue began to materialise around lap 30.

On lap 39, Massa passed the reigning world champion who admitted he was lucky to finish and avoid a third successive race without scoring a point.

"It's disappointing in the end," assessed Raikkonen.

"I had a good car all weekend, was comfortably on pole, but then I had a problem with the car.

"In a way I was still lucky to finish the race because in the last couple of laps the car almost stopped, but I came home second which is better than nothing.

"I was also lucky to be fast enough at the start that even with the problem I was able to match the speed of the others and keep second.

"For me, it's still a long championship, and we've been in a worse position, so we will see what we can do."

It is now Hamilton who has failed to score in his last two races, primarily as he again incurred the wrath of the stewards.

Starting from 13th due to a 10-place grid penalty stemming from Canada when he drove into the back of Raikkonen in the pit lane, Hamilton was given a drive-through penalty after he was deemed to have illegally passed Sebastian Vettel in his Toro Rosso on lap one.

Running in ninth, he was then relegated to 13th, and then 19th and last shortly after when he pitted officially for the first time.

Despite a brave charge, Hamilton missed out on a points finish he would clearly have claimed but for another infringement.

"It was an extremely close call," reflected Hamilton.

"I felt I'd got past fairly and was ahead going into the corner, but I was on the outside and couldn't turn in in case we both crashed. Then I lost the back end of the car and drove over the kerb.

"After that I got my head down and pushed hard until the end."

But it was not enough, leaving Hamilton now fourth in the standings behind his three main rivals, and McLaren 33 points behind Ferrari in the constructors' title race, and 16 behind BMW Sauber.

Canadian race winner Kubica could only manage fifth behind Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen in the second McLaren.

For Italian Trulli, it was his first time on the podium since May 2005 in Spain, and Toyota's first since Ralf Schumacher was third in Australia in April 2006.

The remaining points were claimed by Red Bull's Mark Webber in sixth, Renault's Nelson Piquet - in the top eight for the first time in his rookie season - and team-mate Fernando Alonso.

MASSA AIMS TO MAINTAIN FERRARI DOMINANCE

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

HAMILTON READY FOR ‘SPICY’ RACE

ECCLESTONE DENIES MOSLEY PLOT

Ecclestone pictured with Mosley.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has denied reports he was involved in an attempt to "destroy" under-fire FIA president Max Mosley.

Mosley has endured a torrid time since allegations were published about his private life, although he successfully saved his job by winning a majority in a specially convened vote on his presidency among FIA members.

Ecclestone, a long-time friend and business associate of Mosley, has been fiercely critical of his conduct, calling on Mosley to resign his post in the aftermath of the unseemly stories.

The two men are also in dispute over commercial rights in F1 - the FIA's World Motor Sport council are expected to be advised by Mosley on Wednesday to halt negotiations with Ecclestone until radical amendments are made to the sport's distribution of funds - but the latter has rubbished suggestions he was responsible for Mosley's recent troubles.

"It is nothing in the world the do with me in any shape or form," he told The Times.

"Secondly, this sort of thing is not my style, not the sort of way I would operate. Thirdly there is no way in the world I would want to destroy Max. To suggest I would...it's not true."

Regarding Mosley's desire to see F1's commercial revenues split differently in the future, Ecclestone was dismissive.

Asked what would happen if the FIA attempte to exert influence over Ecclestone or his company, Formula One Management, he said: "I'm sure if that happened the European Commission would move in.

"Under the agreement with the European Commission, the FIA are the regulators of the sport - like the police - Formula One Management are the commercial rights holders. The money doesn't belong to Max. It doesn't belong to him to touch."

ECCLESTONE PLEA TO MOSLEY

ECCLESTONE WARNING

BRAWN BACKS FALTERING HAMILTON

Hamilton - feeling the pressure.

The pressure currently on Lewis Hamilton has been likened to that on Michael Schumacher's shoulders as he hit the headlines.

Hamilton has failed to score any points in the last two grands prix after taking the Formula One world championship lead following a superb victory in Monaco.

Hamilton now finds himself 10 points off the pace being set by Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Mistakes of his own making, combined with penalties imposed by the stewards, have hit Hamilton hard, and they are starting to cost him dear.

Hamilton turned on the media at the weekend for their criticism of him following his gaffe in Canada when he ran into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pit lane.

But Honda team principal Ross Brawn, who nurtured seven-times world champion Schumacher through the growing pains of F1, feels 23-year- old Hamilton needs to focus on what is important.

"The driving is the thing that will carry him through whatever else happens," said Brawn.

"He's got to focus on his driving, concentrate on that, and everything else will take care of itself."

Speaking to BBC Sport, he added: "We all tend to forget how young he is, and how this is all lots of new experiences for him.

"I was fortunate enough to be with Michael Schumacher when he went through this learning curve, and it was no different.

"The attention that these young guys get is enormous pressure, and something that no-one can really help them with.

"No-one can really advise them what they should be doing. So they have to learn the hard way and learn themselves."

Although Brawn is convinced Hamilton will one day be champion, he is backing former team Ferrari to triumph again this season.

The 57-year-old, who helped Ferrari win six constructors' titles and Schumacher five drivers' crowns as technical director with the team from 1997 to 2006, added: "Ferrari look very tough.

"Lewis is certainly capable of being a world champion. It's just a question of how the car goes and how the dice roll."

DE LA ROSA BACKS LEWIS

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

WHITMARSH BACKS HAMILTON

MAGNY-COURS SET TO RACE ON

Ecclestone - wants Paris move.

Magny-Cours appears guaranteed to host next year's French Grand Prix, according to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

In the build-up to Sunday's race at the Circuit de Nevers, the future of the event was again called into question with Ecclestone making no secret of his desire to see the race switched to Paris.

The track is relatively unpopular and is in a remote area, a long distance away from any major city or airport.

Although moving closer to Paris remains Ecclestone's aim, it is a long-term one as he today said: "We've a contract here for another couple of years.

"Although the FFSA (French motor sport federation) who are the promoters agreed two years ago 2008 would be the last race, now they are saying 2009 will be the last race, but I'm sure it's not."

So when asked whether F1 would be at Magny-Cours next year, he replied: "I'm sure. Book here."

On Friday the FFSA announced major plans for a redevelopment of Magny-Cours, suggesting the track has a long-term future should plans be granted and funds raised.

Ecclestone, though, would still love to see the race near Paris, with an area close to Disneyland long mooted.

"I think it (Disney) would be good. They have got hotels and the trains go there," remarked Ecclestone.

"But we'll have to see. We have a contract, so we are here. When that contract stops, we'll have to see what we can do."

BOURDAIS: FRENCH GP MUST STAY

KOVALAINEN REMAINS DEFIANT

SILVERSTONE OPTIMISTIC OVER GRAND PRIX

Ecclestone - wants facilities improved.

Silverstone bosses have re-iterated their belief they will agree a new deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to save the British Grand Prix.

Ecclestone today confirmed he was in negotiations with Donington Park's owners to potentially switch the race to the East Midlands circuit from 2010.

Silverstone's contract with Ecclestone expires after next year's race, with the track owners, the BRDC, continually coming under fire from the 77-year-old to improve facilities.

However, at the end of last month approval was finally given by the local district council for a new multi-million pound pit and paddock complex.

Far from being concerned by Ecclestone searching for alternatives, Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone Circuits Ltd, is confident the Northamptonshire track will win the day.

"The BRDC and Silverstone team has worked extremely hard to get us where we are today," said Phillips.

"Planning for the new pit and paddock complex has been approved, and we are on schedule to build a world-class facility that fully complies with FOM (Formula One Management, Ecclestone's company) requirements.

"Our negotiations with FOM are on-going and there is massive goodwill for the BRDC to do everything it can to retain the British Grand Prix.

"We feel it is vitally important a British Grand Prix remains on the F1 calendar, and Silverstone is well placed to realise that.

"Many countries and venues are competing for a limited number of dates on the F1 calendar, but we are making good progress towards delivering what we set out to achieve.

"We are confident an agreement can be reached with FOM to secure the long-term future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone."

ECCLESTONE QUESTIONS SILVERSTONE

PLANNERS BOOST SILVERSTONE FUTURE

DENNIS: HAMILTON WILL BE BACK

Hamilton - can bounce back.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis is convinced Formula One's wheel of fortune will again turn in the direction of Lewis Hamilton.

For the first time in his 25 grands prix F1 career, Hamilton has now failed to score in two consecutive races, leaving France pointless on Sunday a fortnight after his costly mistake in Canada.

Naturally, the mood in the McLaren brand centre post-race at Magny-Cours was quiet and sombre, in stark contrast to the celebrity-laden, party atmosphere that dominated in the wake of his stirring Monaco Grand Prix triumph a month ago.

That now appears light years away, with Hamilton all of a sudden 10 points adrift of new championship leader Felipe Massa following the Brazilian's third triumph of the season, and eighth of his career.

In the wake of a dubious penalty handed down by the stewards, Hamilton hinted he is beginning feel picked on.

The 10-place grid penalty for driving into the back of Kimi Raikkonen in the pit lane in Montreal was taken on the chin, even if there were murmurings it was a little harsh.

But the drive-through-penalty for apparently gaining an advantage in overtaking Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel on lap one, did not go down well, and undoubtedly denied Hamilton a shot at the points as he could only finish 10th.

If the sporting gods are being unkind on Hamilton at present, that is far from a concern for Dennis who insisted: "It's not a worry. It is motor-racing.

"He had a dream start to his career and so there's a lot of expectation on Lewis, but you have to remember it is still only his second season.

"There are many drivers who spend several years in Formula One before winning their first grand prix, so he is well ahead of the game.

"He is super-quick, super-focused, highly motivated, and he knows the ups and downs of motor-racing are always going to exist, and when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

"We are a strong racing team that is more than capable of winning more races this season, and more than capable of catching up and overtaking those cars in front of us, and that's what we are going to concentrate on doing."

As if to remind everyone of just how quickly a situation can turn, Dennis added: "I seem to remember having a 12-point lead with two races to go last season, so there is a long way to go."

That was reference to Hamilton who appeared to have the title in the bag, only to lose out by a point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh remarked that Hamilton's critics are too quick to point an accusing finger.

"Lewis, up until the weekend, had done 24 races and scored more points than any other driver in that period," said Whitmarsh.

"If that's error prone then that's a little bit harsh.

"I think there is a tremendous spotlight and pressure on him and you always notice errors closer to the front than at the back.

"We are a top team and he is a top driver, and you have to expect criticism if you don't come up to the expectation of your fans.

"If you are going to try and lead in the sport as a team or as a racing driver, you set high expectations of yourself and that's placed with your fans, and they are going to reflect that upon you.

"He knows that, we know that, and when people stop talking about us then we know we are not competitive enough."

Hamilton could not have a better venue at which to make his detractors eat their words than at Silverstone, and the British Grand Prix, in a fortnight's time.

Whitmarsh is convinced the fighter within Hamilton will emerge, adding: "Lewis will be determined at every race, and he will be extra determined at Silverstone.

"We have had a nightmare start to the season and he is 10 points away from leading the drivers' championship.

"That can swing in one weekend, and that's the frame of mind you have to have when you go into this. He has to believe he can win in Britain and come out on equal points."

HAMILTON COMES OUT FIGHTING

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

Massa - still sees Hamilton as threat.

Felipe Massa is refusing to rule Lewis Hamilton out of the Formula One world title equation following a disastrous two weeks for the McLaren star.

Massa was on Sunday celebrating taking the lead in the championship for the first time in his career after clinching victory in France.

As for Hamilton, he was left staring at a 10-point gap to Massa following a drive-through penalty that robbed him of the opportunity of a points finish as he could only manage 10th.

Despite criticism, particularly for his mistake in the Canadian Grand Prix when he hit a stationary Kimi Raikkonen from behind in the pit lane, Massa feels Hamilton is not out of the running.

He said: "Well, I didn't score in the first two races and I'm leading.

"Kimi didn't score in the last two races (before the French Grand Prix) as well and he's completely fighting for the championship, so we cannot take anybody away from the fight at the moment.

"It's only the middle of the championship, and it's a long way to go to the last race."

Hamilton, though, is not Massa's only concern as BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica is two points adrift, with Ferrari team-mate Raikkonen five behind after the Finn came home second to give the team their third one-two of the season.

It leaves Ferrari in a dominant position in the constructors' championship, but team boss Stefano Domenicali knows he cannot discount BMW Sauber and McLaren, just as Massa feels Hamilton remains a threat.

"We have pulled out more of a gap in the constructors' classification, giving us a bit of breathing space, but we cannot afford to ease up," said Domenicali.

"There is still a long way to go, and our rivals will do all they can to beat us, so we must keep our heads down and work in a determined fashion."

Ferrari are today assessing the reason behind the exhaust issue that cost reigning world champion Raikkonen the victory.

The exhaust broke just before the midway point of the race, resulting in a loss of power and allowing Massa to pass, before eventually snapping off completely towards the end.

Domenicali has confirmed Raikkonen will almost certainly require an engine change for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6, but as it will be the first of the season in the Finn's car, it will be without penalty.

"I would say it is quite likely we will change the engine," confirmed Domenicali.

"After such a heavy race from middle to the end, it's very likely we have to change it, so we need to play the joker that allows us to do it.

"But there's no rush to do anything more than eventually change it when we go to Silverstone."

HAMILTON WARY OF KUBICA

MASSA FASTEST IN PRACTICE

FRENCH GRAND PRIX - LAP-BY-LAP

Trulli celebrates his third place.

FINISH: Please join us again on July 6th for the British GP at Silverstone.

FINISH: Felipe Massa is the new 2008 Championship leader! Well done Felipe!

FINISH: The Renaults of Piquet Jr and Alonso round off the points-paying position. Well done to Piquet Jr on his first two F1 World Championship points. He'll be delighted.

FINISH: Jarno Trulli was third ahead of Kovalainen, Kubica and Webber.

FINISH: Raikkonen is second, 17.9s behind his team-mate. Great race for the Finn, who was driving with a broken exhaust.

Lap 70: Massa crosses the line to win the French GP! His third win of the season and eighth of his F1 career.

Lap 69: Kovalainen tries to take Trulli, the two almost touch, he runs it wide, cuts the chicane and has to settle back down behind Trulli.

Lap 69: Alonso runs wide lapping a Force India, which allows Piquet Jr though. However, two corners later Piquet Jr runs wide and Alonso is back into seventh place.

Lap 68: Kubica has for some reason fallen off the battle for third. He's now 2s behind Kovalainen.

Lap 67: Trulli is chasing his first podium finish since Spain 2005. But Kovalainen could end it. He's half a second behind the Toyota man.

Lap 66: Bad afternoon for Williams with Rosberg P15 and Nakajima P17. Only the Force India's are slower.

Lap 65: Ferrari will earn 18 points, extending their total to 91, while BMW will have 74 and McLaren 58.

Lap 64: Should the positions stay as they are Massa will be leading the standings on 48, Kubica will drop to second on 46, Raikkonen will move to third on 43 and Hamilton will fall to fourth.

Lap 63: Massa is 16s ahead of Raikkonen, looking for his third victory of the season.

Lap 62: Coulthard is being chased by Hamilton and Glock while Webber has Alonso and Piquet Jr looking for a way through.

Lap 61: The rain has stopped. Kovalainen and Kubica are right on Trulli's rear wing. Trulli pushes Kovalainen wide. The McLaren driver drops a few meters which puts him in line for Kubica to try and overtake.

Lap 60: The drivers are slowing down a bit given that the track is a little bit slippery in some places. It's not raining heavily but it's definitely dampening the circuit.

Lap 59: Alonso has homed in on Webber. Hamilton takes 10th off Glock.

Lap 59: It is starting to rain a bit!!!

Lap 58: Hamilton closes up on Glock. Less than a second separate the two drivers who are figthing over 11th place.

Lap 57: Should the positions stay as it is Piquet Jr will score his first point of the season.

Lap 56: Light rain expected for the next 30 minutes.

Lap 55: Hamilton takes 11th place off Vettel as Bourdais goes off the track at Estoril. He makes his way back on and continues.

Lap 54: Massa pits from the lead. He looks to be on course for the victory here this afternoon with only a drama/disaster able to stop him

Lap 53: Heikki pits from third. Coulthard pits, Hamilton pits

Lap 52: Raikkonen pits from second place. The Finn is in for 8.1s and soft tyres. Ferrari mechanics are on stand by with a fire extinguisher just in case the car catches alight given that some of the bodywork is burnt.

Lap 51: Trulli pits. Sof tyres and 7.1s. Piquet Jr pits as well. He was P5.

Lap 50: Webber pits from fifth place. Soft tyres and 7.3. Glock pits next.

Lap 49: Vettel and Heidfeld both come in for their second stops.

Lap 49: Raikkonen's pace is suddenly back. Not up there with Massa's but it's a second quicker than he what he was doing when his team-mate overtook him.

Lap 48: Once again Hamilton easily powers his way through into 12th place ahead of Alonso who seems to give up the position too easily.

Lap 47: Kubica pits from fourth place. He's in for 8.1s and puts on the softer option tyres.

Lap 46: Hamilton is closing in on Alonso, who is P12 after his second pit stop. Earlier Alonso wacked him when he passed. Will he try do the same or is it Alonso's turn to bump Hamilton?

Lap 45: Sutil pits. Raikkonen is still in second place, 22s ahead of Trulli. Trulli, though, is catching him a second a lap.

Lap 44: Alonso pits for soft tyres. He's in for 9.3s and was fifth. He comes out behind Heidfeld.

Lap 44: Kovalainen takes sixth place off Webber, easily outpacing the Red Bull.

Lap 43: Hamilton in 13th place, 18seconds behind Piquet Jr who is eighth.

Lap 42: Rosberg pits for his first - and only - stop of the day. He was P14

Lap 41: Trulli is now catching Raikkonen by a second a lap, while Kubica is just a second behind the Toyota driver.

Lap 40: The exhaust pipe, which is flapping against the side of Raikkonen's car, could possibly set the car alight. Interesting decision from Ferrari, who insist it's not dangerous and that Kimi can't catch alight.

Lap 39: Massa takes the lead from Raikkonen, easily diving up the inside of his team-mate.

Lap 38: Massa is right behind Raikkonen - will the Finn step aside? What is going on with Kimi's Ferrari. It looks like his exhaust is broke. The right bank appears to be hanging down.

Lap 37: Nakajima and Barrichello both pit. Rosberg is the only driver who hasn't pitted. Massa continues to cut into Raikkonen's lead.

Lap 36: Raikkonen loses another second to Massa. The only driver slower than the Finn is Fisichella who has just pitted for fuel.

Lap 35: Raikkonen does a really slow lap. In fact he was the slowest driver on the track that lap. Is there a problem?

Lap 34: Fisichella pits from 14th place as Kubica closes right up on Trulli's rear wing.

Lap 33: Adrian Sutil is the last driver running. He's down in 19th place, one lap down on Raikkonen.

Lap 32: Kubica is catching Trulli - a second faster than the Toyota driver that last lap.

Lap 31: The Ferraris are in a league of their own here today. Raikkonen leads by 6.6s while Massa is a further 25.7s ahead of Trulli.

Lap 30: Vettel pits from fourth place. The Toro Rosso driver is in for 7.6s so expect a short middle stint. Heidfeld also pits.

Lap 29: Hamilton has overtaken Rosberg for 16th place while Kubica's engineer warns of rain in five minutes.

Lap 28: Alonso has managed to get back in front of Webber, who briefly appeared to lose control of his Red Bull.

Lap 27: The Renault driver runs wide, Glock gets through, Piquet Jr comes back and gets ahead. He is P11.

Lap 26: Piquet Jr and Kovalainen both pit. Piquet Jr comes out ahead. The Brazilian, though, has problems getting away and Kovalainen is able to get ahead of him down the pit straight.

Lap 26: Hamilton is all over the back of Rosberg as the duo fight for 17th position.

Lap 25: Webber's pit stop puts him ahead of Alonso on the track. Well played by Red Bull.

Lap 24: Massa then pits for 9.4s. He puts on the harder option tyres. Webber pits.

Lap 23: Massa puts a lap on Hamilton and is seen shaking his hand at the McLaren driver, who he feels held him up

Lap 22: Raikkonen pits from the lead. The Ferrari driver puts on the harder option tyres again and is stopped for 9.4s. And he comes out in clear air. Glock pits.

Lap 21: Trulli and Kubica pit from third and fourth. Sutil also pits.

Lap 20: Hamilton's stop is 9.1s and as he comes out as a Ferrari laps him

Lap 20: Hamilton overtakes Alonso, wacking the Renault on his way through. Hamilton then pits for fuel. Meanwhile bits of a Toro Rosso's bodywork are flying around the track.

Lap 19: Button pits for the second time today. He's stone last. He retires.

Lap 18: Kovalainen has taken over from Hamilton as Piquet Jr's pursuer. He nearly connects with the Renault driver as he gets a bit too close without overtaking.

Lap 17: Hamilton is on a charge. The McLaren driver clocks the fastest first sector time as he tries to close in on Alonso.

Lap 16: Alonso pits from fourth place for harder tyres. He's in for 8.4s. He comes out just behind Heidfeld and in front of Hamilton.

