Poor quali by Lewis & Kovi points to Ferrari 1-2

A poor performance by both McLaren drivers in yesterday’s qualifying session for today’s French GP means that a Ferrari 1-2 is almost inevitable, reliability permitting. Kimi Raikkonen (pole) and Felipe Massa (second) did a solid job in locking down the front row, but they were put under no pressure from Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen. Hamilton was fastest of the non-Ferrari cars, but he ran wide and could have possibly grabbed a vital pole. He later apologised to his team, saying “I didn’t do a good job at all”.

With Hamilton already pushed down the grid, this was seen as a chance for Kovalainen to step up and put some heat on Ferrari, but he did an average job, qualifying only sixth-fastest. At this rate, we’d be surprised if McLaren hang on to him for 2009.

It’s notoriously difficult to overtake at Magny Cours, and with both McLaren drivers penalised - Lewis 10 places for his Montreal pit-lane pile-up, and Heikki five places for blocking Mark Webber in quali - it should be a comfortable drive in the park for the Scuderia. Yawn.

F1 FACT! In 792 grands prix, only 24 have been won from 11th place or lower. Hamilton starts today’s GP from 13th on the grid; Kovi from 11th.