2007 French Grand Prix

Previous race

Hamilton won the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, leading from the front after a 300 km/h side-by-side battle with Alonso for the lead. Alonso finished second.

Between-race developments

A three-day test at Silverstone followed Indianapolis, attended by nine teams (Honda and Super Aguri tested separately at Jerez). Toyota was fastest on days one and two; Massa put Ferrari on top on the final day with a 1:20.805, with Rosberg 0.469 seconds back and Alonso a further tenth behind. Both Massa and Räikkönen expressed confidence heading to Magny-Cours.

Ferrari launched a criminal investigation in Modena against their own employee Nigel Stepney, following the powder incident at Monaco. Stepney’s lawyer ruled out sabotage claims and characterised the investigation as a “dirty tricks” campaign. Spyker asked the FIA to examine new updates fitted to the Super Aguri at Indianapolis, questioning whether the team was receiving current Honda parts; Super Aguri managing director Daniel Audetto responded bluntly, telling Spyker to make a formal protest.

Robert Kubica returns to his BMW seat after missing Indianapolis. Nick Heidfeld was cleared to race after experiencing back pain during Friday practice at Indianapolis.

Practice

Ferrari dominate both Friday sessions: Räikkönen fastest in FP1, Massa in FP2. In FP1 Hamilton loses nearly an hour of running to car trouble and is sixth. In FP2 the Toro Rosso pair are a surprise — Speed third and Liuzzi fifth — before Liuzzi and Davidson are involved in a bizarre pit lane collision, with Davidson exiting his garage and striking the side of Liuzzi’s Toro Rosso, knocking off his front wing.

Hamilton recovers to lead FP3 on Saturday, 0.063 seconds ahead of Massa. Alonso is again down the order, having missed most of the session with a faulty brake sensor. Renault spark a return to form with Kovalainen and Fisichella fourth and fifth.