Lap 15: While Hamilton suffers, Raikkonen continues to pull away from the chasing pack with another new fastest lap time. Raikkonen is leading Massa by 4.1s.

Lap 14: The McLaren immediately takes it and comes out just ahead of Nakajima. Hamilton is in 13th.

Lap 13: Drive-through penalty for Hamilton!

Lap 12: David Coulthard has had a bad start to the race, falling to 11th place.

Lap 11: Trulli is pulling away from Alonso, who in turn is being caught by Kubica. BMW have struggled here this weekend, which is in sharp contrast to their performance at the previous race in Canada, which was won by Kubica. His team-mate Nick Heidfeld is P13.

Lap 10: New fastest race lap time for Raikkonen, it's a 1:16.825.

Lap 9: Great battle from Nakajima in 14th place to Rosberg in 19th place. Just six seconds separate six drivers.

Lap 8: Hamilton is under investigation after cutting the chicane to overtake Vettel at the start of the race.

Lap 8: Raikkonen has a three second lead over Massa.

Lap 7: Piquet Jr runs wide and almost hands eighth place to Hamilton. Hamilton is locking up and almost hitting the back of Piquet Jr as he tries to overtake. He can't.

Lap 6: Hamilton easily passes Kovalainen and is up to ninth place. Already he's putting pressure on Piquet Jr while Button comes in for repairs.

Lap 5: Problems for Button, who damages the front of his car. His front wing is hanging down and he'll need to crawl back to the pits for repairs.

Lap 4: Great start from Piquet Jr, who is in eighth place.

Lap 3: Raikkonen and Massa are leading the way in Magny-Cours. The two Ferraris definitely have the better pace at the start of the race.

Lap 2: Hamilton is past Coulthard as well and up to 10th place behind his team-mate Kovalainen.

Lap 1: Hamilton's heads past Vettel, however, he used the outside of the track and therefore could be questioned by the stewards.

Lap 1: Hamilton is all over the track, he powers around the outside of Nick Heidfeld in to the Adelaide hairpin and is soon up to 11th place.

Lap 1: The two Ferraris get off well but problems for Alonso, who drops to fifth place behind the Trulli and Kubica.

START: And it's go at Magny-Cours!

13H03: The 20 drivers reform the grid ready for the start of the 2008 French GP.

13H00: The formation lap is under way. The drivers weave around the track trying to build up the temperature in their tyres.

12H58: Both Ferraris and most of the field are on the harder option tyres except Hamilton, who is using the softer tyres as he tries to make progress off the start line.

12H56: The track temperature is 30c, with a 24c ambient.

12H54: The drivers are all in their cars, tyres are on, the grid girls are leaving.

12H50: There is no rain falling at this very minute and in fact the sun is trying really hard to breakthrough the clouds.

12H48: Rubens Barrichello, who qualified P18, will be starting at the back of the grid after a gearbox change in his Honda.

12H44: This poses a problem as it's not quite wet enough for intermediates but perhaps a bit too wet for dry tyres.

12H40: The immediate forecast for the next couple of hours is for this on/off light rain to continue.

12H35: Another penalty has also been dished out with Heikki Kovalainen dropping to tenth on the grid after he was deemed to have blocked Mark Webber in qualifying.

12H32: Nico Rosberg was also handed the same penalty as Hamilton and he will therefore start at the back of the field as the Williams driver could only manage P15 in a disappointing qualifying session.

12H25: Fernano Alonso will be starting P3 after Lewis Hamilton's 10-grid slot penalty saw him drop from third to thirteenth.

12H20: The two Ferraris are starting on the front row of the grid after Kimi Raikkonen edged Felipe Massa in qualifying. And in doing so Kimi had the honour of nabbing Ferrari's 200th pole position.

12H10: This race could yet prove to be the final time F1 pays a visit to Magny-Cours with Bernie Ecclestone having recently said he would be scrapping the race. And with no other venues in France raising their hand to take on the race, today's event could be the final French Grand Prix for a while.

12H00: Welcome to coverage of the 2008 French GP, which takes place at Magny-Cours.

TURKISH GP - LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

MONACO GP - LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

TRULLI GETTING BETTER WITH AGE

Trulli - third in France.

Jarno Trulli feels he is now a better driver than at any stage in his Formula One career.

Trulli stepped onto the podium for the first time in just over three years on Sunday by claiming third place in the French Grand Prix behind a Ferrari one-two spearheaded by Felipe Massa.

It was also Toyota's first podium since Ralf Schumacher was third in Australia in April 2006, and a fitting tribute to the memory of former team principal Ove Andersson.

The Swede, the founding father of Toyota Motorsport in Europe, was killed in an accident just under a fortnight ago competing in a vintage rally in South Africa.

For Italian Trulli, now 34 and a veteran of 188 grands prix, he could not be happier with his current form which sees him lying seventh in the drivers' standings with 18 points.

"I think every year I'm driving better and better, and now I'm driving better than ever," said Trulli.

"We know today we can't realistically fight for the podium, but after yesterday's qualifying, inside my mind, I had the feeling I had a little chance and I had to go for it.

"With the experience I have, and with the hard head I have, I just went for it.

"I really wanted to give my best, to show people are wrong when they say I'm not so strong in the race.

"I've had many good races in the past, but unfortunately we've not had the pace in the car, and sometimes I've been very unlucky.

"But I've always been focused to achieve the target I want, and I believe now I'm driving very well with all my experience.

"I can get things together much easier, whilst the team today has a very good atmosphere and is moving on with a car which seems more balanced, quicker than last year and more competitive."

Paying his respects to Andersson, and dedicating the podium to him, Trulli added: "Today was important for many reasons.

"It was important for the team, for the motivation, for the fact that we wanted to pay tribute to Ove who did great things for Toyota Motorsport in general.

"It's a shame we lost him right now, that he couldn't see us and cheer for us up on the podium because we had a perfect weekend, from me and the team.

"It was just fantastic and gives everybody a great boost for the rest of the season."

TOYOTA TAKING RIGHT STEPS

TOYOTA MOURN ANDERSSON

REACTION: RENAULT/TOYOTA/FORCE INDIA

HAMILTON COMES OUT FIGHTING

Hamilton - fighting attitude.

Lewis Hamilton has vowed to hit his rivals hard in the British Grand Prix after becoming involved in what appeared to be a French farce.

Hamilton's hopes of collecting points in Sunday's French Grand Prix were wrecked by the stewards who penalised him for the second successive race.

Already suffering from a 10-place grid penalty sustained after running into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in Canada a fortnight ago, Hamilton incurred their wrath again shortly after the race start.

The 23-year-old was hit with a drive-through penalty 19 minutes in at a time when he was running ninth after starting 13th.

Yet the stewards deemed his pass on Sebastian Vettel in his Toro Rosso on lap one illegal, claiming he gained an advantage by cutting a corner.

The penalty ultimately compromised his race, with the Briton finishing 10th and out of the points for the second successive grand prix.

Hamilton, who now finds himself 10 points adrift of new championship leader Felipe Massa heading into his home race at Silverstone on July 6, was peeved but is ready to fight.

"I absolutely 100 per cent aim on bouncing back at the British Grand Prix in front of my home crowd," insisted Hamilton.

"Regardless of what's written in the papers tomorrow, I will go back to the workshop tomorrow and push with the team.

"I will see the engineers now, focus on the next race and then hit 'em hard."

Denying suggestions he looked angry after the race, Hamilton added: "I feel cool. All is good.

"I am going to keep battling because there is a long way to go. I don't care how far I am behind.

"Kimi was 13 points behind with two races to go (it was actually 17) and he still won the title.

"If I'm 20 points behind I don't care, I will still come back."

Hamilton, though, was tetchy when asked whether he felt the penalty was harsh, and whether he felt there was another conspiracy against McLaren.

On Saturday team-mate Heikki Kovalainen was penalised five grid places for impeding Mark Webber during qualifying, adding to McLaren's woes.

Hamilton refused to answer the pointed questions, although did feel he had done nothing wrong, in turn suggesting the stewards had made a mistake.

"I did everything I needed to do," added Hamilton.

"I stayed out of trouble and drove what I thought was a fair race, just missing out on the points.

"That's three races without scoring points now (this season), but there's still 10 races to go."

Reflecting on the incident with Vettel, Hamilton added: "I was ahead, but I lost the back end of the car, corrected it and went over the kerb, which I don't see as cheating, but rules are rules."

Boss Ron Dennis certainly felt his driver was harshly penalised as he said: "I just told him (FIA race director Charlie Whiting) that it was our opinion Lewis was past before he got squeezed off the circuit.

"I don't think he gained a position through being off the road, but obviously other people had a different opinion."

When asked as to his feelings on the spate of penalties incurred by his team, Dennis added: "Draw your own conclusions."

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

HAMILTON READY FOR ‘SPICY’ RACE

RAIKKONEN CLAIMS FRENCH POLE

Raikkonen takes pole position.

Lewis Hamilton has apologised to his McLaren team following qualifying that has left him staring at a mountainous task in Sunday's French Grand Prix, in which Kimi Raikkonen will start on pole.

Hamilton set the third fastest time at the Circuit de Nevers behind what will be an all-Ferrari front row, with world champion Raikkonen clinching the team's 200th pole in their illustrious Formula One history.

However, Hamilton's 10-place grid penalty following his gaffe in Canada when he ran into the back of Raikkonen in the pit lane at 30mph means he will now start 13th.

In 792 races in F1, only 24 have been won from 11th place or lower, and since the first race at Magny-Cours in 1991 no-one has taken the chequered flag from such a position.

However, Raikkonen finished second in 2005 when starting from 13th, with Mika Hakkinen also runner-up six years earlier from 14th - both driving for McLaren at the time.

The Finns have proven what can be achieved, and now it is up to Hamilton to follow in their footsteps, although he knows he could have done a far better job today.

"Kimi has shown he can do it, but it was a disappointing qualifying for me," assessed the 23-year-old.

"I have to apologise to the team because I didn't do a good job at all.

"On my first and second lap (in Q3) I made the same mistake in both of them, running wide on the exit of turn seven, losing at least three tenths of a second.

"I was pushing, trying to get the best out of the car, and I believe I did in most areas, except that one."

His gaffe in Canada has hung over him, though, paying the price for such an error with what will be his lowest starting position of his 25-race F1 career.

"The penalty doesn't help," reflected Hamilton.

"Coming into the weekend you feel confident, you feel comfortable the team have done absolutely everything they can to get you there and make sure the car is the best.

"But then you arrive and you know you've a 10-place penalty hanging over you.

"Rules are rules I guess. We will take it on the chin and learn from it, do the best job we can and make sure it doesn't happen again."

Now it is up to Hamilton to prove he is a truly talented driver by trying to get into the points on a track where it is tricky to overtake, and it is up to his team to employ a strategy to further propel him up the field.

"Overtaking is going to be tough in the race, but I think we're quick enough to be able to do that, and I am quite confident to be able to do that," added Hamilton.

"There's going to be some hard work to do from back there - although I look forward to it.

"Obviously, when you're here to race and compete for wins, and you know you don't have a chance of doing that, then it puts you on the backfoot.

"But the great thing is I have a very enthusiastic team with a lot of confidence in me and my abilities, and vice versa.

"Whatever problems we have we try to come up with the best solution and move forward, and this weekend it will be tough, but if we can pull out some points then it will be a major bonus."

After failing to score in his last two races - finishing ninth in Monaco after crashing into Force India's Adrian Sutil prior to the incident in Montreal with Hamilton - Raikkonen appears on course for a victory.

"We've had good speed all weekend, the car has been working very well," said the reigning world champion, who trails current leader Robert Kubica by seven points.

"It has been great so far, but tomorrow is when we need to finish and hopefully we can win.

"We have the best starting position and hopefully we can have a strong race. I've the best possible chance from first."

Raikkonen, who has always finished in the points in France, added: "That's good - hopefully it won't be any different tomorrow.

"But as we have seen before anything can happen."

With typical Raikkonen enthusiasm, when informed he had set Ferrari's 200th pole, he replied: "That's very nice for Ferrari, but I am just a small part of it.

"I'm happy to achieve it, and it's good for the team, but nothing really changes."

Massa, who trails Kubica by four points and could become the new leader of an enthralling title race, missed out on pole by just 0.047secs.

Far from feeling downhearted, the Brazilian said: "The car feels very good.

"On this type of track the car works very well, and the team did a very good job, so I'm not disappointed.

"It was a good qualifying, and it's good to start on the front row."

Disastrously for McLaren, Hamilton's team-mate Heikki Kovalainen was later penalised five grid places for impeding Red Bull's Mark Webber on his hot lap, and the Finn will now start 10th.

Fernando Alonso will start third for Renault on home turf, with Toyota's Jarno Trulli fourth, followed by Webber and Red Bull team-mate David Coulthard, whilst Jenson Button is a lowly 16th in his Honda.

Times
01 K. Rдikkцnen Ferrari 1:16.449
02 F. Massa Ferrari 1:16.490
03 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:16.693
04 F. Alonso Renault 1:16.840
05 J. Trulli Toyota 1:16.840
06 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:16.944
07 R. Kubica BMW 1:17.037
08 M. Webber Red Bull 1:17.233
09 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:17.426
10 T. Glock Toyota 1:17.596
11 N. Piquet jr. Renault 1:15.770
12 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:15.786
13 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:15.816
14 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.045
15 N. Rosberg Williams 1:16.235
16 K. Nakajima Williams 1:16.243
17 J. Button Honda 1:16.306
18 R. Barrichello Honda 1:16.330
19 G. Fisichella Force India F1 1:16.971
20 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:17.053

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

RAIKKONEN HAPPY TO CUT AND RUN

BOURDAIS: FRENCH GP MUST STAY

Bourdais - wants race to stay at Magny-Cours next year.

French hero Sebastien Bourdais is adamant his home grand prix has to remain on the Formula One calendar.

Although there is again talk Magny-Cours is staging its last race this year, Circuit de Nevers officials have announced major plans for improvements.

Like Silverstone and the British Grand Prix, it is hoped the revamp will be enough to convince F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to shelve his plans to move the race to another venue.

The circuit's remoteness, in the heart of France away from cities and airports, has always been a thorn in its side, and reason as to why Ecclestone has long mooted a move to a venue near Paris.

But four-time ChampCar champion Bourdais, competing in his first French Grand Prix for Toro Rosso this weekend, hopes the matter can be resolved.

Bourdais feels the race cannot afford to fall by the wayside, with the 29-year-old commenting: "People keep saying the race will not be here next year.

"But I don't care what they say. We'll see what happens. I think there have been good negotiations with the French government, and everybody is on the same frequency.

"France is obviously a big nation of racing, and we need a French Grand Prix - it's as simple as that.

"It doesn't matter whether it is here (Magny-Cours) or somewhere else.

"If we want to do it somewhere else, we are going to need a bit of time because it's not going to happen overnight.

"I personally hope we will see it here again next year because we can't afford to have a blank year and not come to France. That would drop the interest."

Bourdais appreciates there is no other venue in France that could host a grand prix at present.

Whilst Paris is Ecclestone's preferred stage, Bourdais feels the logistics and cost involved would prove problematic.

"It would have to be a new project," added Bourdais.

"The Bugatti (at Le Mans) is not a Formula One track and I don't think the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) is very interested.

"Paul Ricard is now very atypical, and not really usable for a Formula One grand prix, so it would have to be a new site.

"It would be a huge undertaking. You need to find the right place to build it, and that would take time, but I think they're looking at it very closely.

"It couldn't be in Paris, but it could be nearby. That's probably the best option.

"But it would be very complex, and it would take a huge amount of money to get the project done."

KOVALAINEN REMAINS DEFIANT

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

HAMILTON READY FOR ‘SPICY’ RACE

HAMILTON DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM STRIKE

Hamilton - distanced himself from strike.

Lewis Hamilton has distanced himself from claims he would support a strike at next month's British Grand Prix.

Such militant action was on Thursday mooted as a number of drivers are angry at world governing body, the FIA, for their price hike with regard to the super licence.

The FIA have imposed a 400% rise for the piece of paper that allows a driver to compete in F1, and on the levy per point won.

That has upset the members of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, who are not opposed to paying their dues, but feel the exorbitant rise was unjust without consultation.

Hamilton, along with Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa - who are not members of the GPDA - made it clear they would support their colleagues on the matter.

However, McLaren star Hamilton on Friday made it clear he is not willing to boycott the July 6 race at Silverstone, or any other grands prix.

"Yesterday I expressed my support for whatever decisions the drivers may take, on the basis that my support could be critical," remarked Hamilton.

"I am not involved in any strike talks. That is not my position. I am here to race, to do my job for the team, for myself and for the fans of Formula One.

"To put my comment in correct perspective, another driver (Robert Kubica) said, 'I think it will be difficult to get all the drivers to have the same idea, but we're trying to convince the FIA to reduce the cost'.

"I then responded, 'I've always said they have my support, and it's something I agree with as well'.

"In any case, I don't believe for one minute the drivers will take such drastic measures.

"We have the British Grand Prix in a couple of weeks' time and other grands prix to follow, and I'm certainly not planning on missing any of them."

BUTTON PLAYS DOWN STRIKE THREAT

SUPER LICENCE TOO COSTLY - DRIVERS

KUBICA ACCEPTS KIMI STANCE

Robert Kubica - leading the way.

Robert Kubica believes Kimi Raikkonen is right to focus on Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa as his main rivals for the Formula One world championship rather than himself.

Kubica's maiden win in the last race in Canada propelled him into a four-point lead in the title race over Hamilton and Massa, with Raikkonen a further three points adrift.

The Pole was aided in Montreal by McLaren star Hamilton's crash into the back of Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pit lane at 30mph.

Both were forced to retire, with Kubica taking full advantage as he went on to take the chequered flag and in the process become a serious contender for the crown.

In his post-race summation, Raikkonen insisted Kubica's win was a blessing for him as he was happy neither Hamilton nor Massa had claimed the 10 points.

The obvious inference is that the reigning world champion sees the BMW Sauber driver as less of a threat than Massa or Hamilton.

Although Kubica feels far from under-estimated by Raikkonen, the 23-year-old said: "Realistically, looking at the situation of me and my team, I don't put me as a title contender.

"In the end, normally the fastest car and fastest driver wins the title, although in some seasons the most consistent driver wins.

"The only way we have been able to achieve this position for now, leading the championship, has been without making any mistakes.

"We have raced with very good strategy, good reliability. We have improved our car a lot in that direction.

"Reliability, for now, is a hundred percent perfect and the guys in the workshop have made a really big step forward in this area.

"Last year, in the end, we lost a lot of points by not finishing races.

"But in Kimi's case, I would worry more about Felipe and Lewis than myself."

Kubica appreciates the races in Monaco - where he finished second - and Canada were on circuits that can often throw up remarkable races and results.

Returning to what might be regarded as the norm in France, and given what has transpired on such circuits prior to the last two grands prix, Kubica knows his car lacks the pace of Ferrari and McLaren.

"Challenging those two teams is quite difficult," said Kubica.

"In Canada, during qualifying, we were helped a bit by the track conditions as the tarmac broke up.

"But during free practice, and looking at Monaco and Turkey, the gap (in terms of time) is quite big.

"Lewis has a 10-place penalty for this race, so all we can do is try our best."

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

KIMI WON’T GET ANGRY OVER SHUNT

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

BUTTON PLAYS DOWN STRIKE THREAT

Button - scoffed strike suggestions.

Jenson Button has scoffed at suggestions the drivers will go on strike at next month's British Grand Prix.

Such a remarkable prospect was suggested by Fernando Alonso as a way for world governing body, the FIA, to slash the price of the super licence and the amount paid by drivers per point earned.

At the start of the year FIA president Max Mosley confirmed the cost of the licence - the document that allows drivers to compete in F1 - would rise from Ј1,354 to Ј7,858, whilst the points levy would cost Ј1,570 from Ј357.

Although the money goes towards maintaining safety standards, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association are in uproar and determined that Mosley has a re-think.

If not one of the prospects open to the GPDA is for its members to go on strike, although such a possibility has been quashed by a number of other drivers.

Honda star Button said: "I'm sure they could strike, but I don't think sponsors and contracts would allow them.

"It's obviously a lot harder on those drivers scoring hundreds of points every year.

"I think the shock for the drivers is that the fee has jumped so much this year compared to last year."

Mosley imposed the new levy retrospectively, which led to world champion Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Alonso paying around Ј180,000 last year to compete in F1.

Veteran David Coulthard believes a compromise will be found as he maintains the possibility of a strike is "rubbish."

"Not every driver pays his super licence," remarked the Red Bull ace.

"Some of the drivers have an agreement in their contract where the team pay the super licence.

"As it's a form of income for the FIA they have decided 'well, we will take part of that from the drivers'.

"But it's affecting some and not others, which is not entirely fair, so it needs to be discussed and understood."

Current world championship leader Robert Kubica is among those who believes Mosley needs to seriously consider the matter.

"Drivers who don't have quick cars and are not scoring points don't care because they don't pay, so we are trying to convince the FIA to reduce the costs," confirmed Kubica.

"The FIA says the money goes to safety, and I agree safety is important.

"If the standard of safety increased then in the end we should pay for it because there is quite a high risk of an accident.

