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About two weeks ago, the FIA announced via the press that the Canadian Grand Prix had been dropped from the 2009 Formula One World Championship, causing an uproar among fans the world over, particularly those residing in North America. The continent and major motor-industry market have lost a key race, especially so given that there is no USGP at the current time. But the reported nature of the way the race was dropped has started a war of words between the Grand Prix du Canada organisation at the FIA and FOM. Continue Reading

The French motor sport federation (FFSA) have announced today that they will not be holding a French Grand Prix in 2009. Although the race has come under almost continuous scrutiny for the last few years, Bernie Ecclestone had announced earlier this year that the current contract Magny Cours has will be honoured. However, citing economic issues, the FFSA have pulled the plug early and consider their options for the future. Continue Reading

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has stated that his team will likely take advantage of the new-for-2008 rule that allows a driver to take his first unscheduled engine change of the year without penalty. Kimi Raikkonen isn’t due a new V8 for his Ferrari, but the damaged exhaust from Magny Cours may have had knock-on effects for the power unit. I’ll have to be honest and say that I don’t follow engine lifespans and changes, but I presume Ferrari are correct in saying that the Finn hasn’t had a out-of-sequence change yet. Continue Reading

Felipe Massa has won the French Grand Prix for Ferrari, leading home his team mate Kimi Raikkonen in a fairly eventful race at Magny Cours. Raikkonen had led from pole position, but a damaged exhaust slowed his pace and Massa eventually passed and led for the remainder of the event. Raikkonen drove admirably to bring his F2008 home, while Jarno Trulli completed the podium with a great drive in his Toyota to honour the passing of former team boss, Ove Andersson. Continue Reading

In the final stages of the French Grand Prix, Heikki Kovlainen was chasing down Jarno Trulli and was all over the gear box of the Toyota. Going through the fast sequence of corners in the middle of the lap, Kovalainen made his move and drew alongside the Italian. However, Trulli squeezed Heikki right over to the left and it looked as though they may have touched wheels. Trulli said they didn’t but it came very, very close. Kovalainen was forced to get out of the throttle to prevent himself from flying off the road. Continue Reading

On the opening lap of the French Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton made a move on the Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel and passed on the left at high speed. For Lewis though, his speed was too much for the amount of tarmac left and he ran over the green run-off area. From the TV angle, it looked as though Lewis had completely passed Vettel but the incident was deemed to have been Hamilton gaining a place unfairly. Thus, Lewis received a drive-thru penalty. Was it a just and fair penalty? Continue Reading

Felipe Massa has won the French Grand Prix after team mate Kimi Raikkonen nursed his Ferrari home with a damaged right exhaust. The problem with Kimi’s car almost certainly cost him the race victory but the Finn did well to bring the car home in second. Jarno Trulli took a pleasing podium for third, honouring Ove Andersson who passed away last week in a rallying accident. Heikki Kovalainen poushed Trulli right to the chequered flag, but couldn’t pass the Italian. Continue Reading

Below is the Live Blog stream where you can view live commentary from like-minded fans as the French Grand Prix unfolds before us. Adding to the commentary and moderating the blog are myself, Keith Collantine from F1Fanatic (and the mastermind behind the live blog), Duncan from vee8, John from F1-Pitlane, Milos from F1Wolf as well as Robert, Scott and Journeyer who all share a great passion for Formula One. If you want to join in you can do so via the box below, or can you can hop over to CoveritLive, register a free account and jump on with their dashboard. Continue Reading

The French Grand Prix grid is looking a little confusing right now, so I thought I’d attempt to clarify a few things as best I can. In Canada both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton received ten grid slot penalties for their incidents in the pit lane. The penalty was a ten grid-slot demotion each, which means that Hamilton who qualified in third will actually start in thirteenth. Rosberg, who got the same penalty for doing pretty much the same thing in Montreal, qualified fifteenth so he goes to the back of the grid. Heikki Kovalainen received a five grid-slot penalty for impeding Mark Webber during qualifying, so he goes from sixth, to fifth (penalties are applied in order of achievement) and finally to tenth. Continue Reading

Heikki Kovalainen as added to McLaren’s woe by getting himself a penalty to move him closer to his team mate on the grid. Two weeks ago Lewis Hamilton was given a ten-place demotion for France, and now Heikki has collected a five-place demotion for blocking Mark Webber during qualifying. To say the Woking team are going to have their work cut out tomorrow is a bit of an understatement. Continue Reading