Robert Kubica is playing down his chances at this weekend’s Grand Prix of France, despite finding himself at the top of the Formula One drivers’ standings.
Lewis Hamilton is talking up his odds, despite a 10-grid penalty that puts him on the back foot.
Who will win?
Probably neither of the two.
Instead, look for the Ferraris to shine at Magny-Cours, if history is anything to go by. The red cars have won seven of the last 11 races at the French circuit, including last season’s one-two result led by Kimi Raikkonen.
Raikkonen proclaimed earlier this week: “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 think about what happened at the last race. I don’t carry bad thoughts with me, because that would just make me lose time, as 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.”
“Now we’re heading back to Europe to tracks which have been built to be used by racing cars,” he said. “I think that things will look really different at Magny-Cours, compared to the last GPs.
“The smooth surface of the French track, its demanding corners and the quick changes of direction will underline the characteristics of the F2008.
“It was here in France last year that my season practically started all over again; and this is what I need now, after two races with no points.
“I like this track and I think that it’s perfect for our car. I think we’ll be competitive and that we can go for the maximum result.”
Teammate Felipe Massa, too, pronounced himself hopeful of a repeat of last year’s one-two punch, “but maybe in a different order.”
Looking to spoil Ferrari’s party is Hamilton in his McLaren-Mercedes, even though he will be demoted 10 spots from his qualifying position as punishment for having rear-ended Raikkonen in a freak pit-lane crash at the Grand Prix of 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. 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.”
Robert Kubica’s maiden win in Canada, meanwhile, has encouraged the Pole’s BMW Sauber team. “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,” BMW Sauber’s motorsports director Mario Theissen said. “Clearly, we are not about to sit back and relax now. The whole team is hugely motivated and is looking to build on our success so far.
“We have to keep our feet on the ground and keep working, keep pushing because we know there is a gap to the Ferraris and McLarens and we need to make bigger steps to close it and we will try our best,” Kubica said.
Kubica’s win was the first by a non-McLaren or Ferrari driver since Fernando Alonso took the 2006 Japanese GP for Renault - a stretch of 25 races. Nick Heidfeld completed a 1-2 finish for the German team, leaving it trailing Ferrari by only three points in the constructors’ standings.
Now, BMW Sauber can no longer downplay their championship hopes.
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