"Given my accident last year, and Heikki (Kovalainen)'s this year, it shows the FIA are doing a very good job on safety.

"But I don't see why some drivers have to pay more. In the end we are all driving F1 cars."

A meeting in Monaco between Mosley and the GPDA was cancelled due to the furore surrounding the 68-year-old at the time.

An FIA spokesman has confirmed Mosley wrote to the GPDA on June 6 stating he would be happy to meet with them, and to name a time and venue, but he has yet to receive a reply.

SUPER LICENCE TOO COSTLY - DRIVERS

HAMILTON DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM STRIKE

ALONSO GIVES RENAULT HOME BOOST

Alonso - impressed during practice.

Fernando Alonso had vowed to put on a show in Magny-Cours, and he duly delivered in the second practice session for Sunday's French Grand Prix.

On home soil for a Renault team that has woefully under-performed this season, Alonso topped the timesheets with what proved to be the second quickest time of the day.

Only Ferrari's Felipe Massa was faster, that in the morning 90-minute period when the Brazilian posted a time quicker than the record race lap set by Michael Schumacher in 2004.

Alonso had ended the morning in ignominious fashion, trundling off the Circuit de Nevers with a blown engine that fortunately on a Friday does not result in a penalty.

In the intervening 150 minutes, Alonso's mechanics ensured the two-time world champion returned to the track with a car to give the team's fans something to cheer.

Throwing his Renault around the 4.411km track, Alonso ultimately set a lap of one minute 15.778secs, just over 0.4secs adrift of Massa's morning best.

Massa was second quickest in the afternoon with a lap of 1:15.854, avoiding a scare late on at the long, sweeping right-hand curve of Estoril when he ran wide into the gravel, just missing a wall on exit.

Ferrari team-mate, and reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen was third quickest with a time of 1:15.999, pushing Lewis Hamilton into fourth.

The afternoon session generally sees teams run with heavier fuel loads, and so it appeared to prove for Hamilton as he was unable to improve on his morning lap of 1:16.002.

Sebastian Vettel again ran strongly in his Toro Rosso for fifth, with the BMW Sauber of current championship leader Robert Kubica in sixth, followed by McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen.

The second BMW Sauber of Nick Heidfeld was eighth, with Nelson Piquet ninth in his Renault and David Coulthard 10th for Red Bull.

Jenson Button appears to be struggling on this track in his Honda as he was 17th in the afternoon to follow up his 18th in the morning.

ALONSO’S RENAULT FUTURE STILL UNCERTAIN

ALONSO REVEALS FRENCH FANCY

WARRING FACTIONS OVERSHADOW F1

Ecclestone - in a feud with Mosley.

The feud between Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley shows no sign of abating, with Formula One finding itself caught between a rock and a hard place.

Mosley's refusal to resign as president of the FIA in the wake of the publication of lurid details into his private life has served to highlight a power struggle between himself and Ecclestone.

After subsequently winning a ballot to remain in charge until the end of his mandate in October next year, Mosley now faces another behind-the-scenes battle.

This time he is attempting to prevent F1 from breaking away from the FIA, a move that could have disastrous consequences for his organisation.

The FIA are heavily dependent on a slice of the financial pie Ecclestone serves up every year through his commercial body's dealings with television and sponsors, understood to be around Ј30million.

That is a vast sum considering the FIA are merely regulators and whose brief it is to oversee and enforce the rules.

As Ecclestone points out, Mosley is not entitled to meddle in his financial affairs and dictate who should get what.

Mosley's problem is that at present the sport is being run without a Concorde Agreement, the commercial contract under which the teams race in F1 and is binding between them and the FIA.

As it stands, the teams - unhappy at the impact the Mosley scandal has had on the sport - could opt out and form their own series.

That is Ecclestone's warning to Mosley, who is apparently digging in his heels with regard to the new Concorde Agreement, much to the former's frustration.

However, Mosley's firm stance stems from his belief Ecclestone is attempting to wrest control of the sporting regulations from the FIA.

It is yet more mud slinging F1 could do without, but then F1 would not be F1 without a little bit of dirt to spice it up.

************

Formula One, and Toyota in particular, will this weekend pay its respects to a true gentleman of the sport, Ove Andersson.

The Swede was last week killed doing what he loved best as it was still in his blood - competing in motor racing.

Andersson was instrumental in the founding of Toyota Team Europe, ultimately leading the Japanese manufacturer into F1 in 2002.

That was after he had overseen the winning of four drivers' and three manufacturers' titles with Toyota in the World Rally Championship.

After stepping down as Toyota team principal in 2003, Andersson remained employed as a consultant.

But for a man who had indulged his passion for motor sport since an early age, he simply could not escape the thrill of being involved.

Sadly, whilst competing in the Milligan Vintage Trial in South Africa, Andersson was killed when the classic car he was driving was involved in a frontal collision around a blind corner. He was 70.

By way of homage, the cars driven by Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock at the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours will feature a black band around the monocoque, whilst the design of the team garage will also include black.

A book of condolences will be available in the team's motorhome for all Formula One personnel and media to sign before being passed on to Andersson's family.

They are small tokens of gratitude and appreciation towards a larger-than-life character.

************

You must really have had a pig of a day to want to sue organisers of a grand prix.

Strange as it may sound, but that is exactly what a group of fans in Japan are doing following their less-than-pleasurable day out at Fuji Speedway last year.

Admittedly, the weather was not the best as you may recall Lewis Hamilton winning a remarkable race in monsoon conditions as cars turned into boats, with many aqua-planing their way off the track.

For the television audience, the Japanese Grand Prix was arguably one of the sporting highlights of the year, but not for those rain-soaked die-hards.

But it was not so much the weather that dragged them down as the race returned to the circuit for the first time in years, after all that was an act of God.

No, for the 109 who have launched a lawsuit that has been filed at the Tokyo District Court, their complaint centres on a lack of toilet amenities and snack bars.

A few have moaned their grandstand seat view was obstructed due to bad planning, whilst others claim they were stranded in the rain after the race due to transport problems.

Overall, it adds up to 'emotional stress', with the group looking to the organisers to pay 32million yen (Ј150,000) in damages.

However, for most Britons, it sounds like a normal day out at any other sporting event.

TOYOTA MOURN ANDERSSON

ECCLESTONE PLEA TO MOSLEY

ECCLESTONE WARNING

SUPER LICENCE TOO COSTLY - DRIVERS

Alonso - blasts the high cost of the super licence.

The word "strike" was tentatively mentioned in Formula One circles on Thursday as drivers expressed their concern about the cost of their super licence this year.

The document allows them to compete in F1 and up until recently it cost Ј1,354, plus an additional Ј357 for each point won.

However, FIA president Max Mosley opted to bring in new levies at the start of the season of Ј7,858 for the licence and Ј1,570 per point.

The new legislation was imposed retrospectively, which meant the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all paid around Ј180,000 to compete in F1 last season.

Mosley feels that is not a lot to ask from well-paid drivers who benefit from high levels of spending on safety, but the Grand Prix Drivers' Association are up in arms.

Alonso said: "It's a ridiculous amount. We should pay a reasonable price. It cannot change 1,000% in a year."

When questioned about drivers voicing their protest via a strike, the Renault driver added: "We don't have many possibilities.

"But for sure it's one of the options we are talking about in the GPDA. We need to do something all together because as a group we have more effect than as a single person."

However, Red Bull star David Coulthard insisted: "There's not going to be a strike. That's rubbish!"

There is a genuine concern among drivers, although members of the public are unlikely to sympathise.

Coulthard added: "Not every driver pays his super licence. Some of the drivers have an agreement in their contract where the team pay the super licence.

"As it's a form of income for the FIA they have decided "Well, we will take part of that from the drivers".

"But it's affecting some and not others, which is not entirely fair, so it needs to be discussed and understood."

The drivers were scheduled to meet Mosley in Monaco, although due to the furore surrounding the 68-year-old at the time, the meeting was postponed.

Coulthard's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber has suggested Mosley is currently avoiding talking to the drivers.

However, an FIA spokesman confirmed that Mosley wrote to the GPDA on June 6 stating he would be happy to meet with them, and to name a time and venue, but he has yet to receive a reply.

When the meeting takes place, the GPDA will seek a compromise as there is a feeling if they are contributing towards safety, the more successful drivers should not be penalised.

Robert Kubica, who currently leads the drivers' standings ahead of this Sunday's French Grand Prix, said: "I agree with what Fernando has said about the cost of the super licence.

"It has increased quite a lot compared to last year. We think it's too much. Yet drivers who don't have quick cars and are not scoring points don't care because they don't pay, so we are trying to convince the FIA to reduce the costs.

"The FIA says the money goes to safety, and I agree safety is important.

"If the standard of safety increased then in the end we should pay for it because there is quite a high risk of an accident.

"Given my accident last year, and Heikki's (Kovalainen) this year, it shows the FIA are doing a very good job on safety.

"But I don't see why some drivers have to pay more. In the end we are all driving F1 cars."

Kubica's view was supported by his main championship rivals Hamilton, reigning world champion Raikkonen and his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, none of whom are members of the GPDA.

But regarding a strike, Raikkonen smiled and said: "I don't think there is any reason to do that and not race.

"It's not the right way to go about things, but it's never going to happen anyway that all the drivers will strike.

"Hopefully, though, a nice solution will be found."

MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR - FRY

SECOND BEST FOR KUBICA

MASSA AIMS TO MAINTAIN FERRARI DOMINANCE

Massa - looking for French win.

Felipe Massa is looking to maintain Ferrari's dominance at Magny-Cours and hopefully strengthen his own hand in the four-way title race.

Ferrari have won seven of the last 11 French Grands Prix, and the odds are on the Prancing Horse again galloping away with the win.

That is due in part to the fact one of their main rivals in Lewis Hamilton faces a 10-place grid penalty after his gaffe in Canada when he ran into the back of Kimi Raikkonen in the pit lane.

As for current world championship leader Robert Kubica, he is not expecting to be as strong as the Ferraris on such a circuit in his BMW Sauber.

That appears to leave the way for Massa and Raikkonen to fight for the victory, with the Brazilian hoping to go one better than his second and third places in his last two races at the track.

"I am looking forward to having a competitive race because I think it is a good track for us," said the Brazilian, who along with Hamilton trails Kubica by four points.

"We were pretty strong on the street circuits as well (Monaco and Montreal), so in terms of performance we were not behind.

"But I am happy to come back to this kind of circuit because we can be competitive.

"Usually on this kind of track the race is a little more normal, and if you start in a good position then you have an even bigger chance to finish in a good position. I think it can be good."

Although Massa knows he should have scored more points than the six he won in Monaco, and in particular the four he claimed in Montreal, he is simply happy to be in the thick of the title hunt.

Especially after his miserable start to the season as he failed to pick up any points from the first two races.

Massa added: "I remember after those two races I was pretty much behind in the championship.

"I have since recovered a lot of points and I am in a very good position, and now everything is open. Everybody is pretty close.

"But we still have many races to go and we know that things can change very quick in one race.

"We need to maintain the performance, keep our concentration and finish most of the races to bring home as many points as we can.

"Then at the end of the championship we will see if we did well or not."

MASSA MAKING MOST OF MONACO

MASSA FINDS PASSPORT TO VICTORY

MASSA BIDS TO AVOID MONTREAL WOE

PARTY'S OVER AT BMW

Mario Theissen - wants more success.

BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen is adamant the partying is over and there will be no let-up in his team's effort to become the best in Formula One this season.

The German manufacturers celebrated their first victory 10 days ago when Robert Kubica took the chequered flag at the Canadian Grand Prix for his maiden success.

With team-mate Nick Heidfeld second, it led to a huge celebration in Montreal for the team who are just three points behind Ferrari in the constructors' championship, and 17 clear of McLaren.

There may have been a few fuzzy heads the day after the night before, but Theissen maintains they have been cleared and the focus is back on ensuring the victory was no one-off.

"We may have had a party to celebrate the one-two in Montreal, but this has not impinged on our preparations for this weekend's French Grand Prix," asserted Theissen.

"As we have up to now, we will focus on the next race and are aiming to put in another strong performance at Magny-Cours.

"Of course, Montreal was a first for the team, and now we all know how sweet victory tastes - and not just a victory, but a one-two.

"It was reward for the enthusiasm, commitment and expertise which marks us out as a team.

"It has been less than three years since the decision was taken to put the team together.

"We set ourselves ambitious goals and embarked on a two-year development programme which has laid the groundwork for achieving these aims.

"As things stand we are right on schedule, and in this respect the result in Montreal represents confirmation of the work we've been doing.

"We are heading in the right direction and will continue along this path."

The victory ensured BMW's aim for the season has now been reached, but Theissen further insists that in the wake of such a triumph, it is now a case of onwards and upwards.

"Our target for the 2008 season was to turn the two-horse race at the top of the standings into a three-way battle and to win our first race," remarked the German.

"Our one-two result in Montreal means we have achieved both goals after just seven races of the season, but clearly we are not about to sit back and relax now.

"The whole team is hugely motivated and looking to build on our success so far, and I think we have a good chance of exceeding expectations again this season."

Although Kubica may hold a four-point lead over Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa in the drivers' standings, and BMW Sauber are pushing Ferrari in the constructors', Theissen is refusing to put his neck on the block and state whether his team can win either.

"Nobody who is at the top of the drivers' world championship after seven races is there by accident," added Theissen.

"The team and drivers have been gradually working their way towards the top of the standings over two years.

"We certainly won't be taking our foot off the gas now, but instead pushing forward at full power.

"We can talk about the results at the end of the season."

THEISSEN: WE’LL KEEP PUSHING

THEISSEN BEAMS AT ‘FANTASTIC’ RESULT

HAMILTON READY FOR 'SPICY' RACE

Hamilton - grid penalty.

Lewis Hamilton believes this weekend's French Grand Prix will be "spiced up" by his 10-place grid penalty.

The 23-year-old was handed the penalty for the race at Magny-Cours after his gaffe in Montreal 11 days ago, when he crashed into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pit lane at 30mph.

Despite starting from what will be the lowest grid position of his F1 career, Hamilton's optimism has not taken a dent, unlike his car in Canada.

"I don't think I have any less pressure this weekend," said Hamilton, who along with Felipe Massa is four points adrift of championship leader Robert Kubica, and three clear of Raikkonen.

"At the back (of the grid) I think there's more work for me to do. Considering we're all so close in the championship, I guess it spices it up a bit, if that's what they want.

"It's going to be harder coming from the back, but I don't have any doubts or any worries.

"I think we're going to have a very strong package this weekend and I think the car will be as good, if not better, than it was in the last race.

"With that pace, and as long as we stay out of trouble, we should be able to score some good points."

However, Hamilton has revised his earlier victory goal, adding: "I'm obviously always aiming to win.

"But realistically I think we just have to try and aim for a podium finish if possible.

"Even that is going to be very, very tough because we're all very close and there are now quite a few teams that are very competitive.

"This is also not the easiest track on which to overtake, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and do the best job I can, and I hope we can push and finish in the top five."

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

ROSBERG: GRID PENALTY JUSTIFIED

RAIKKONEN SORRY FOR SUTIL SHUNT

ALONSO REVEALS FRENCH FANCY

Alonso - frustrated.

Fernando Alonso has vowed to put on a good show for his French pay-masters this weekend, even if his future at Renault is unclear.

Alonso's frustration with a team languishing in a lowly seventh in the constructors' championship is growing with every race.

Earlier this week it prompted the Spaniard to comment that he did not know whether he would remain at Renault beyond this year.

"It's not been a good year so far, worse than we expected. We have not been on the podium, let alone won a race," remarked Alonso.

"We have a lot of work to do. I will take a decision on my future towards the end of the year when we'll be able to see how far we have come."

Ahead of this weekend's French Grand Prix, Alonso has claimed just nine points this season, finishing in the top eight once - sixth in Barcelona - in the last five races.

On his last outing in Canada, the 26-year-old qualified a fine fourth, only to spin out after 44 laps, adding to his frustration.

"It's clear we missed a great opportunity to score some big points in Montreal, but we must remain positive and keep moving forward," insisted Alonso.

"Our level of performance there showed the progress the team has made and we must now continue our efforts because we can see the rewards.

"I know that everybody in the team is doing their best to improve our performance, and that will pay off in the end."

At least Alonso, along with team-mate Nelson Piquet who has yet to score a point in his rookie season, will receive strong support from fans cheering on Renault.

"There are always lots of people associated with the team watching the race and wearing the team's colours, which is a big source of motivation," added Alonso.

"As it's the French Grand Prix and the team is French, I have enormous motivation to have a good weekend, and I will again give my maximum."

Piquet knows he has to start scoring otherwise he is likely to be replaced sooner rather than later, but feels he is under no extra pressure simply because he is on home soil for his team.

"I always expect the most from myself at all the races and always push to the limit anyway," assessed Piquet.

"It's obviously an important race for the team and I would love to get my first points on Renault's home ground, so that has to be my target.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of support for the team and I will try to draw on that.

"I will need to qualify well as it's a difficult track to overtake on, and if I can do that then I think we can have a strong race."

ALONSO HOPING, NOT EXPECTING

ALONSO’S RENAULT FUTURE STILL UNCERTAIN

ALONSO WORRIED BY LACK OF POINTS

CALLS TO AXE AUSTRALIAN GP

Australian GP is facing calls to be axed.

The Australian Grand Prix is facing calls to be axed on economic, social and environmental grounds.

The contract to stage the race expires in 2010, and although it was suggested last week a new deal was due to be signed through to 2015, there is opposition.

The mayor of the City of Port Philip, the Melbourne council that hosts the race, is urging the the Victorian government to scrap the event.

"After 14 years, residents have had more than enough," said Councillor Janet Cribbes.

"Why should they have to suffer the noise and the inconvenience of a car race in a park for a race whose public price tag blew out to

41.3million (Ј19.94million) last year?"

It is understood the cost of hosting the race has soared, with losses being made despite the city receiving considerable exposure.

Adding to her attack, Coun. Cribbes stated: "It's simply not fair that this event is exempt from the normal legislative protections empowering Victoria Police and the Environmental Protection Authority to take action on noise and other infringements on residential amenity.

"The race does not benefit Victoria as a whole. It simply doesn't stack up on economic, social or environmental grounds."

AUSTRALIA TALKS CONTINUE

COULTHARD QUIET OVER F1 FUTURE

SUTIL HEARTACHE SHARED BY MALLYA

KOVALAINEN REMAINS DEFIANT

Kovalainen - unconcerned over gap.

Heikki Kovalainen is refusing to let the ever-growing gap between himself and the pacesetters in the world title race get him down.

After seven races Kovalainen trails new Championship leader Robert Kubica by 27 points, having scored just one point in the last four events.

It was a disappointing run for Kovalainen especially as the McLaren MP4-23 is a car capable of winning grands prix and ultimately the world title.

The Finn, though, is refusing to let it get to him, stating that there is still a long way to go before the Championship is decided.

"I'm not really looking at the points tables at the moment," he said. "The world title is still wide open, and having an opportunity to score good points in France will only help me.

"I'm still absolutely determined to get my first win under my belt."

And the McLaren driver is hoping he can achieve that goal at next weekend's French Grand Prix.

"As I've been saying all season, I'm gradually getting to grips with this car even if the results haven't backed it up," he said.

"And I really enjoy Magny-Cours so I'm looking forward to making progress throughout practice and being in a very good position for the race itself."

Kovalainen should also have one less driver to fight with at the start of the grand prix as his team-mate Lewis Hamilton will starting the grand prix P11 at best after being handed a 10-grid slot penalty for his Canadian accident.

"Mentally, it's just something that you learn to overcome quickly. It certainly won't affect my preparations for the French Grand Prix," said Hamilton of his penalty.

"We've already looked at the best ways of optimising the strategy to help us move up the field and I guess I'll just have to pass some cars if I want to get into the points!"

The 23-year-old, though, concedes that he faces a tough task as Magny-Cours is not "isn't the easiest place to overtake but it's certainly possible".

"You can dive down the inside into the Adelaide Hairpin and also have a look into the penultimate corner," he added. "But an area we can really focus on is the strategy - Magny-Cours has a relatively short pit lane which does open up the strategic options available to us in the race."

REACTION: McLAREN and WILLIAMS

TITLE CHANCES FADING FOR HEIKKI

STRATEGY KEY FOR HAMILTON

STRATEGY KEY FOR HAMILTON

Lewis Hamilton - grid penalty.

Strategy will be the name of the game for Lewis Hamilton at this weekend's French Grand Prix.

Hamilton will start the race at Magny-Cours with the handicap of a 10-place grid penalty following his gaffe in Canada 10 days ago.

The 23-year-old crashed his McLaren into the back of the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen at 30mph in the Montreal pit lane after failing to spot a red light, just a fortnight after his stunning win in Monaco.

The penalty from the stewards means even if Hamilton sets the fastest time in qualifying on Saturday, he will still start outside the top 10 for the first time in his Formula One career.

Hamilton, though, has already insisted he can win from the middle of the pack, even on a track not the easiest on which to pass.

But he knows it will be down to the McLaren strategists to help propel him up the field, as well as his own talent.

"Mentally, it (the penalty) is something you learn to overcome quickly, so it certainly won't affect my preparations for the race," said Hamilton.

"We've already looked at the best ways of optimising the strategy to help us move up the field, and I guess I'll just have to pass some cars if I want to get into the points."

Acknowledging the difficult layout of the Circuit de Nevers, he added: "Magny-Cours isn't the easiest place to overtake, but it's certainly possible.

"You can dive down the inside into the Adelaide Hairpin, and also have a look into the penultimate corner.

"But an area we can really focus on is the strategy. Magny-Cours has a relatively short pitlane which does open up the strategic options available to us in the race."

The pit lane allows for fast stops as it has been known for teams to run a four-stop strategy in the past.

With McLaren at least in form of late in terms of speed, prior to Hamilton's bizarre shunt, the Briton is confident he can still bag a significant number of points.

Trailing new title leader Robert Kubica in his BMW Sauber by four points, Hamilton remarked: "Although the result in Canada may have been disappointing, our overall pace was a great boost for the whole team.

"Last year we lacked a little bit of pace in high-speed corners, but this year's car definitely seems to have overcome those shortcomings. We are in good shape."

Hamilton's words are echoed by McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh who said: "Traditionally, we've always gone well at Monaco, and we've recently enjoyed strong pace in Canada, so we remain encouraged by our performance.

"We feel like we've made substantial improvements to the car and, while it didn't exactly pay off in Canada, we go into France in a very positive frame of mind.

"One of the aims of our winter development programme was to improve the car's high-speed performance, and we feel we've been able to do that.

"Both Magny-Cours and Silverstone (for the British Grand Prix) will give us the opportunities to demonstrate that."

It is why Whitmarsh feels Hamilton can shrug off the penalty and propel himself into the reckoning in France.

"We go to France knowing we only have the capability to field one car on the optimum strategy, so our job will be a little different from normal," added Whitmarsh.

"But we still expect to extract the very maximum performance levels from both cars.

"Both Lewis and Heikki (Kovalainen) are very confident about their chances.

"We will be working hard with the strategists and engineers in order to provide them both with the optimum strategy for the race."

KOVALAINEN REMAINS DEFIANT

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

HAMILTON PAYS FURTHER PENALTY

TOYOTA TAKING RIGHT STEPS

Tadashi Yamashina - hopeful.

Toyota team principal Tadashi Yamashina is confident his team are heading in the right direction after a year under his leadership, even if the 'big three' continue to dominate.

The Japanese manufacturer has already scored more points this year than they did through the entirety of last season.

Veteran Jarno Trulli has claimed 12 points, whilst Timo Glock was finally off the mark with his fourth place in Canada nine days ago.

However, it is over two years since a Toyota driver finished on the podium, with Ralf Schumacher third at the Australian Grand Prix in April 2006.

Now in their seventh year in Formula One, Toyota has never won a Formula One grand prix, despite the millions of pounds invested in their race programme.

That remains the goal for Yamashina, who celebrates a year in charge this weekend, but he knows that may yet be some way off.

"We always dream of the centre of the podium, and we will never give up," said Yamashina.

"But when you look at car performance you can see there is a gap to Ferrari, McLaren and BMW Sauber.

"Therefore my current target for this year is to continue to close this gap, to finish races in the top six and fight for the podium."

Yamashina firmly insists he is "confident for the future of the team."

He added: "Every team member must ask themselves constantly how they can increase performance in their role, no matter what their position is.

"It is my job to achieve this, and after a year in my position I am confident we are heading in the right direction.

"I can see that when we set the right direction, everybody in the team is working together with great determination."

Toyota, meanwhile, are to mark the passing of former team boss Ove Andersson at this weekend's French Grand Prix.

The Swede, who was also the driving force behind Toyota's World Rally Championship successes, was killed competing in a historic rally in South Africa last week. He was 70.

At Magny-Cours, the cars driven by Trulli and Glock will feature a black band around the monocoque, while the design of the team garage will also include black.

A book of condolences, to be given to Andersson's family, will be available in the team's motorhome for all Formula One personnel and media to sign.

Trulli said: "We want to achieve a strong result this weekend as a tribute to Ove because without him I'm not sure Toyota would be competing in Formula One now."

TOYOTA MOURN ANDERSSON

COULTHARD DELIGHTED TO BE BACK IN POINTS

KIMI STARVED OF SUCCESS

Raikkonen - wants to win.

Kimi Raikkonen is determined to satisfy his "great lust for winning" after drawing a blank in his last two grands prix.

Raikkonen initially crashed his Ferrari into the back of Adrian Sutil's Force India in Monaco last month.

Then, nine days ago in Canada, the reigning world champion had McLaren's Lewis Hamilton drive into from behind in the pit lane at 30mph.

The two accidents means Raikkonen's seven-point lead heading into the race in Monte Carlo has become a seven-point deficit to new world championship leader Robert Kubica.

The Finn is now desperate to stand on top of the podium again as he said ahead of this weekend's French Grand Prix: "I don't remember when I had such a great lust for winning.

"The team had prepared a car, which was able to be strong on all the tracks, but it didn't go well during the last races.

"I don't like looking back and thinking about what happened at the last race.

"I don't carry bad thoughts with me because that would just make me lose time, and you can't change the result anyway.

"It's much better to concentrate on the upcoming GP and try to get the best result possible."

Raikkonen is hoping that, as last season, he will again be able to turn his fortunes around at the Magny-Cours circuit by taking the chequered flag.

"I think things will look really different at Magny-Cours compared to the last GPs," added Raikkonen.

"It was in France last year my season practically started all over again, and this is what I need now after two races with no points.

"I like the track and I think it's perfect for our car, so I think we'll be competitive and we can go for the maximum result."

After winning the title by a point last year, Raikkonen knows just how costly failing to score in the last two races could be come the end of the season.

With the championship wide open between Kubica, Raikkonen, Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa and Hamilton, every point will again count.

"All the races are important, and one point can make all the difference like in 2007," assessed Raikkonen.

"This year, the championship is just as equally balanced, and that is the reason why you always need to bring home something."

And even though Hamilton will start the race on Sunday with a 10-place grid penalty after his gaffe in Montreal, Raikkonen is refusing to rule him out of the reckoning.

"Hamilton will start further back due to the penalty, but you should never underestimate McLaren," warned Raikkonen.

"So we have to give our best to keep them behind."

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

HAMILTON CAN HANG ON THIS TIME - STEWART

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

SECOND BEST FOR KUBICA

Kubica - championship leader.

New Formula One world championship leader Robert Kubica was forced to settle for second best on the first of a three-day test in Barcelona this week.

The BMW Sauber driver currently holds a four-point lead over McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa following his maiden victory in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

With the teams all testing new components ahead of the forthcoming round of European races, starting with the French Grand Prix in 10 days' time, Kubica set an unofficial time of 1min 22.682sec at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The Pole was one of only two F1 drivers on view, with Red Bull's David Coulthard third quickest only 0.042sec down on Kubica, as seven test drivers had a run out.

It was Ferrari's Luca Badoer who was fastest overall with a lap of 1:22.412, while Sebastien Buemi was fourth for Red Bull, followed by Gary Paffett for McLaren.

Anthony Davidson, back behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time since the Spanish Grand Prix at the end of April after losing his seat following the demise of Super Aguri, was sixth for Honda.

Williams' Nico Hulkenberg, who completed 112 laps, Romain Grosjean, on his testing debut for Renault, and Tamui Kobayashi in his Toyota were seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.

Force India and Toro Rosso were absent on a day brought to a close an hour early due to heavy rain.

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

FANTASTIC RESULT FOR US - KUBICA

BADOER REIGNS IN SPAIN

ALONSO'S RENAULT FUTURE STILL UNCERTAIN

Fernando Alonso - struggling with Renault.

Fernando Alonso's future at Renault remains uncertain after admitting he is yet to make a decision on where he will race next season.

The Spaniard returned to the French squad at the end of last year after a controversial year with McLaren.

Renault, though, have struggled to keep pace with the midfield pack, let alone fight for Championship honours with Ferrari, McLaren and BMW.

The team's poor form has prompted speculation that the two-time World Champion will quit once the season draws to a close.

Alonso himself has done very little to deny that speculation.

"I don't know (if I will stay with Renault)," he told a news conference.

"It's not been a good year so far and it has been worse than we expected. We have not been on the podium, let alone won a race.

"We have a lot of work to do. I will take a decision on my future towards the end of the year when we'll be able to see how far we have come."

However, the Spaniard remains optimistic about Renault's chances at their home grand prix this weekend.

"In France we have a lot of support and for me it's like racing in Barcelona," he added.

"During the week the team have worked hard and have made improvements with the car in testing. We have taken another step forward.

"I feel full of confidence at the moment and we are on the right track."

ALONSO DENIES FERRARI TALK

REACTION: FORCE INDIA and RENAULT

BUTTON HOPES TO GET BACK ON TRACK

Jenson Button - excited about French GP.

Jenson Button is looking to end his recent miserable run at this weekend's French Grand Prix.

After claiming his first points of the season with sixth in Spain towards the end of April, the Honda driver has since finished 11th in Turkey, Monaco and Canada.

In contrast, team-mate Rubens Barrichello has finally rediscovered his form by taking sixth and seventh in Monte Carlo and Montreal.

At a circuit Button professes to love - he was fifth and fourth in 2004 and 2005 when driving for BAR - the 28-year-old is hoping to get his season back on track.

"I'm looking forward to the race, particularly after a disappointing weekend in Canada where we were really off the pace," said Button.

"I've had some good results in Magny Cours previously and the race can be quite exciting, so I expect us to have a better weekend there."

Team principal Ross Brawn has set his sights high for the weekend, believing the Honda will be "back on the pace of our midfield competitors".

Brawn added: "Whilst Rubens led the last race in Canada for a short time and scored valuable points, we are fully aware his race was helped by the safety car and retirements.

"But I expect a stronger performance this weekend and we will be looking to get into the points on the merit of the car's performance."

HEIDFELD HOPES FOR BETTER

GLOCK HOPES TIME HAS COME

BUTTON WARY OF WET MONACO

ROSBERG: GRID PENALTY JUSTIFIED

Rosberg - grid penalty.

While admitting his French Grand Prix has been destroyed before has even set foot on the Circuit de Nevers, Nico Rosberg concedes that his 10-place grid penalty is justified.

Rosberg and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton will start down the grid at Magny-Cours after they failed to stop at the pit lane red light in Canada.

The German admits he faces an uphill task in France this weekend after his mistake at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"Moving 10 places back on the grid, that's really not very good for us as it probably destroys this race weekend too," he told the official Formula One website.

"And that's an even worse situation. But yes, I think it's (the penalty) justified.

"If it had been me alone it wouldn't have been justified because then I wouldn't have destroyed anybody else's race. But in that situation, as it occurred, it is ok."

The Williams driver says the red light was the last thing on his mind when he came out of the pits in Montreal.

"It didn't cross my mind that the pit lane would be red - and if you don't expect something then you can easily go wrong," he said.

"The same goes for Lewis, but then again this doesn't help as there is no such saying in Formula One that a problem shared is a problem halved. It was a pity.

"The best explanation I have is that it slipped my mind."

FIVE-PLACE GRID PENALTY FOR VETTEL

HAMILTON PAYS FURTHER PENALTY

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

AUSTRALIA TALKS CONTINUE

Ecclestone - in talks over Australian race.

The Victoria state government have denied reports a deal has already been struck with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone to keep the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne until at least 2015.

The state government have been in negotiations with Ecclestone about keeping the event at Albert Park amid concerns it could be staged elsewhere unless the time of the race was changed.

Reports in the Melbourne media said that a new deal had now been agreed between the parties, but the Victoria government insist negotiations are still continuing.

"We're very keen to secure the grand prix again but it has to be value for money," said acting premier Rob Hulls.

"No deal has been signed, we're keen to retain the grand prix but not at any price."

The future of the event was put under a cloud earlier in the year when Ecclestone said the event may have to move to a night-time slot if it was to continue its place on the Formula One calendar.

However, Ecclestone later tempered his criticism after a successful event in 2008 and said Melbourne still deserved its spot on the circuit.

The Victoria government are believed to have offered to push the race back to 5pm local time to accommodate European television audiences and appease Ecclestone.

An announcement of the final details of the five-year extension to the existing agreement is expected to be made public in the next few weeks.

ECCLESTONE QUESTIONS SILVERSTONE

ECCLESTONE WARNING

PIQUET CLAIMS TOP TIME IN TESTING

Piquet - top of the timesheets.

Nelson Piquet junior set the fastest time on the final day of Formula One testing in Barcelona.

The Renault driver, who had tested for two of the three days as he worked on turning his so far disappointing rookie season around, completed 112 laps and beat second-placed McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa by 0.4 seconds.

Having been quickest for Ferrari on both Thursday and Friday, Luca Badoer was third but the Italian test driver was satisfied overall with what he had accomplished during the week.

He said: "It was a generally positive test. We were able to work continuously and without any major technical problems.

"We saw interesting results from some new components, which might prove useful in the forthcoming races.

"On top of that, we also got through everything we had planned in terms of engine reliability work."

Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Timo Glock (Toyota) completed the top five while Nick Heidfeld was only sixth-fastest for BMW.

BADOER REIGNS IN SPAIN

DAVIDSON BACK BEHIND F1 WHEEL

THEISSEN: WE'LL KEEP PUSHING

Theissen - pushing forward at full power.

Mario Theissen has side-stepped talk of BMW winning this year's titles, saying he will wait until the end of the season to pass comment.

BMW driver Robert Kubica clinched the lead in the Drivers' standings at the Canadian GP thanks to his breakthrough victory as well as Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen's failure to finish the race.

The team bagged a much-welcome 18 points after Nick Heidfeld finished in second place, elevating BMW to second in the Constructors' Championship, just three points behind Ferrari.

The German team and Kubica's rise up the order has left many wondering if BMW are now serious contenders for the titles.

"Nobody who is at the top of the Drivers' World Championship after seven races is there by accident," said Theissen.

"The team and drivers have been working their way gradually towards the top of the standings over two years.

"We certainly won't be taking our foot off the gas now, but instead pushing forward at full power. We can talk about the results at the end of the season."

And the end of the season could also be when BMW get around to confirming their 2009 driver line-up with Theissen once again insisting that the team is under no pressure to decide right now.

"Good results attract covetous glances. Other teams think one or other driver is responsible. And other drivers think the credit lies with the car," he said.

"As far as the driver situation at the team for 2009 is concerned, we are in no rush with our discussions. We won't be commenting on any developments in this area until they reach a conclusion."

THEISSEN BEAMS AT ‘FANTASTIC’ RESULT

KUBICA IN DARK OVER FUTURE

ALONSO DENIES FERRARI TALK

RUBENS ON A ROLL HEADING TO FRANCE

Barrichello - in confident mood.

Having finally broken his year-long points duck with back-to-back top eight results, Rubens Barrichello is relishing heading to France.

The Brazilian failed to score a single point last season and carried on that trend in the opening races of this year's Championship, even being disqualified from a points-paying position in Australia.

However, the longest-serving driver on the grid fought back at the Monaco GP, finishing in sixth place, earning his first three points of the campaign.

He followed that up with another top-eight result two weeks later in Canada, where he clinched seventh place to move ahead of his team-mate Jenson Button in the Drivers' standings.

Now after a strong test in Barcelona, which saw Barrichello in action on Friday and Saturday, the Brazilian is confident he can continue his good run of form at Magny-Cours this coming weekend.

"We had a good two days in Barcelona this week and were able to cover a lot of mileage. Without any major new test items, we focused on set-up work and I'm happy with the progress that we made," said Barrichello.

"We were able to improve the car mechanically which gives me a good feeling going into the French Grand Prix next weekend."

KIMI SETS PACE IN FRANCE

BARRICHELLO FUTURE IN THE BALANCE

REACTION: FERRARI, HONDA and TORO ROSSO

ULTIMATE LINE UP TORO MOVE

Toro Rosso - Ultimate target.

Ultimate Motorsport are in talks about acquiring a stake in Formula One team Toro Rosso, according to Autosport.

The team formerly known as Minardi are co-owned by Red Bull billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz and former GP driver Gerhard Berger, but the former announced in March that his stake in the Ferrari-powered team is up for sale.

Ultimate team principal Barry Walsh said: "We are in negotiations so I can't reveal too much about it until everything is final.

"We always set out with Formula One as the target.

"I would only have got involved in the project in the first place if I was confident we could take it all the way to F1, that is the aim.

"If our plans go the right way, I'd like to think we could be on the grid for 2009."

REACTION: TORO ROSSO AND FORCE INDIA

GLOCK HOPES TIME HAS COME

REACTION: FERRARI, HONDA and TORO ROSSO

HAMILTON TARGETS SHOCK FRENCH WIN

Hamilton - optimistic.

Lewis Hamilton is convinced he can defy the odds in the French Grand Prix in 11 days' time and claim what would be a stunning victory.

Hamilton will start the race at Magny-Cours handicapped by a 10-place grid penalty following a calamitous Canadian Grand Prix.

The McLaren star was left red-faced after crashing into the back of title rival Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari at the end of the pit lane.

Trundling along at 30mph, Hamilton failed to spot Raikkonen and eventual race winner Robert Kubica had stopped for a red light.

The McLaren star braked too late, and was unable to avoid hitting Raikkonen, resulting in an early retirement for both drivers.

The penalty handed down by the stewards at Montreal means even if Hamilton sets the fastest time in qualifying in France, he will still start outside the top 10 for the first time in his Formula One career.

Yet, despite Magny-Cours being track where it is difficult to overtake, Hamilton said: "For sure, it's going to be tough, and we know we are already on the back foot.

"But knowing the pace and momentum we had in Canada, it just shows anything can happen.

"I feel quite confident we can still win there - that's my job. I have to have that belief in myself and the team."

Hamilton, speaking at the launch of the 'Go Motorsport' campaign at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, later tempered his enthusiasm - if only slightly.

"The key is to score points, and we obviously need to score as many as we can," he added.

"I still feel we can finish in the top three, but it's going to be a real challenge.

"Going on to Silverstone (British Grand Prix), we don't want any 10-place penalties for that!

"It's my home grand prix, and it would be very special for us to win it."

Although Hamilton looked foolish in Canada, particularly after he had laughed at father Anthony earlier in the week for pranging his Ј330,000 Porsche Carrera GT into a hedge, the 23-year-old adopted a philosophical approach.

"It was nowhere near one of my lowest points," responded Hamilton when pressed on the matter.

"I don't even particularly feel it was a low point - it was one of those things you just have to come to terms with and move on.

"In the race, I was on top of my game."

After failing to score points for the second time in five races this season, Hamilton trails Kubica by four points in the title race.

Like last year, Hamilton is anticipating a close-fought fight to the finish - but with the hope it does not again go to the wire.

"I believe the title is going to be very difficult to win, but I don't plan on it going to the last race," remarked Hamilton.

"We will push as hard as we can to do the job, and it doesn't matter if it is early or the last race, just so long as we get it done."

The 'Go Motorsport' campaign is designed to lure people from all walks of life into becoming involved in motor racing at any level, either as a competitor, official, trackside marshal or spectator.

The Motor Sports Association, the governing body of motor sport in the UK, is funding the Ј250,000 project, although further financial support is expected from organisations and individuals.

With Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Sir Frank Williams, among others, also behind the project, Hamilton added: "While Formula One is the pinnacle, there are many other classes of motor sport of which people are not aware.

"They don't realise there is such a depth and variety to the sport - particularly in the UK.

"I am happy to see an initiative such as 'Go Motorsport' raising awareness of the thousands of events around the country and showing people there is something for all tastes, ages and budgets."

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

DAVIDSON BACK BEHIND F1 WHEEL

Davidson - testing with Honda.

Anthony Davidson was back behind the wheel of a Formula One car on Thursday for the first time since the demise of Super Aguri just over five weeks ago.

The Japanese privateer team was forced to fold early last month after the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona due to debts of over Ј50million and after failing to secure a credible backer.

That left Davidson and team-mate Takuma Sato out of a job, however, the 29-year-old is again testing with Honda.

Nine of the 10 teams - Force India the exception - are on track at the Circuit de Catalunya over the next three days.

With official test driver Alex Wurz competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend with Peugeot, Honda have turned to Davidson to assist in their preparations for next week's French Grand Prix.

Davidson's association with Honda stretches back to 2002 when he was test driver to the team then known as BAR, prior to finally being given his break in Formula One with Super Aguri last year.

MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR - FRY

BADOER REIGNS IN SPAIN

SYMONDS LOOKS FOR PIQUET BELIEF

KUBICA PROVES CHAMPION QUALITIES

Robert Kubica - claimed victory in Canada.

As chaos and mayhem have often unfolded around him, Robert Kubica has kept his head down, nose clean and quietly gone about his job.

That is not to say Kubica has merely preyed on others' misfortune because there can be no doubt he is this season worthy of the tag of world title contender.

Okay, he may not possess the looks of a superstar, but behind the wheel he is one of the most talented drivers of his generation.

On Sunday, Kubica returned to the scene of a grand prix where 12 months ago he suffered a crash that 10 years previously would almost certainly have claimed his life.

The 23-year-old escaped from one of the most horrendous accidents witnessed for many a year with nothing more than concussion and a sprained ankle.

His BMW Sauber that had smashed into a concrete wall and barrel-rolled across the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, throwing the brave Pole around like a rag doll inside the cockpit, barely resembled a racing car by the time it finally came to rest on its side.

Only the monocoque and the left-rear wheel remained, testament to the safety improvements made since the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994.

It takes a man with iron-willed mental strength to then step back into a car, to banish the memories of seeing his life flash before his eyes, and drive as if what had unfolded was just one of those days.

Formula One, along with other forms of motor racing, is littered with heroic failure, of drivers who have been involved in a major shunt and never quite been the same thereafter.

Kubica is quite clearly made of sterner stuff, and to his credit he now finds himself leading this year's world championship.

There was an obvious degree of good fortune to his victory in the Canadian Grand Prix, but if you are not in the right place at the right time to take advantage, it counts for nothing.

Jokingly after the race, but with a certain degree of truth to it, Kubica thanked Lewis Hamilton for 'opting' to crash into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari at the end of the pit lane rather than his own car.

Raikkonen and Kubica were lined up alongside one another, waiting for a red light to disappear that was holding them back due to the presence of the safety car on track.

Hamilton, who had been comfortably leading the race, was slow away from his pit stop compared to his two rivals as the team fuelled him heavy for the middle stint of the race.

But somewhat incredulously, Hamilton - who claimed he did not see the red light until it was too late - was also late on the brakes and crunched into Raikkonen rather than Kubica.

The motor-racing Gods, no doubt chuckling heartily to themselves at Hamilton's ridiculous gaffe at 30mph, certainly smiled on the man from Krakow at that particular moment.

And therein lies the crux because whilst Hamilton, Raikkonen and team-mates Heikki Kovalainen and Felipe Massa have had their fair share of problems this season, Kubica and BMW Sauber have stayed out of trouble.

A collision with Kazuki Nakajima aside in the opening grand prix in Australia where he had qualified second, Kubica has since been 'Mr Consistent', finishing in the top four on each occasion.

His more aggressive driving style, particularly important over one lap, has allowed him to totally overshadow team-mate Nick Heidfeld in qualifying, the German's smoother approach resulting in him lagging behind in all seven races to date.

That is no coincidence, but then Kubica has also suffered for his art as he chose to lose weight during the winter.

When you consider he is already a six foot string-bean, there was not too much weight to lose in the first place, but it has so far paid dividends.

Certainly as Kubica readily concedes his car is not the most powerful compared to the McLaren and Ferrari.

But if the feuding marques continue to trip up - occasionally over one another - he may yet unassumingly continue on his merry way to the biggest prize of all.

************

As Formula One takes a weekend off, attention switches to the Le Mans 24 Hours, the endurance classic that sorts out the men from the boys once they have ended their careers at the highest level.

For Jacques Villeneuve, F1 world champion and Indy 500 winner, it represents another opportunity of entering motor-racing folklore.

Only the late Graham Hill has previously won all three events such is the severity of the task, so for Villeneuve, victory would mean everything.

Racing in one of three Peugeots - Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gene his co-drivers - the French marque are expected to cruise home.

Which one of the trio takes the chequered flag, should they live up to their favourites tag, will become apparent on Sunday.

So as the 37-year-old Villeneuve remarks: "It could end up being quite special."

For a man who has enjoyed considerable success, that is saying something.

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

MASSA FASTEST IN PRACTICE

DENNIS REMAINS POSITIVE

Dennis - remains confident over title.

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has refused to be downbeat about Lewis Hamilton's chances of sealing world title success after a nightmare race in Canada.

Hamilton lost his drivers' championship lead to Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber on Sunday in Montreal after he failed to see a pit line red light and crashed into the back of title rival Kimi Raikkonen, knocking them both out of the race.

Hamilton had been in peak form all weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, taking pole position and leading the race comfortably before a safety car was deployed and all the main contenders decided to refuel at the first opportunity at the end of the 18th lap.

That led to the Hamilton error which cost him not only the race but also a 10-place drop down the grid for the next race, the French Grand Prix on June 22, as punishment from the FIA race stewards.

The BMW Sauber one-two for Kubica and Nick Heidfeld also saw McLaren drop from second to third in the constructors' championship but Dennis took comfort from the pace Hamilton had got out of the MP4-23 car ahead of his demise.

"Obviously, for a team that exists to win, today was a very disappointing day," Dennis said.

"The collision that eliminated Lewis was just one of those things. The plain fact is that Lewis didn't realise that the cars in front of him were coming to a halt until too late.

"It's difficult for a driver to decide whether to focus on the lights or on the cars ahead in situations like that.

"At the end of the day, no-one wants to put themselves out of a grand prix, simple as that, and not one that he was comfortably leading.

"But that's motor racing, we've go to take the positives, we were very quick all weekend and hopefully we'll continue that pace through the rest of the season.

"It's still early days and we have the pace to win, we've just got to avoid stuff like this."

Dennis said the team had accepted the stewards' punishment as did an equally forward-looking Hamilton.

"It's just unfortunate when stuff like this happens, but I have no argument with the stewards.

"We'd looked so strong for the whole weekend though, so at least we can leave Montreal confident that we have a package that will enable us to fight for the world championship from here on in."

Before the race, Dennis and his fellow team principals had met with Bernie Ecclestone, the commercial rights holder, to discuss a new Concorde Agreement, the contract between the teams, Ecclestone's Formula One Management and the governing body FIA which sets out the guidelines under which the sport is run.

Ecclestone claimed on Saturday that no agreement was yet in place due to the teams' failure to find common ground but Dennis denied this was the case.

"We've hardly started to discuss the Concorde agreement because we've been concentrating on the commercial agreement which forms part of the Concorde agreement," Dennis said.

"Formula One teams are intensely competitive but I don't think there's much disharmony in their views as regards what should be contained in a Concorde agreement.

"I don't think the teams are the blockage in any shape or form to getting this done, very much the opposite."

The McLaren boss also denied reports that a breakaway series had been discussed in response to the continuing presence of Max Mosley as president of the FIA despite his being caught up in a sex scandal.

"There was a team prinicpals' meeting called by Bernie and I'm still, after many, many years in Formula One, amazed that people can come out of those meetings and discuss its' content because there were all sorts of things discussed in it.

"I'm not going to make any reference to anything, confirm, deny or anything. These meetings are designed to focus on the future and try and solve problems that exist, in any business, and that is what we are trying to do.

"I won't confirm or deny anything."

NO PRICE TO PAY FOR LEWIS

DENNIS APPLAUDS ‘PHENOMENAL’ LEWIS

TOYOTA MOURN ANDERSSON

Andersson pictured in 2004.

Toyota Motorsport are mourning the death of founder Ove Andersson.

Andersson, aged 70, was killed in an accident while competing in the Milligan Vintage Trial in South Africa when the classic car he was driving suffered a frontal collision around a blind corner.

Toyota Motorsport chairman Tadashi Yamashina said: "Everyone at Toyota is extremely shocked and truly saddened at this terrible news.

"Ove was an inspiration to our team and to many in motorsport. His passion for motorsport was legendary and he is a great loss to our sport."

Andersson was instrumental in the founding of Toyota Team Europe, which grew out of his own Andersson Motorsport squad.

Toyota Team Europe later relocated to Cologne, and became Toyota Motorsport in 1993.

Under his leadership, Toyota successfully competed in the World Rally Championship, winning four drivers' and three manufacturers' titles, also taking second place at the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Andersson then led Panasonic Toyota Racing into Formula One in 2002 before retiring as team principal in 2003 to work as a consultant for the team.

FERRARI BOSS MAKES MOSLEY U-TURN

REACTION: TOYOTA AND HONDA

REACTION: RENAULT/TOYOTA/FORCE INDIA

KUBICA CONFIDENT OF CHALLENGE

Kubica - determined to mount title bid.

Robert Kubica has promised he will be "giving it everything" in his bid to become Formula One world champion this season.

Kubica surprisingly finds himself leading the way after seven grands prix and his maiden win in Sunday's race in Canada.

Lewis Hamilton's farcical shunt into Kimi Raikkonen in the pit lane played into Kubica's hands, allowing him to claim victory.

The 23-year-old is now four points clear of McLaren star Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa, with reigning world champion Raikkonen seven points adrift.

Kubica, though, knows that winning a race is one thing, but the title is something completely different with such an accomplished trio hunting him down.

"I did not expect to be leading the championship after seven races, as our car is not the fastest on the grid," remarked Kubica.

"However, we have total reliability. We were still experiencing a few problems in this area last year, but since then we've made huge improvements.

"Added to which, the pit crew has done a great job, as has everybody in the team.

"I have collected points regularly so far this year, but of course I don't know if that is going to continue.

"I will focus on the grands prix one at a time and try to take maximum points in every situation.

"Of course, consistency is an important factor, and I hope we are also able to make further improvements to the car. Then we can achieve good things.

"Whatever happens, we have to do all we can to make the best of the situation.

"After all, who knows if I will ever get a chance like this again, but one thing is for sure - I'll be giving it everything."

Kubica, whose breakthrough win was at a circuit where he survived an horrendous smash last year, conceded to no nerves over the closing laps as he sensed victory.

The laid-back Pole added: "I just concentrated totally on not making any mistakes over the final 15 laps.

"They were the longest, but also the most relaxed laps of my Formula One career so far, as I had no pressure and only needed to bring the car home."

FANTASTIC RESULT FOR US - KUBICA

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

HAMILTON PAYS FURTHER PENALTY

Hamilton - penalised for crashing into Raikkonen.

Lewis Hamilton has been given a 10-place grid penalty for the French Grand Prix as a result of the crash that took out his McLaren and Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari during the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The punishment was handed out by FIA race stewards after they reviewed the incident in which Hamilton ran into the back of Raikkonen as the Ferrari driver was observing a red light in the pit lane on lap 18 of the race, which was eventually won by Robert Kubica.

Nico Rosberg of Williams was given the same 10-place drop on the grid after he ran into the back of Hamilton's McLaren Mercedes in the same incident.

Hamilton trails BMW Sauber's Kubica by four points in the world drivers' championship and will now face an even stiffer battle for points at Magny-Cours in two weeks' time.

The punishment capped a disastrous series of events at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Englishman as his dream return to Montreal went sour.

Hamilton had sealed his maiden Formula One victory in this race 12 months previously and had secured pole position this year with an exhilarating drive in qualifying on Saturday.

He started Sunday's race in imperious form, rattling off fastest laps to build up a lead of six-plus seconds over Kubica.

Having qualified on pole, Hamilton had warned of the influence the race safety car could have in Montreal. He had battled to a wire-to-wire victory in Canada last year after the safety car intervened four times to cut his lead and bring back the rest of the field following an incident-packed race that saw Kubica endure an horrendous crash.

And so it proved once more when the safety car was deployed after Adrian Sutil span out in his Force India on the 13th lap.

When the pit lane opened after 18 laps, all the leading contenders went in for their first fuel stops. McLaren were running Hamilton on a one-stop strategy and his longer refuel saw him emerge behind both Raikonnen and Kubica.

He followed them as they vied for the lead only for them to be stopped by a red light at the end of the pit lane.

The new leaders came to a halt side by side only for Hamilton to career into the back of the Ferrari of Raikkonen, forcing them both out of the race. Rosberg went into the back of Hamilton but managed to continue racing.

"I saw the two guys in front of me battling in the pit lane and I was trying to make sure I didn't get involved but then they stopped," Hamilton said.

"I saw the red light but it was too late. It's not a racing incident but I think it is unfortunate.

"It is a lot different if you crash into the wall and you are angry with yourself.

"I apologise to Kimi if I ruined his race. I would rather neither of us be out. I was so quick I was breezing it."

Kubica was in an ideal position to see Raikkonen's demise at the hands of Hamilton.

"We all pitted together and the red light was still on at the end of the pit lane," he said.

"I saw Kimi side by side with me.

"Then I just heard a big shunt and saw Kimi's moving and realised it was Lewis. He was over Kimi's rear wing.

"I just kept concentrating waited for the green light and managed to pull away well."

Cheekily, Kubica even thanked Hamilton for helping him achieve his maiden grand prix victory.

"I have to thank him that he shunts Kimi not me," the Pole said.

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

KIMI WON’T GET ANGRY OVER SHUNT

HAMILTON WARY OF KUBICA

THEISSEN BEAMS AT 'FANTASTIC' RESULT

Theissen - 'mission accomplished'.

Team principal Mario Theissen claims it is "mission accomplished" for BMW in 2008 after they secured their maiden Grand Prix win in Canada.

Robert Kubica's triumph coupled with Nick Heidfeld's second-place finish helped the Hinwil-based team to achieve their goal for the year.

Kubica is now leading the drivers' championship while BMW are second behind Ferrari in the constructors' standings.

Yet while delighted with the team's showing so far this season, Theissen warned that they can't get carried away.

He told the team's official website: "Robert first, Nick runner-up - a truly fantastic result.

"I'd like to congratulate not only Robert and Nick, who both did a fantastic job in difficult conditions, but most notably the entire team in Munich and Hinwil. I know that everybody shared the thrill at home, in front of their TV sets.

"We set ourselves the goal to close the gap to the front-runners this season and secure our maiden grand prix win. With seven races of the season contested we now can say: 'Mission accomplished.'

"Throughout the season to date, we have no longer been the third power on the grid but one of the three top teams. And the fact that Robert has taken the lead in the drivers' championship represents the icing on the cake.

"However, we must remain realistic. With eleven more races to go, this is just a 'snap-shot' and nothing else. We will continue focusing on each forthcoming race at a time aiming to add further points to our tally."

FANTASTIC RESULT FOR US - KUBICA

COULTHARD DELIGHTED TO BE BACK IN POINTS

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

HAMILTON WARY OF KUBICA

Hamilton - wary of Kubica threat,

Lewis Hamilton is convinced Robert Kubica is in the title hunt for the long haul this season.

Kubica grabbed the first win of his Formula One career in Sunday's dramatic Canadian Grand Prix after a significant helping hand from Hamilton.

The 23-year-old failed to spot Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen had both stopped for a red light at the end of the pit lane in Montreal.

Despite travelling at only 30mph, Hamilton ended up crashing into the back of Raikkonen's Ferrari, sending them into retirement.

Kubica took full advantage of the gaffe to take the chequered flag in his BMW Sauber, and now has a four-point lead in the title race over Hamilton and Massa.

Since retiring in the opening race of the season in Australia, the Pole has since been the most consistent driver on the grid.

Hamilton believes Kubica is now a real threat, conceding: "I think he's always been a title contender from race one when he qualified second on the grid.

"I've always known he's got great talent and he would be strong as soon as BMW pulled their socks up - and they have done.

"They've done a great job, they've been very consistent and it is three teams at the front really battling it out.

"I think he's going to be pushing us right to the end, although it's not particularly worrying.

"I still feel we can come out on top, but it's going to be a real challenge."

Hamilton first faces an uphill struggle at the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in 10 days' time due to a 10-place grid penalty imposed by stewards for his moment of Montreal madness.

Yet, Hamilton is convinced he can defy the odds and take what would be an astonishing victory, adding: "It's going to be tough, and we know we are already on the back foot.

"But knowing the pace and momentum we had in Canada, it just shows anything can happen.

"I feel quite confident we can still win there - that's my job. I have to have that belief in myself and the team."

Raikkonen feels Hamilton fully deserved his punishment, disputing his take on events that he saw the red light too late.

"I can't believe somebody can hit you when you are standing in front of a red light and side by side with another car," sniped Raikkonen.

"I can't believe he did not see the red light, and more than that, the two stationary cars.

"He knows there was a red light. Accidents happen, but not with two cars that have stopped.

"He deserves his penalty. He loses 10 places for the next race in France, and at least it is not going to make things any easier for him."

Hamilton was speaking at the launch of the 'Go Motorsport' scheme at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.

The campaign, aided by a website www.gomotorsport.net, is designed to inspire the general public into becoming involved in motor racing at any level, either as a competitor, official, trackside marshal or spectator.

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

COULTHARD DELIGHTED TO BE BACK IN POINTS

Coulthard - third in Montreal on Sunday.

David Coulthard scored an unexpected 62nd podium finish of his long career at the Canadian Grand Prix - and is as happy with it as he was with his first.

The 37-year-old Scot landed his first points of this season with an invaluable third place in Montreal behind BMW Sauber's maiden winner Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld - 14 years after finishing fifth in only his second Formula One race, having replaced the late Ayrton Senna in the Williams-Renault team.

Seven races later in Portugal, he claimed his first podium.

But this season has been a struggle for Coulthard, who for Red Bull Racing has crashed out in Australia and Monaco and had a highest finish of ninth before this weekend.

"I think it is my 62nd podium and I am as delighted to be there as I was in 1994 when I had my first podium," Coulthard said.

"Canada is where I scored my first points in 1994.

"I am in reflective mood in my career - because obviously 15 seasons is a long time for anyone, especially after such an ugly start to the season.

"It is great to see the younger guys enjoying their first victories. I am very happy for Robert and for BMW.

"This is my fourth year at Red Bull. We started a journey to take the team forward and like BMW we are on an upward trend.

"We can take a great deal of pride from that."

The result also sent Red Bull fourth outright in the constructors' championship - leading the mid-division of teams behind Ferrari, BMW Sauber and McLaren Mercedes, four points ahead of Toyota.

"I'm delighted because I would never have expected to get a point here this weekend," Coulthard added.

"I've had a horrible start to the year - as have all my guys on my car, the whole team and everyone back at the factory, who've had a lot of repairs because of all the various incidents.

"I am delighted for them. It's a real credit to them and the efforts they're putting in.

"This adds to the points Mark (Webber) has already scored this season and helps us build our total in the championship."

REACTION: BMW, RED BULL and TOYOTA

COULTHARD QUIET OVER F1 FUTURE

BADOER REIGNS IN SPAIN

Kubica - completed his programme.

Ferrari's Luca Badoer continued to set the pace on the second day of Formula One testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today.

The Italian set a best time of 1min 21.013sec to finish top of the timesheets, with his best lap more than a second quicker than on Thursday.

Badoer outpaced McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa by more than 0.3sec, with Toyota's Timo Glock the fastest race driver in third ahead of the Williams of Nico Rosberg and the Red Bull of David Coulthard.

Championship leader Robert Kubica completed his two-day programme for BMW Sauber, the Pole continuing aerodynamic and mechanical work in preparation for the French Grand Prix.

Kubica's team-mate Nick Heidfeld will wrap up the test for BMW on Saturday with the German hoping to make progress on his problems in qualifying.

RAIN PROVES A REAL TEST

ALONSO OUT TO SPRING A SURPRISE

HAMILTON PASSES FRENCH TEST

GLOCK HOPES TIME HAS COME

Glock - on the scoreboard.

Toyota's Timo Glock is hoping the floodgates will open now he has finally broken his points-scoring duck in Formula One.

Following a difficult start to the season, the 26-year-old German finished a fine fourth at Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

Glock fervently believes there is more to come as he said: "It was just a great moment to cross the finish line.

"I knew things would come together at some stage because my crew has been doing a great job and we have shown good pace.

"I had a really disappointing weekend in Monaco (just over two weeks ago), but this time everything worked perfectly.

"There have been a few races this season when it looked like I could score points - Australia and Bahrain - but things didn't work out, so it was really satisfying to score five points.

"Now there's no reason why we cannot score points again in Magny-Cours (French Grand Prix on June 22).

"My first goal will be to get into Q3 (the top 10) because I have been so close to that in the last few races, but just missed out.

"If I can get into Q3 then I can fight for the points, although it will be very hard to repeat this fourth place.

"My goal for the rest of the season has to be to regularly finish in the top eight."

At one stage during the race in Montreal, Glock led for the first time in F1, and although he appreciates it was a false position, he hopes it will not be a one off.

"Obviously, it was quite a special moment to see P1 on my pit board, but I knew I had to pit," added Glock.

"It was nice, but it wasn't really so significant overall.

"My ultimate goal in Formula One is to see that on my pit board much more often, but I know we've still got work to do before we reach that stage.

"We know where we are at the moment, and fourth place is a good result for us."

HEIDFELD HOPES FOR BETTER

REACTION: BMW, RED BULL and TOYOTA

HAMILTON LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE

Hamilton launches the new initiative.

Lewis Hamilton has launched a new initiative aimed at attracting the general public into motorsport.

'Go Motorsport' is being supported by a host of stars, including Sir Frank Williams, Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Andy Priaulx, Allan McNish, Jason Plato, Murray Walker and Martin Brundle.

The high-profile programme is designed to lure people from all walks of life into becoming involved at any level, either as a competitor, official, trackside marshal or spectator.

The Motor Sports Association, the governing body of motor sport in the UK, is funding the Ј250,000 project.

However, it is being estimated the true value of the scheme could run into millions of pounds due to the 'benefit in kind' support of organisations and individuals within the UK motor sport community.

Hamilton, spearheading the project at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, said: "This is a great initiative by the MSA to attract more people into motor sport.

"While Formula One is the pinnacle, there are many other classes of motor sport of which people are not aware.

"They don't realise there is such a depth and variety to the sport - particularly in the UK.

"I am happy to see an initiative such as Go Motorsport raising awareness of the thousands of events around the country and showing people there is something for all tastes, ages and budgets."

HAMILTON RETURNS TO GOODWOOD

HAMILTON WILL SPARKLE

HAMILTON HITS MONTE CARLO JACKPOT

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

Hamilton - 10-place grid penalty.

McLaren Mercedes have begun planning Lewis Hamilton's race strategy at the French Grand Prix later this month following his nightmare race in Canada.

Hamilton undid a scintillating qualifying drive for pole position in Montreal and was leading the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday when he ploughed into the back of Kimi Raikkonen after failing to see the pit-lane red light the Ferrari driver had been observing.

It knocked both drivers out of the race and cost Hamilton not just the lead in the world drivers' championship but a 10-place drop down the starting grid at Magny-Cours on June 22.

"We're going into France with a 10-place penalty for Lewis so that will clearly affect our approach," McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh said.

"Without giving too much away, I suspect he'll run a little bit longer in the first stint than would otherwise have been the case. We haven't modelled it yet, but intuitively that's what we'll probably do."

Whitmarsh said his team regretted ruining Raikkonen's race and had no problems with the punishment Hamilton received from FIA race stewards in Canada.

"You have to feel sorry for Kimi and Ferrari, who were the innocent victims on this occasion," Whitmarsh said.

"We regard the stewards' decision as hard but fair. Hard in the sense that it clearly makes Lewis's task more difficult in Magny-Cours, but fair on the grounds that we have no argument with their contention that he did cause an avoidable accident.

"Sometimes severe consequences can be the results of split-second misjudgments. And, in this instance, we'll take the loss of a likely win and the 10-place grid penalty squarely on the chin."

Hamilton's relegation down the grid means McLaren's best hopes of success now rest with Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, who had another disappointing race at the weekend, managing only ninth, more than 54 seconds behind maiden race winner Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber.

"This weekend didn't quite come together for him," Whitmarsh said before adding: "The reality is that, in every race he's done for us so far, Heikki has done a fantastic job and if you look at fuel-corrected times, he's frequently out-qualified Lewis.

"This weekend, for whatever reason, he didn't quite get on it. We know he puts a lot of pressure on himself but, as a team, we very much believe in him and think he's robust enough in his approach that he'll recover in time.

"In reality, he's the guy who is our best hope of winning the French Grand Prix."

FIVE-PLACE GRID PENALTY FOR VETTEL

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

WHITMARSH BACKS HAMILTON

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

Raikkonen - agrees with penalty.

Kimi Raikkonen believes Lewis Hamilton fully deserves his 10-place grid penalty for the French Grand Prix after disputing the McLaren star's take on events in Canada.

Raikkonen still remains stunned at what unfolded during Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal when Hamilton crashed into the back of the Finn's stationary Ferrari at the end of the pit lane.

Reigning world champion Raikkonen, along with eventual race winner Robert Kubica in his BMW Sauber, had both stopped for a red light as the pit lane was closed due to a safety car on track.

Hamilton, emerging from his own pit stop, claims he saw the red light too late and was unable to avoid driving into the back of Raikkonen's car, sending them both out of the race.

But a doubtful Raikkonen said: "I can't believe somebody can hit you when you are standing in front of a red light and side by side with another car.

"I can't believe he did not see the red light, and more than that, the two stationary cars. He knows there was a red light. Accidents happen, but not with two cars that have stopped.

"I was ready to fight and try to beat Kubica after the red light, but that never happened. Instead, along came Hamilton and our race was over.

"I was not angry. Just disappointed, surprised and frustrated at the same time."

Following the race, stewards swiftly hammered Hamilton, with the penalty ensuring the 23-year-old will now start outside the top 10 for the first time in his Formula One career.

"I think Hamilton deserves his penalty," insisted Raikkonen.

"He loses 10 places for the next race in France, and at least it is not going to make things any easier for him."

Raikkonen has now failed to score in the last two races after his own accident in Monaco over a fortnight ago when he ploughed into the back of Adrian Sutil's Force India.

It means the 28-year-old trails new championship leader Kubica by seven points, with Hamilton and Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa three points ahead.

At this stage, Raikkonen is unconcerned by Kubica, believing Massa and Hamilton still represent his main title rivals.

"We lost a good result in Canada," added Raikkonen.

"The car was very strong on speed, and I felt we could have won, or at worst, been second. Now, after seven races, we have had two bad results in a row, something nobody could have predicted.

"Obviously, our position is not that strong any more, but it's not the end of the world. We have not lost that much.

"I'm still fourth in the championship, the same position as last year, and like then, there is still a long season ahead of us.

"I'm just glad Kubica won - and congratulations to him. For me, it was better he got the 10 points rather than my main rivals who are now just three points ahead of me.

"BMW has been there and scored points all the time and they now have a nice lead, but I'm not worried about that. Although if they keep scoring every race then it won't be that easy to catch them in the championship.

"But we've a very strong feeling about our car, and we will win again soon."

KIMI WON’T GET ANGRY OVER SHUNT

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

ALONSO WORRIED BY LACK OF POINTS

Alonso - struggling for points.

Fernando Alonso is steeling himself to the fact his season could be over in less than four weeks.

Following a solid fourth place in the season-opening grand prix in Australia to claim five points, the Renault driver has since accumulated only four more points from six races.

Alonso's frustrations, that initially appeared in Bahrain and then eased in the wake of his home race in Spain where he qualified second, have again surfaced.

With team-mate Nelson Piquet yet to score, Renault are currently languishing in a lowly seventh place in the constructors' table behind Red Bull, Toyota and Williams.

Alonso believes unless the team show signs of improvement at the next two grands prix in France and Britain, the focus then should turn towards next year's car.

"It's a difficult decision, no doubt, which has to be made sooner or later," said Alonso.

"I know it's difficult, and I have a strong opinion about it, but after Silverstone you have to think about it.

"We have a couple of developments coming for Magny-Cours and Silverstone, so let's wait and see what these do to the car.

"Maybe at those tracks it will be good, so we can carry on developing this car.

"If it's not good, maybe the season will already be over so it's time to think about next year."

Alonso, who qualified fourth at Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix only to slide out on lap 45, is hopeful planned upgrades to the car for the next two races will make a difference.

"A small step in every area can make a huge gain," added Alonso.

"I'm sure we can go up in performance, and hopefully that will put us in the points for the championship."

ALONSO OUT TO SPRING A SURPRISE

ALONSO DENIES FERRARI TALK

REACTION: BMW, RED BULL and TOYOTA

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld celebrate a one-two.

Robert Kubica won Sunday's Canadian GP ahead of Nick Heidfeld and David coulthard. Timo Glock finished off the podium.

BMW
Robert Kubica: I'm very happy at having won the first race for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. I'm also happy for Poland and all my fans. It was a very difficult race for me. I started on the dirty side of the track and Kimi Raikkonen was nearly able to pass me, but I just managed to keep him behind. The timing of the Safety Car was unlucky for me, because I wanted to pit, but then the yellow light went on just about three seconds too early, so I had to continue. When the pitlane was open, almost everybody pitted together. I stopped at the exit because the light was still red. Kimi stopped beside me, and then I heard the noise when Hamilton crashed into his car. I have to be grateful to Lewis as he chose Kimi and not myself. After this pit stop I was stuck behind the one-stoppers and lost a lot of time. Timo Glock was the last one of them to stop, and only then could I push. I had just eight laps to increase the gap to 21 seconds, which was a huge challenge. I finally managed to get a 24 second lead, which meant I was able to stay ahead of Nick. From this moment on I took it a bit easier, but even then it's very easy to make a mistake, particularly because of the tarmac that was destroyed in some places. But it all worked out and I'm just happy!"

Nick Heidfeld: Congratulations to Robert for winning this race, which he really deserved! I made a poor start and lost a position to Rubens Barrichello. Fortunately I was able to pass him, and from this moment on I was one of the fastest cars on the track. I stayed out when most of the other cars pitted because I was on a long stint. I was pushing very hard at that stage. We then decided to switch to a one stop strategy, with a very high fuel load and with the soft option tyres which was a challenge. However, I was able to keep Fernando Alonso behind me. After his second pit stop Robert stayed ahead so I secured second place. Finishing second after starting from eighth is a great result, especially considering the difficult time I have had recently. Thanks a lot to the guys in Hinwil, who built me a new chassis after the accident I had with Alonso in Monaco."

Red Bull
David Coulthard: I'm delighted to get a podium for the team, they've had a lot of work on at the previous races and back at base. You can expect some unusual results here o we fuelled it long; but we expected the incidents would occur on track, not in the pit lane. But, nonetheless, the strategy worked well and all credit to the engineers, mechanics and everyone back at Red Bull for all their hard work. The start was pretty hairy with all the cars bunched up round Turn 1 and Turn 2, but my goal was to get to the finish and get points, so to get my 62nd podium is a great result. This adds to the points Mark has already scored this season and helps us build our total in the Championship."

Mark Webber: I was on a two stop strategy and David was on a one-stop. We were out of position a bit with what happened in qualifying yesterday and it was difficult to recover from there. David's result brings a lot of points for the team though, which is very good."

Toyota:
Timo Glock: his is a fantastic day, and I'm delighted to take my first points of the year. I lost three places at the start, leaving me behind Jarno. I was quicker but when I got close enough I destroyed my rear tyres. So I did my best to preserve them because I knew I was on a longer first stint and I was able to get by at the pit stop. After that it was really tricky to keep the car on the track in these conditions. I made one mistake and caused Jarno to lose a place, which is a pity. But then I tried to stay in front of Massa and not make any mistakes. The result is great for the team, great for my crew, the mechanics and the engineers who have done a perfect job in the last few weeks. I dedicate the points to them."

Jarno Trulli: This was a very good result for the whole team so I am very happy. We knew this would be a hard race and I just wanted to bring the car home because I wasn't feeling confident. The biggest mistake I made was before qualifying when I changed the set-up and suddenly I found myself qualifying with completely different track conditions. That cost me because I was unable to push as hard as I wanted. Towards the end of the race I had some trouble with the brakes. Then I was unfortunate that Timo made a small mistake late on. When he came back on the track I had to lift off and Massa got past. Still, in the end it's great to score points and I am happy for everyone."

REACTION: RED BULL/STR/HONDA/WILLIAMS

REACTION: RENAULT, RED BULL AND WILLIAMS

REACTION: FERRARI, HONDA and TORO ROSSO

REACTION: McLAREN and WILLIAMS

Nico Rosberg - unable to get in the points.

Although Heikki Kovalainen and Nico Rosberg finished the Canadian GP, neither driver was able to get into the points.

McLaren
Heikki Kovalainen: Today wasn't a great day for me. At the start of the race I felt we had the potential to record a very good result - but then I started to experience quite a lot of graining on my first set of tyres. Changing tyres didn't seem to help matters, and I was never therefore able to push hard to the finish. It's always difficult when you come home empty-handed, but this weekend has shown that we have a package that can compete for a win - and I'll keep pushing for exactly that in Magny-Cours."

Lewis Hamilton: "Before my pit stop, everything looked on course for the perfect result: we were so quick, we were breezing it in fact. But it wasn't a great pit stop - and, as I exited the box, I saw two cars jostling for position ahead of me in the pit lane. Obviously, I didn't want to get involved in their tussle, and was trying not to do so, and then all of a sudden they stopped. And by the time they'd come to a halt, it was too late for me to avoid them. It's just unfortunate when stuff like this happens, but I have no argument with the stewards. We'd looked so strong for the whole weekend though, so at least we can leave Montreal confident that we have a package that will enable us to fight for the World Championship from here on in."

Williams:
Nico Rosberg: "It was great to begin with and it was going fantastically at the start. I passed Alonso into turn one and I was getting away from him, yet at the same time I wasn't losing too much to Massa in front. But then there was the incident in the pitlane, which really was unfortunate. Later in the race I tried to pass Vettel as it was really necessary to have a go, but I got off the clean line and went wide and Heikki Kovalainen got past me. I am now looking ahead to the next race in France where naturally we will be hoping to achieve a better result."

Kazuki Nakajima: "With all the other incidents in the field, it was going well, but then when I was following Jenson, it seemed as if he got on the marbles in the middle of the hairpin and lost traction, and I couldn't avoid him. I damaged my front wing and it was coming off. When I came into the pitlane, it detached itself completely and was stuck under the chassis, so I couldn't make the corner, so that was it for me."

REACTION: RED BULL/STR/HONDA/WILLIAMS

REACTION: RENAULT, RED BULL AND WILLIAMS

FANTASTIC RESULT FOR US - KUBICA

Robert Kubica - thrilled with triumph.

Robert Kubica was over the moon to exorcise the memory of last year's horror crash in Montreal with victory in this year's Canadian Grand Prix.

The Pole escaped serious injury during his horrific crash in Montreal last year, but he bounced back this year to score his and BMW's maiden F1 victory.

Kubica, who is now four points clear in the Drivers' Championship, was delighted with his "fantastic" victory.

"Winning in Canada where I had big shunt last season and the goal to win a grand prix this season," he said after leading home a BMW 1-2.

"We have done it and I'm leading the Championship, so I hope the team will give me 100 percent support to defend it until last race.

"It is fantastic to win for BMW Sauber.

"We grew up together and thanks to team for providing a good car we managed to do first and second. Maybe our pace is still not best as I couldn't match Lewis's pace.

"It's fantastic for me, the team, my country and my fans. "

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

KUBICA IN DARK OVER FUTURE

KUBICA WINS AS HAMILTON CRASHES OUT

KIMI WON'T GET ANGRY OVER SHUNT

Hamilton and Raikkonen collide.

Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen is not angry with Lewis Hamilton over the shunt that cost him valuable points in his title defence - and earned the British driver a 10-place drop down the grid for the next grand prix in France.

The Finnish Ferrari driver was hit from behind by Hamilton's McLaren as he waited on a red light at the end of the pit lane in an exciting Canadian Grand Prix last night.

The accident put both title rivals out of the race, enabling Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber to notch his maiden victory and leapfrog Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Raikkonen and leader Hamilton into a four-point first place after six races of this 18-event season.

Hamilton had been leading after 18 laps and going into the pits but was on a one-stop strategy and was slower to refuel than both Kubica and Raikkonen - who pulled out before him only to be red-lighted, side by side, at the end of the lane.

Following them, Hamilton saw the red light too late, appeared to swerve to avoid Kubica directly in front of him and instead careered into the Ferrari - an act which prompted race stewards to impose the Brit's penalty for Magny-Cours later this month.

"There's not much I can say," said Raikkonen, who himself shunted Force India's Adrian Sutil out of the Monaco Grand Prix in the previous race - albeit on the track. My race was ruined by Hamilton's mistake.

"Obviously, anyone can make mistakes - as I did two weeks ago in Monaco.

"It's one thing to make a mistake at 200 miles per hour but another to hit a car stopped at a red light.

"I am not angry - because that doesn't achieve anything and does not change my result! I am unhappy, because I had a great chance of winning."

Raikkonen had cause to feel aggrieved.

After a blistering start from Hamilton, the Finn had begun to make ground on Kubica in second place and WAS running the quickest before the safety car was deployed in order to let marshals clear Sutil's stricken car from the track on the 13th lap.

An angry Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali was less philosophical about the incident.

"There is much for us to regret about the outcome of this race," he said.

"It was a serious mistake from Hamilton, and I think the penalty imposed by the FIA is in line with it - even if it does not restore what was a lost opportunity for us."

LEWIS PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER PIT CRASH

RAIKKONEN SORRY FOR SUTIL SHUNT

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

REACTION: FERRARI, HONDA and TORO ROSSO

Felipe Massa - picked up some points.

There were points in Montreal for Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Honda's Rubens Barrichello and Toro Rosso's Seb Vettel.

Ferrari
Felipe Massa: "It's hard to express my feelings after a race like this. On the one hand, I am disappointed because, without my refueling problem, I could have been fighting for a place on the podium. On the other hand, I am happy to have brought home four points at the end of a very difficult race run on a track surface that was in really poor condition.

"Once I found myself at the back, I tried to climb back up again, but in the end, when I was behind Glock, I could not get past him and also I didn't want to run the risk of ending up off the track after all the trouble I'd been to to get that far. I would like to congratulate Kubica and BMW: they worked really well and deserved this success. They are very strong, but I think we are working in the right direction, as could be seen from our performance level every day here."

Kimi Raikkonen: "There's not much I can say. My race was ruined by Hamilton's mistake. Obviously, anyone can make mistakes, as I did two weeks ago in Monaco, but it's one thing to make a mistake at two hundred per hour but another to hit a car stopped at a red light. I am not angry because that doesn't achieve anything and does not change my result!

"I am unhappy, because I had a great chance of winning. Once the graining had gone from the tyres, the car was going very well. I have failed to score in these last two races and now it's time to start winning again. There is still a long way to go in the championship and it is still very close and we have everything we need to regain the ground we have lost."

Honda:
Rubens Barrichello: "I'm pleased with the two points today, particularly as we thought our chances of a points finish were slim when we started the weekend. It was a very tough race and I have not been feeling well since yesterday due to a cold, which made it an even tougher physical challenge. We were running well on the prime tyre for the first part of the race and the safety car certainly helped to improve our track position.

"Unfortunately when we switched to the option tyre after my one and only stop and with a heavy fuel load, I was really struggling with a lack of grip. I went off the track on the marbles and lost a couple of positions at turns three and four, which is a shame. Yesterday I didn't know if I was going to be well enough to race, so all things considered we did a good job today and I'm pleased to keep up the points-scoring momentum from Monaco."

Jenson Button: "It was a very tough and ultimately disappointing race today. It's always difficult starting from the back of the grid and we were using a set-up that we hadn't run previously this weekend. Things didn't quite go our way with the strategy and safety car which meant I was unable to make any progress up the field by the end of the race. We need to get our heads down now and work hard to make improvements before France to ensure that we are more competitive there."

Toro Rosso:
Sebastian Vettel: "First of all I have to thank the mechanics who did a great job to rebuild the car after my mistake on Saturday morning. They did an unbelievable job, working through the night to get the work done. It's thanks to them I raced today. Starting from pit lane wasn't easy but straight away I was able to catch the field, with a very good pace in the race and the car felt quite good. I was able to make up a couple of places and then after the safety car came out, which for sure helped us, we ran a one stop strategy. I do not know exactly what happened during the pit stop, I would say a problem with the refueling rig, but it cost us a lot of time maybe two positions in the ranking but nevertheless it was a great day and finishing P8 was fantastic.

"The race conditions were really bad with the asphalt still falling apart you couldn't afford to go off line or you would lose at least a second. The last 10 laps didn't make my life easy and I was in one of the most difficult position as the cars I had behind were quite strong. I wanted the point and I resisted various attacks. I was held up by Barrichello and I think he had a problem. It was a great race, I had a great fun- a fantastic race for me and the team."

Sebastien Bourdais: "It's just been a bad weekend all round. The race went much as I expected it, because of the really bad track conditions from the mid point on or even earlier. In these conditions, some guys did really well, like Sebastian, but I could not do anything with the car. I went slightly off the line and got the gravel. If this happens once or twice you are concerned it can happen again which is not good, especially when you're running last. It was a complete disaster for me so I just forgot about the possibility of trying to drive fast, just trying to bring the car home... and even doing this was a challenge.

"This was the worst race ever for me, the worst weekend of my entire career. I have never experienced anything like it. I'm looking forward now to the next race, my home race and at a circuit where the track doesn't break up!"

REACTION: TORO ROSSO AND FORCE INDIA

REACTION: RED BULL/STR/HONDA/WILLIAMS

REACTION: FORCE INDIA and RENAULT

Fernando Alonso - felt he missed an opportunity.

Neither Force India nor Renault were able to get even one car to the finish line in Sunday's Canadian GP.

Force India:
Giancarlo Fisichella: It was a difficult race and the grip level was poor as the track was breaking down and at the end it was like being in a four wheel drive car. I think our pace was there, particularly in the second stint, but during the first pit stop I had a problem with the stall and dropped right back. We thought there would be a safety car just before my second stop, but it never came, but at the end I had some problems and had to stop anyway. It's quite disappointing."

Adrian Sutil: Another disappointing day. This time the gearbox was a problem, I couldn't shift into second or third gear and didn't have any speed anymore and I had to stop after 12 laps which was frustrating. The track was not too bad at the start, it looked more difficult than it was but the hairpin was quite OK. It was very dirty at the beginning, but at that stage I think our pace was quite good. I just couldn't find a way to get past the two Toyotas, which was a bit of a problem as they were holding me up, but the pace was there, we just finished too early with this technical problem."

Renault
Fernando Alonso: It's truly a missed opportunity today. I am extremely disappointed, as is the team, but our strategy was not the best suited for today. We now have to work hard to be in the position to challenge for big points."

Nelson Piquet Jr: It's a disappointing end to my weekend, but I still take some positives from the race as the car was good today and our strategy looked really promising. The race was pretty hectic in the early laps, but unfortunately we had a brake problem and so I had to retire the car. It's a shame as we could have challenged for the points today. Now we need to focus on the next race in France."

REACTION: TORO ROSSO AND FORCE INDIA

REACTION: RENAULT/TOYOTA/FORCE INDIA

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

Kubica - ready for title challenge.

Formula One's newest race winner Robert Kubica has finally admitted he and his BMW Sauber team are world championship contenders following a maiden victory for both in Montreal.

Kubica, 23, climbed to the top of the podium for the first time in 29 attempts after making his debut with BMW Sauber towards the end of 2006 and his Canadian Grand Prix victory also sent him to the top of the world drivers' championship.

With BMW Sauber scoring a race one-two thanks to Nick Heidfeld's runner-up finish, the team also went second in the constructors' championship.

Having claimed second place in Monaco, Kubica had denied he was a title contender despite moving to fourth in the championship.

Now four points clear of Lewis Hamilton, whose weekend fell apart when he crashed into the back of defending champion Kimi Raikkonen, thus knocking out the pre-race championship leading and second-placed drivers, he could do little to deny the claim this time around.

"I think when you are leading the world championship after seven races as a driver, you have a car that can win races and can fight for top positions, it's a top team," Kubica said. "That's very clear, I think."

Heidfeld agreed, adding: "We've been leading the constructors' championship earlier this season, now Robert is leading the world drivers' championship, so we must be a top team by now.

"I think McLaren and Ferrari have made a couple of mistakes this year, they messed up their race here, but nevertheless it also takes a top team and good drivers not to make those mistakes, so I would say yes."

Kubica acknowledged some good fortune had gone his way with his main championship rivals being wiped out of the race in one fell swoop after 18 laps by Hamilton's car as the Pole sat next to Raikkonen waiting for the red light.

Hamilton saw the red light too late, veered away from Kubica's car directly in front of him and instead clattered into the back of Raikkonen's Ferrari.

"We did manage a very good race," Kubica said. "I was helped by Hamilton because in the end we were the top three cars: Lewis, me and Kimi, so the two strongest drivers were off the track at that stage.

"I have to be grateful to Lewis as he chose Kimi and not myself."

The next challenge for Kubica is to win a race in more straightforward circumstances.

"We are working on it," he said. "The target this season was to win a race. We did it earlier than expected, I think.

"We did it in a difficult race with not the best pace in the field, I would say. Clearly Hamilton was the quickest driver here this weekend, but he made a mistake.

"You pay for your mistakes and we did a good race, I think.

"But what it will be in the future we don't know and we have to work, we have to fight, to push. I don't think we'll be lacking motivation now after such a great result and everybody's already pushing very hard.

"So we just have to find a few tenths (of a second) and maybe we can fight with proper pace in a normal race for the victory as well."

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

KUBICA IN DARK OVER FUTURE

MASSA FASTEST IN PRACTICE

KUBICA WINS AS HAMILTON CRASHES OUT

Robert Kubica celebrates his first victory.

Robert Kubica claimed his maiden victory and took control of the world drivers' championship as Lewis Hamilton's Canadian Grand Prix ended in disaster in Montreal.

Pole Kubica survived a horrendous crash at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 12 months ago and the BMW Sauber driver took full advantage of a pit-lane accident that took out McLaren's world championship leader Hamilton and world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.

Hamilton crashed into the back of Raikkonen as they emerged from a pit stop on lap 18 with the Englishman failing to spot the red light at the end of the lane as the Ferrari was waiting on the line.

It was a BMW Sauber one-two as Nick Heidfeld claimed the runners-up spot for the second year in a row.

The drama also cleared the way for Scotland's David Coulthard to score his first points of the season with an invaluable third-place finish to ease the pressure on his seat at Red Bull Racing.

Hamilton, who had claimed his maiden win in Canada last year, had been in control until his disastrous exit, setting a really quick pace to build a 4.3 second lead over Kubica after the first 10 laps following a series of fastest laps for the Englishman.

A spin-out by Force India's Adrian Sutil set in motion the chain of events which led to Hamilton and Raikkonen's pit-lane shunt.

Sutil ground to a halt which caused the yellow flags to come out as his car's brakes looked to have overheated and smoke began to plume from Force India.

The safety car soon followed to undo Hamilton's six-second lead and when the pit lane opened, all the leading contenders came in for their first fuel stops at the end of lap 18.

It was a bad pit stop for Hamilton as both Raikkonen and Kubica came out first and vied for the lead only to be stopped by a red light at the end of the pit lane.

They came to a halt side by side but Hamilton careered into the back of the Ferrari, forcing them both out of the race. Rosberg went into the back of Hamilton but managed to continue racing.

As both drivers got out of their cars, Raikkonen theatrically pointed out the pit signals to Hamilton to indicate they had been on red and the McLaren man had no excuse. He was clearly furious with himself as he returned to the McLaren garage and waved away following TV cameras.

Hamilton, speaking to reporters as the race continued without him, said: "I saw the two guys in front of me battling in the pit lane and all of a sudden they stopped.

"I saw the red light but it was too late to stop.

"I don't think it's a racing incident. It's unfortunate and I apologise to Kimi if I ruined his race.

"I would rather we were both still in the race."

The drama left BMW's Heidfeld in the lead with Rubens Barrichello's Honda in second and the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima in third as the race resumed without the safety car.

Of the drivers that had pitted, Kubica was 10th, with Alonso 11th and his Renault team-mate Nelson Piquet 12th with McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen 13th.

With a potential third place on the cards, Piquet lost the back end of his Renault going into a corner and nearly took out Felipe Massa's Ferrari as he reversed onto the track.

It marked another error for the Brazilian in a so-far terrible rookie season.

Piquet's problems came to a head as he retired and his team-mate Alonso's difficulties continued when he spun out on the newly-resurfaced Turn 7, which did not seem to be holding up in race conditions.

Alonso hit the wall but blamed gearbox problems as he went out and there was yet more drama as Nakajima went out in another pit lane accident, crashing into the wall for the sixth retirement of the race after running over his loose nosecone.

Kubica was leading a BMW Sauber one-two with Heidfeld a distant second, allowing him to make a second pit stop and maintain a first place he was never close to relinquishing.

Toyota's Timo Glock came fourth for his first points, with Massa fifth to give Ferrari some consolation and Jarno Trulli, also of Toyota, sixth.

But the day belonged to BMW Sauber, who moved above McLaren into second place in the constructors' championship behind Ferrari, and particularly to Kubica.

Afterwards Kubica thanked the team that gave him his first start in Formula One when they signed him as their official Friday test driver at the start of their first season with BMW on board in 2006.

"It's very fantastic to win my first race for BMW Sauber, which I joined from the beginning. We grew up together and thanks to the team for providing me with the car.

"We managed first and second and we were right there in this race.

"At first I couldn't hold Lewis' pace but it was a fantastic race, for the team, for me, for my country and thanks for the fans here in Canada."

Kubica was in an ideal position to see Raikkonen's demise at the hands of Hamilton.

"We all pitted together and the red light was still on at the end of the pit lane," he said. "I saw Kimi side by side with me.

"Then I just heard a big shunt and saw Kimi's moving and realised it was Lewis. He was over Kimi's rear wing.

"I just kept concentrating waited for the green light and managed to pull away well."

Kubica said the most difficult part of his victory had been building up a lead over Heidfeld large enough to protect when he made his second pit stop.

"I had seven or eight laps to make a 16 or 17-second margin in order to come out of the pits in front of Nick.

"I never struggled so much, I was pushing so much to do it and I managed to do it so it was a great race.

"Then it was just a question of bringing the BMW home.

"The last laps were very, very difficult. The team was telling me to stay calm and not push too much but I wasn't pushing for 10 or 15 laps, it was just amazing."

LEWIS PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER PIT CRASH

MASSA BIDS TO AVOID MONTREAL WOE

LEWIS PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER PIT CRASH

Hamilton - crashed out of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton dismissed his pit-lane collision with Kimi Raikkonen which knocked both of them out of the Canadian Grand Prix as "unfortunate".

Hamilton was leading the race by six seconds when the safety car was deployed after Adrian Sutil ditched his car trackside.

The Briton and his main championship rival Raikkonen were among a number of drivers who took the option to pit - creating unusual congestion down by the team garages.

As Raikonnen stopped for the red light at the end of the pit lane, Hamilton's McLaren careered into the back of the Finn's Ferrari, forcing them both out of the race.

As both drivers got out of their cars, Raikkonen theatrically pointed at the pit signals to indicate they had been on red.

It was a disaster for the leading two drivers in this year's championship but Hamilton was philosophical.

"I saw the two guys in front of me battling in the pit lane and I was trying to make sure I didn't get involved but then they stopped," he told ITV1.

"I saw the red light but it was too late. It's not a racing incident but I think it is unfortunate.

"It is a lot different if you crash into the wall and you are angry with yourself.

"I apologise to Kimi if I ruined his race. I would rather neither of us be out. I was so quick I was breezing it."

KUBICA WINS AS HAMILTON CRASHES OUT

DE LA ROSA BACKS LEWIS

RAIKKONEN LEAVES BEHIND MONACO BLOW

CANADIAN GRAND PRIX - LAP-BY-LAP

Robert Kubica on his way to victory.

FINISH: Please join us again in two weeks for the French GP - Magny-Cours final F1 grand prix

FINISH: Congratulations, well done and three cheers to Kubica and BMW are their maiden F1 victories! Many more to come

FINISH: Timo Glock holds off Felipe Massa for fourth place, while Jarno Trulli, Rubens Barrichello and Seb Vettel complete the pionts-finishers

FINISH: David Coulthard bags his first points and first podium of the season

FINISH: Nick Heidfeld comes home in second place, handing BMW the 1-2 in Montreal

FINISH: He crosses the line with a 1:36.24

Lap 70: But all eyes are on Kubica who crosses the line to win the Canadian GP

Lap 70: Webber spins his Red Bull in Turn Seven

Lap 69: Penultimate lap and Kubica's on course for the win

Lap 68: Glock runs wide, which means Trulli has to lift off allowing Massa up into fifth place. The Ferrari driver is now chasing Timo Glock for fourth place

Lap 68: Great battle between Barrichello, Vettel and Kovalainen. They are 7th, 8th and 9th

Lap 67: Massa is right on Trulli's tail

Lap 66: Massa is now 2.7s behind Trulli. Vettel meanwhile has caught Barrichello

Lap 65: Kovalianen looks up the inside of Vettel but the STR driver keeps him at bay. The marbles are also worrying Kovalainen as he goes off line to overtake

Lap 64: Barring any mistakes it does look as if Robert Kubica is going to make history here this afternoon by becoming the first Polish driver to win a F1 grand prix

Lap 63: Kovalainen is closing in on Vettel while Massa chasing down Trulli

Lap 62: Massa has taken sixth place off Barrichello. The Ferrari driver is now 5.8s behind Trulli

Lap 62: However, his fight with Vettel opens him up to an overtaking move from Kovalainen who is up to P9

Lap 61: Rosberg is starting to close the gap to Vettel who currently holds the final points-paying position

Lap 60: Barrichello runs it wide onto the grass allowing both Toyotas through. The Honda driver is now down in sixth place

Lap 59: Red Bull are reportedly worried about Coulthard's brakes which are running far too hot. The team has asked him to cool his brakes whenever possible

Lap 58: Coulthard runs it wide but safely holds onto his third place

Lap 57: Kubica is leading by 8.7s over Heidfeld with Coulthard a further 4.7s adrift

Lap 56: Webber overtakes Button for 11th place at the entrance to Turn Six

Lap 55: Fisichella's car is safetly lifted out of the way without the need for a Safety Car

Lap 54: Massa, Kovalainen, Button and Webber all pit. All four expect Webber were in the top eight

Lap 53: Fisichella is out the grand prix. He lost it at Turn 4, spinning the car and parking it on the side of the track. It's in a dangerous position

Lap 52: Barrichello is now coming under attack from Button

Lap 51: Kovalainen goes to overtake Barrichello but it's Massa who slips through ahead of both drivers and up into fourth place. Kovalainen takes P5 off Barrichello

Lap 49: Kubica pits from the lead. He has a 25.1s lead over his team-mate. The Pole comes out well ahead of Heidfeld. BMW are on course for a 1-2.

Lap 48: Nakajima crashes as he enters pit lane. The Williams driver first tapped Button breaking his front wing. When he pitted for repairs, the wing collapsed and he crashed

Lap 48: Kovalainen and Massa are within a second of Barrichello and looking to take fourth place off the Honda driver

Lap 47: Kubica leads by 20.7s over Heidfeld

Lap 46: Alonso's demise means Coulthard is now in a possible podium finish

Lap 45: Alonso is in the wall! The Renault driver finally loses it once and for all. He's trying to get his car off the track and the marshals come to push it away

Lap 44: Alonso finally passes Heidfeld through the hairpin but runs it wide and reliquishes the position back to the German

Lap 43: Bourdais has pit problems with the fuel rig getting stuck. He is finally released

Lap 42: Glock pits the Toyota, releasing Kubica into the lead. The BMW driver is urged to put in a "big push" by his pit wall

Lap 41: Piquet Jr retires with brake problems. The Brazilian's brakes are almost non-existant

Lap 41: Alonso almost collects the back of Heidfeld at the start of the hairpin

Lap 40: Alonso is all over the back of Heidfeld but he can't find a way through. Nakajima tries to overtake Button but instead runs it wide. That leaves Nakajima open to pass from Massa, who takes P8 off the Williams driver

Lap 40: Trulli pits from the lead, having it over to his team-mate Glock

Lap 39: The two Toyotas, who are leading the race, have yet to stop. They were the only drivers who haven't pitted

Lap 38: Coulthard now pits from the lead. Vettel, who was P4, also pits

Lap 37: Barrichello pits from the lead, which means David Coulthard now leads the Canadian GP

Lap 36: Rosberg pits for the third time today

Lap 35: Barrichello leads by 1.6 seconds from Coulthard and 9.0 from Trulli

Lap 34: Massa fights back, getting ahead of Webber down the back straight

Lap 33: Massa tries to overtake Webber but instead runs wide at the hairpin. Nakajima pits

Lap 32: Fisichella pits in the Force India from eighth place. He drops down the field to 17th place

Lap 31: Webber pits from fourth place. He comes out P13

Lap 30: Kubica goes up the inside of his team-mate and takes 7th place off his team-mate

Lap 29: Heidfeld finally pits. He comes out ahead of Kubica

Lap 28: Heidfeld is told to pit but goes by the pit lane

Lap 27: Piquet Jr spins it at Turn Three. He is able to continue

Lap 26: None of the first nine drivers have yet pitted. Kubica in tenth place is the first of those who have already stopped once for fuel

Lap 25: What a strange looking leaderboard we now have

Lap 24: Massa is the last driver in the pack

Lap 23: Raikkonen is amazingly calm about the accident. Points to Hamilton but then gave him a pat on the back and shook his hand

Lap 22: Safety Car is back in and Heidfeld leads in Canada

Lap 21: Nick Heidfeld now leads the race from Barrichello, Nakajima, Webber, Coulthard, Trulli, Glock, Fisichella and Vettel

Lap 21: Rosberg pits for a new nose

Lap 20: Raikkonen stopped at the end of pit lane as their was a red light. Kubica stopped alongside him. However, Hamilton did not stop and crashed into Raikkonen with Rosberg collecting the back of Hamilton's McLaren. Rosberg's front wing is damaged

Lap 20: Hamilton, Rosberg and Raikkonen all collide in the pits. Rosberg is able to continue. Hamilton and Raikkonen can't!!!

Lap 19: Hamilton, Kubica, Raikkonen, Massa, Rosberg, pretty much half the field is in the pits

Lap 19: Pit lane is now open

Lap 19: Williams mechanics are out even though the pit lane isn't open

Lap 18: Button pits for his first stop of the day. He will face a penalty as the pit lane is not yet open

Lap 17: The Safety Car is finally out as the marshals recover Sutil's car to safety

Lap 16: The front left of Sutil's car has caught fire. Marshals are there now to put the blaze out. Drama

Lap 16: Raikkonen is flying. The Finn has closed to within a second of second placed Kubica and should soon be looking for a way to overtake

Lap 15: Yellow flags are out as Adrian Sutil retires from the grand prix. The Force India driver pulled over at Turn Three with mechanical woes

Lap 14: Heidfeld tries to overtake Kovalainen through the hairpin. However, the chemicals on the track mean both drivers lose grip and Heidfeld is unable to pass even though Kovalainen runs wide

Lap 13: Piquet Jr finally overtakes Trulli. He goes up the inside, Trulli closes the door, the two touch but both are able to continue. The Brazilian is now P13

Lap 12: Barrichello is coming under pressure from Nakajima and Webber

Lap 11: Piquet Jr now attacks Trulli coming out of Turn 1 but the Brazilian is not able to get through. Good racing from both drivers

Lap 10: Piquet Jr takes Glock after getting a better slingshot out of the final chicane

Lap 9: Massa is right behind Alonso's Renault but finding a way through is not an easy thing when you are racing a past World Champion

Lap 8: Vettel has passed Bourdais for 18th place

Lap 7: Hamilton has built up a three second lead

Lap 6: Vettel and Button are the last two drivers in the grand prix. They are already half a minute behind race leader Hamilton

Lap 5: Heidfeld passes Barrichello for eighth place at the hairpin

Lap 4: Heidfeld picked up Barrichello's slipstream, thought about out-braking him but nearly rear ended the Honda instead. Subsequently he ran wide

Lap 3: Hamilton is flying. He is fourth tenths quicker per lap than Kubica and already has a 1.4s lead over the BMW driver

Lap 2: Kovalainen has taken seventh place off Barrichello

Lap 2: Timo Glock was the biggest loser at the start. He has dropped from 11th to 14th place and is now behind his team-mate Jarno Trulli. Nico Rosberg runs wide by holds onto fourth place ahead of Alonso

Lap 1: The drivers head through Casino Hairpin for the first time without any problems - at least for now but you can clearly see where the track has been repaired

Lap 1: Hamilton leads from the start while Kubica prevents Raikkonen from taking second place. Rosberg is up to fourth ahead of Alonso and Massa. And surprisingly we have no first corner incidents!

START: And they are off in Montreal!

18h04: The drivers are back on the grid ready for the start of the 2008 Canadian GP

18h02: Hamilton is the only one of the front runners to be starting the grand prix on the softer option Bridgestones. Kovalainen and the Ferraris, BMWs are on the harder tyres

18h00: The formation lap is underway with Hamilton leading off the grid

17h58: The grid is cleared as the drivers prepare for the start of the formation lap

17h55: The Safety Car heads out to do a reconnaissance lap and see how the circuit is holding up

17h50: Track temperature is 36'C and air temperature is 26'C. The temperatures are expected to rise as the afternoon progresses as it's only 1pm in Canada

17h45: 15 minutes before the start of the grand prix and they are still fixing Turn 10. This is a huge problem. Drivers have been told to use the outside of the track at Turn 10 during the formation lap as marhals are still blow-drying the track

17h40: Official weather forecast: No rain expected during the race

17h30: There are two penalty changes from yesterday's qualifying. Seb Bourdais will start P18 on the grid after his gearbox had to be changed following his accident in Saturday's final practice sessions. Jenson Buttonwill also be dropping down the order due to a gearbox change. In fact the Honda driver is set to start from pit lane along with Seb Vettel who didn't take part in qualifying after causing extensive damage to his car in Practice Three

17h20: There is also the possibility of rain showers during the grand prix. Although the sun is out at the moment the Montreal weathermen have issued a thunderstorm watch for the area

17h10: The big news in the build-up to the race is the track, which broke up so badly during qualifying that marshals had to sweep it clean during the intervals. The track has been resurfaced overnight but there are concerns about whether it will hold up over the 70 laps

17h00: Welcome to coverage of the 2008 Canadian GP, the race takes place over 70 laps at the Circuit Gilles VilleneuveH

TURKISH GP - LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

RAIKKONEN PUTS FERRARI IN CHARGE

MONACO GP - LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

HAMILTON TAKES DRAMATIC POLE

Hamilton will start on pole ahead of Kubica.

Lewis Hamilton snatched the eighth pole position of his career with a last-ditch lap in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Mercedes driver Hamilton, the current world championship leader, grabbed pole with a time of one minute 17.886 seconds to deny Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber.

The Polish driver had taken top spot in the shootout for Sunday's starting grid positions moments before with a lap of 1:18.498.

Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen, three points behind Hamilton in this year's title race, took third place in the grid with 1:18.735 while Fernando Alonso of Renault will start the race alongside the Finn in fourth after a lap of 1:18.746.

Williams' Nico Rosberg claimed fifth spot in 1:18.844 with Ferrari's Felipe Massa sixth, the other McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen seventh and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld eighth.

Hamilton had posted the quickest times in all three sections but his Q1 time of 1:16.909 proved to be the fastest of all as the track deteriorated over the course of the session at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel did not make it to the qualifying session, the German driver having hit the wall coming out of turn nine during the morning's final free practice session.

The damage to the right side of the car was obviously too much for Vettel to continue, which meant just four drivers faced elimination from the first section of qualifying.

Gearbox problems in the Honda of Jenson Button caused the Englishman to cut short his Q1 session and accept his place at the back of the grid alongside Vettel.

Giancarlo Fisichella, his Force India team-mate Adrian Sutil and Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais were the other three eliminated after Q1.

Between Q1 and Q2, marshals were out at L'Epingle sweeping debris from a track that looked to breaking up as temperatures rose in Montreal to 43 degrees centigrade at circuit level.

The surface continued to be slippery in Q2 with Jarno Trulli spinning into trouble through turn nine but missing the wall before returning to business.

The Toyota man did not have enough to reach the final shootout round, however, as he was eliminated alongside team-mate Timo Glock, Renault's Nelson Piquet, David Coulthard of Red Bull and Kazuki Nakajima of Williams.

Hamilton was again the quickest although not as fast as Q1, with a best lap of 1:17.034, followed by the Ferraris of Raikkonen and Massa.

Mark Webber, who finished as fifth fastest in Q2 spun out as the section ended, missed the shootout when he lost the back end of his Red Bull, the spin seeing his nose cone hit the barrier.

The break-up of the track at the newly resurfaced hairpin forced the brooms back out to clear the driving line of the gritty debris ahead of the Q3 top-10 shootout.

Drivers also reported problems at a variety of turns with Coulthard describing driving conditions as "incredibly difficult...like driving on a train track".

The state of the track prompted Hamilton out first for Q3, setting the benchmark at 1:18.721 with his first flying lap, half a second quicker than Massa, and he went even quicker two laps later with a time of 1:18.510.

Former McLaren team-mate Alonso, who shared the front row in Montreal with Hamilton last year, made a bid to repeat the feat in his Renault, posting 1:18.971.

Then Raikkonen looked headed to take pole after going quicker than Hamilton through the first two sectors of the lap only to lose time in the final sector. It was still good enough to edge ahead of Alonso in 1:18.735.

The Finnish world champion still had time for a final flying lap but just missed out again, only for Kubica to grab pole before he was deposed as Hamilton pulled out one last flying lap out of his McLaren.

"It has been a fantastic Saturday," said Hamilton.

"I've felt comfortable since yesterday in the car. This morning was tricky for everyone, the track was very slippery but we remained positive and the car was fine.

"When we got to qualifying I felt at home and the team did a great job of getting me out early in each qualifying session.

"I had two laps left at the end but in the first one I nearly wiped at turn one so I had to make sure the last one was good. It was a bit similar to last year and it felt just as good."

Webber, who finished as fifth fastest in Q2 spun out as the section ended, missed the shootout when he lost the back end of his Red Bull, the spin taking his front end into the barriers.

"The track breaks up here every year," Webber, told ITV1. "I think we will bring motocross bikes tomorrow and not Formula One cars."

MASSA TAKES POLE

HAMILTON HOPEFUL OF MAKING A SPLASH

HAMILTON TOP DOG IN CANADA

HAMILTON TOP DOG IN CANADA

Lewis Hamilton - fastest in Montreal.

It was groundhog day in more ways than one for Lewis Hamilton, as he grabbed the fastest time of the day in practice for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton returned to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - where he won his first pole position and gained his maiden grand prix victory in 2007 - and repeated his impressive performances by posting a quickest lap of one minute 15.752seconds on his 42nd and final lap of the second free practice session.

The British driver even had time to drive around a groundhog, as one of the mainstays of the temporary track's home on an island in the middle of the St Lawrence River strayed on to the circuit.

Hamilton got his wildlife confused, at first thinking he had encountered a beaver - but he was relieved to have avoided bloodshed.

"I love the track - there's not a part that I don't like," he said.

"But there are a lot of beavers or, I don't know what they're called. They keep coming onto the track, and I'm a bit worried they're going to kill themselves - because at the end of the day you're travelling at 200miles per hour and they're standing there in the middle of the track. There's not much you can do.

"I saw one in the middle of the track and I had to go around it. I saw the crowd, and they were quite happy I missed it."

Fresh off his victory in Monaco two week ago, the current world championship leader had completed only eight laps during this morning's first practice session - claiming the sixth-fastest time in his McLaren Mercedes in 1:18.303, behind the session's quickest man, Ferrari's Felipe Massa (1:17.553).

Hamilton started the afternoon session moderately, and was lying fifth-fastest before his rousing finish - first clocking 1:15.766 to knock world champion Kimi Raikkonen off top spot and then improving on his final lap with the 1:15.752.

Raikkonen - second in the drivers' championship heading into Sunday's race - was relegated further by BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, the Monaco runner-up who continued his good form with a fastest lap of 1:16.023 on a track that had dried out from the morning following overnight rain.

Raikonnen was last out of the pits and vied with team-mate Massa for much of the session, the Finn clocking a fastest 1:16.093 for what would be the third best time.

Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen was fourth-fastest in 1:16.331, with Massa next (1:16.413) before he came to a stop out on the track with 20 minutes of the 90-minute session to go.

Nick Heidfeld rounded out the top six for BMW Sauber, with a time of 1:16.589.

It was a bad session for Renault, with Nelson Piquet Jr grinding to halt as he entered the pit lane and then Fernando Alonso spinning out at turn one and unable to get going again.

Timo Glock was another early finisher, brushing one of the walls and damaging the right wheels on his Toyota - forcing him to abandon the car at turn six.

Massa was the next to stop, his premature finish affecting the whole field as marshals struggled to steer his Ferrari through a gap in the safety barriers.

"My car seemed to suffer some sort of blackout," said Massa.

"Gradually all of the systems shut down, and I had to stop at the side of the track."

When the yellow flags finally came in Hamilton stepped up and turned in his quickest laps.

MASSA FASTEST IN PRACTICE

HAMILTON QUICKEST

ALONSO DENIES FERRARI TALK

Alonso - rubbished Ferrari 'rumours'.

Fernando Alonso has denied rumours he has already signed a contract to race for Ferrari in 2010.

With world champion Kimi Raikkonen recently reiterating claims he could quit F1 at the end of 2009, Ferrari could find themselves short of a star driver.

But there were reports the problem had already been solved with the Scuderia rumoured to have signed Alonso for the 2010 season onwards.

The Spaniard, though, said: "I was not talking to anyone there. I've seen many things written everywhere. It's not a big problem.

"It's also strange to read about 2010; we are in 2008. I don't know what I will do next year, so imagine in two years' time!

"There's nothing. Just rumours."

As for claims Alonso could leave Renault at the end of this season if the team doesn't improve, the Spaniard said: "It is too early to speak about the future and too early for me to think about the future.

"It is only the seventh grand prix of the championship this year and there is a long way to go to the end.

"First of all I want to improve the results and the performance we are having now.

"The aim for the next two or three months is to be closer and closer to the podium which is the real target.

"There is enough to do to reach this target that I don't want to lose too much time on the future."

ALONSO OUT TO SPRING A SURPRISE

ALONSO HOPING, NOT EXPECTING

ECCLESTONE DISMISSES BREAKAWAY TALK

Bernie Ecclestone - denies speculation.

Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed talk of a breakaway championship in the sport.

With the current wave of outrage over the continuing presence of Max Mosley as president of governing body FIA, Ecclestone was reported to have taken part in discussions to explore the possibility of starting a new championship outside the FIA's jurisdiction.

Speculation about a breakaway intensified ahead of Canadian Grand Prix qualifying as team principals met with Ecclestone for the second time this weekend.

The Formula One chief, however, denied a parting of the ways with the FIA had been on the agenda and revealed the team bosses had been discussing a new Concorde agreement, a contract between the teams, Ecclestone's Formula One Management and the FIA which sets out the guidelines under which the sport is run.

"Nobody has discussed a breakaway series," Ecclestone said as he made an unscheduled visit to the Grand Prix media centre at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"We have been discussing what we are putting in a Concorde Agreement, which we have spent two years trying to get signed."

Mosley is known to be talking tough on the terms of the new Concorde Agreement while Ecclestone said the teams were divided at present.

"I think Max would really like a Concorde Agreement a little more suited to the FIA while the teams are against each other," said Ecclestone.

"One wants a wind tunnel, others don't want wind tunnels, some want half a wind tunnel, that's how it is. Been like it forever."

Ecclestone rejected an alternative governing body to sanction regulations adding: "There wouldn't be any difference, they'd still be arguing amongst the teams about what they want."

He said a new Concorde Agreement was vital to keeping sponsors on board in the sport, particularly as the Mosley controversy looked set to remain in the wake of his successful vote of confidence from FIA member organisations last week.

"The sponsors need stability," Ecclestone said. "This has been an emergency for two years. Teams are in this championship and they have no ideas what the rules are."

Asked how long it would take to reach an agreement, Ecclestone joked: "Two or three days - if we all agree."

Yet he added there may be signs of progress following Friday night and Saturday's meetings.

"I think today we've got to the position where everybody needs to give a little bit."

Asked if the team principals were beginning to reach an understanding, he added: "Yes."

ECCLESTONE WARNING

ECCLESTONE PLEA TO MOSLEY

RAIKKONEN IN RETIREMENT HINT

Raikkonen - uncertain future in F1.

World champion Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he is considering retiring from Formula One when his current contract with Ferrari expires at the end of 2009.

Speculation in the paddock has been mounting as to who will drive for Ferrari in 2010 and the Finn did nothing to quash it when he was asked about his plans ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

"I still have a contract until the end of next year," said Raikkonen at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"I haven't made any decision as to whether I will keep going or not. That's the last contract I have and we will wait and see during this year and next year what happens.

"I haven't made my mind up and we will see.

Raikkonen, 28, said that for him, the enjoyment he got from the sport had to outweigh the negatives he perceived in Formula One.

"I wouldn't stop if I thought I would miss it," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen after next year.

"I think I'm going to race as long as I enjoy it. I think it's the right thing for me and when the day comes when it's no longer fun. Then, for sure, I stop.

"It can be the end of next year, it can be in four years' time. It's too early to say.

"But it's purely if I like it or not. That's the reason I keep going or not. There are many reasons why you like Formula One or not.

"Many people only like the driving and the rest can be something that you don't enjoy. When there are more things that you don't like, then it's time to stop."

Raikkonen said he was "kind of" in talks with Ferrari about a new contract extension but when asked whether he would consider racing for another F1 team, he replied: "Probably not."

RAIKKONEN HAPPY TO CUT AND RUN

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

RAIKKONEN SORRY FOR SUTIL SHUNT

WEBBER WON'T RULE OUT RED BULL EXIT

Webber - not ruling out Red Bull exit.

Mark Webber has not ruled out a move away from Red Bull Racing when his contract expires at the end of this year.

The Australian's fourth-place finish at Monaco two weeks ago lifted him to joint sixth in the drivers' championship and the highest position by a driver outside of the 'big three' teams of Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes and BMW Sauber.

Webber announced last month he was opening negotiations with Red Bull about a new contract with the team he joined from Williams in 2007 - but having become an increasingly hot property with each race since, speculation has started he could be offered a drive by a big team should a vacancy arise.

Asked yesterday - before the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal - whether he was looking around, Webber replied: "Flavio (Briatore) is a good manager - of course, he will look to find the best option for me."

When asked if at this point he was talking only to Red Bull, Webber paused for a few seconds before replying: "Yes."

That said, the 31-year-old insisted he is more than content at being part of a successful Red Bull team - for whom he has scored all 15 points this season, failing to collect only in Melbourne in the 2008 season opener.

"I'm very happy here - and that makes a big difference when you're happy with the guys you're working with, the performance of the car," he said.

"It's reflected in your other duties generally in between grands prix. It's what makes you happy about what you're achieving and it makes it worthwhile - the effort that you go to, to go out and compete at weekends."

With Red Bull tied for fourth in the constructors' championship title with Williams but 37 points adrift of third-placed BMW, joining the elite will not happen this season for the team.

"We can't get third in the constructors' - that's impossible," Webber conceded.

"Fifth and fourth is a big fight with Williams and Renault and Toyota and us. Fourth is absolutely a possibility."

COULTHARD QUIET OVER F1 FUTURE

REACTION: RED BULL/STR/HONDA/WILLIAMS

REACTION: RENAULT, RED BULL AND WILLIAMS

HAMILTON HAS FOND MEMORIES OF MONTREAL

Hamilton - fond memories of Montreal.

Lewis Hamilton returned to the scene of his maiden Formula One victory today and admitted he still was amazed he had won last year's Canadian Grand Prix.

The McLaren-Mercedes driver regained the lead in the world drivers' championship two weeks ago with the sixth grands prix win of his short career at Monaco.

Now he is back at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the place where he scored a first pole position and a maiden win following a remarkable start to his career that had reaped five podium positions in his first five races.

Hamilton emerged victorious from an incident-strewn race in Montreal 12 months ago that had seen his lead repeatedly cut by the deployment of the safety car.

"I got my first pole position and I was happy with that but I wanted to convert it to a win," Hamilton said as his team prepared for tomorrow's first practice session.

"Then I had all these safety cars pull out and I had this big gap, safety car would come out and then another gap and another safety car and so I was thinking 'Am I really supposed to be winning this race?'

"But I still managed to pull it off - it was a spectacular win and I was thrilled about it.

"To have my first grand prix win in my first grand prix season and after such consistent races beforehand, even now, looking back on last year, I don't even know how I did it. It's so hard to be consistent."

Hamilton said his maiden victory confirmed to his rivals that he was a force to be reckoned with in Formula One.

He continued: "You can believe you can do it but actually doing it and making it happen is a different thing.

"It showed people I was here to do business, and prove to myself that it is possible.

"And it has just sort of opened that doorway and I was able to win from then on.

"I think in confidence terms, I was confident already and building my confidence race after race, with more and more podiums.

"I think they started to realise that I was a real threat. I had already had a couple of good races and I think by then they were like 'maybe he is for real - and he is a real competitor'."

Hamilton begins his bid to score back-to-back victories in Canada with a three-point lead over his nearest championship rival, world champion Kimi Raikkonen, having returned to the top spot with his first win in Monaco.

The Englishman celebrated what he has called the greatest moment in his career both with family at home and in Los Angeles with friends before travelling east to Montreal.

He explained: "After every race I try and get over it quickly but I had time to enjoy it with my family, then I went to LA with a couple of friends - and then from there I came straight here.

"I still did my training and enjoyed some nice weather in the States and it was a really good time."

He rejoins a McLaren Mercedes team he says has been given a big confidence boost by the Monaco victory following a lean spell since his win in the season opener in Australia.

A fifth place in Malaysia was followed by a 13th in Bahrain before the corner was turned with a third in Spain and runner-up finish in Turkey.

Hamilton said: "It's nice for me but I don't think it makes much of a difference to be honest.

"We'd already had a couple of strong races and not for me, but for the team it will make a big difference.

"The guys had been working so hard and they deserved it more than anyone.

"For me, I don't really need a confidence boost. It was nice to have the win for sure but I'm not going to get overly excited about it."

Hamilton is also unworried after his fathers was involved in an accident at home o Wednesday

Anthony Hamilton escaped unharmed after crashing his Ј330,000 Porsche Carrera GT in Welwyn Garden City - and Hamilton junior said simply: "As far as I know he's fine."

HAMILTON WILL SPARKLE

HAMILTON HAPPY WITH PROGRESS

HAMILTON PREACHES EQUAL RIGHTS

MASSA FASTEST IN PRACTICE

Massa - fastest in first practice.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa recorded the fastest time during first free practice at the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday.

The Brazilian clocked a best lap of one minute 17.553 around the 4.361km Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a quarter of a second faster than BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica (one minute 17.809 seconds) while third fastest was McLaren Mercedes' Heikki Kovalainen (1:18.133.)

BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld preceded world champion Kimi Raikkonen, of Ferrari, while current world drivers' championship leader Lewis Hamilton was sixth-fastest in his McLaren Mercedes, clocking 1:18.303.

Overnight rain had made track wet on a cool and overcast morning in Montreal as the 90-minute session got under way.

Massa, disqualified here last year along with Giancarlo Fisichella for ignoring a pit-lane red light, left it until his final lap to post his best time and Kubica, second in Monaco behind Hamilton two weeks ago, did likewise.

Raikkonen was almost three-quarters of a second slower than his Ferrari team-mate despite posting the fastest sector one time of the session while Hamilton put in the fewest laps of all the drivers, eight, on his return to the circuit at which he claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory in 2007.

Mark Webber was the fastest of the mid-division team drivers, the Red Bull driver clocking 1:18.712 ahead of team-mate David Coulthard, with Kazuki Nakajima of Williams ninth quickest in 1:18.809 and Renault's Fernando Alonso 10th.

Honda's Jenson Button was the slowest of the 20 drivers, with a best lap of 1:21.542.

RAIKKONEN PUTS FERRARI IN CHARGE

KIMI SETS PACE IN FRANCE

HAMILTON QUICKEST

KOVALAINEN BACKED TO SHINE

Kovalainen - backed to end slump.

Heikki Kovalainen has been backed to finally emerge from his bad luck slump and become a grand prix winner.

After a relatively strong start to the season following his move to McLaren from Renault, Kovalainen has since endured a wretched run.

The Finn finished fifth, third and fifth in Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain and could count himself amongst the title contenders.

But in Spain a faulty wheel rim led to Kovalainen sustaining mild concussion after hurtling nose-first into a tyre barrier at 150mph.

Kovalainen bounced back in Turkey, but after lining up second on the grid, he sustained a puncture at the first corner after being clipped by compatriot Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari, finishing 12th.

Then in Monaco 11 days ago, Kovalainen was forced to start from the pit lane due to a technical issue ahead of the warm-up lap and could only collect a point by the end of the race.

It means he goes into Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix 23 points off the pace being set by team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but with words of praise ringing in his ears from McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

"Heikki has performed brilliantly in his first six races with the team, but has to come out of them with some disappointment," said Whitmarsh.

"Whilst there is underlying satisfaction with his personal performance, Heikki has suffered some misfortune, which has taken from him the opportunity to win his first grand prix.

"But he is an extremely positive guy who realises he has a great career ahead of him.

"There is no doubt he is going to enjoy many grand prix victories during the course of his career."

In contrast, though, Hamilton is currently the man in form after hitting back from his nightmare in Bahrain to finish third, second and first in his last three grands prix.

The 23-year-old has underlined his strength and resilience against fierce opposition from Ferrari who have so far been the stronger team overall.

But his win on the streets of Monte Carlo was sensational, and will not only have sent his confidence soaring, but has further galvanised the team.

"Coming out of Monaco, a third of the way through the season, we lead the drivers' championship and are second in the constructors' title," added Whitmarsh.

"Consequently, particularly on the back of a fabulous win, the mood is very good.

"The feeling is there is good development momentum in the team and that we have an exciting season ahead of us.

"Inevitably, Lewis comes out of Monaco in a very positive frame of mind and firmly believing he can build upon that success and have a strong championship fight."

McLAREN FAITH IN HEIKKI

HAMILTON PREACHES EQUAL RIGHTS

HAMILTON WILL SPARKLE

RAIKKONEN LEAVES BEHIND MONACO BLOW

Raikkonen - looking to bounce back.

Kimi Raikkonen is refusing to panic despite still reflecting on his Monaco Grand Prix misery as "a staggering blow."

Raikkonen went into the race with a seven-point lead in the drivers' championship, but came out of it trailing Lewis Hamilton by three after failing to score for the first time this season.

Although the reigning world champion started from second on the grid behind team-mate Felipe Massa, the Finn came home ninth after crashing into the back of Force India's Adrian Sutil late on.

Raikkonen has since blamed and questioned a surprising lack of grip on the damp, slippery streets of Monte Carlo for his demise.

However, in fairness, it appeared it was just a bad day at the office for Raikkonen who finds himself in a four-way battle for the title heading into Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

"Monaco has been left behind; it was a staggering blow, but there is nothing we can do about it," assessed the 28-year-old.

"I did not at all like finishing ninth, and so out of the points for the first time this season.

"We can't have another race like that because the fight for the championship is extremely fierce.

"I said at the beginning of the season that I expect the title to be won at the last moment.

"A third of the season has passed and we have 35 points, lying in second place, which is more or less what I expected.

"Nothing has been won, and nothing lost.

"There is no point in panicking after the race in Monaco because compared to last year the situation is much better.

"I won't change anything in my approach for the upcoming weekend - the designated target is to win, and we will give our best."

Massa was forced to settle for third place after starting on pole, and is now within a point of Raikkonen and four off Hamilton, with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica two behind.

"It's clear we are up against two very strong opponents in McLaren and BMW, even if the latter has not actually won a race yet," added Massa.

"It's all getting very close and exciting and shows you need to pick up points in every race.

"So whilst the six points we got in Monaco was not enough, it's not bad, and the fight for both championships is still very open."

The Brazilian is convinced he and Ferrari can do well on a track where they have not won since 2004 when Michael Schumacher scored a hat-trick of successive victories.

Massa, though, still recalls last season's race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when he was black flagged for exiting the pit lane under a red light.

"It was not a nice feeling leaving Canada after that," remarked Massa.

"But we can be optimistic about turning this event, which has not gone too well for us in the past, into a successful weekend."

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

MASSA MAKING MOST OF MONACO

FERRARI BOSS MAKES MOSLEY U-TURN

Mosley - comments retracted by di Montezemolo.

Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo has backtracked on comments he made on Wednesday calling for Max Mosley to resign as president of motorsport's world governing body.

Lurid revelations into Mosley's private life were published in the News of the World at the end of March - but he won a vote of confidence in his presidency of the FIA on Tuesday.

The 61% vote in his favour prompted outrage from so