Im a big fan Formula one so i thought i would start this thread.

Webber set to match best season
From correspondents in Magny-Cours
June 23, 2008 ANOTHER points haul has put Australian Mark Webber on track to match his best performance in his seven years in Formula One.

The Red Bull driver collected three points for his sixth place in the French Grand Prix, won by Ferrari's Felipe Massa from teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli was third, but Webber has predicted Red Bull will be fighting with the Japanese factory outfit for the best of the rest behind Ferrari, McLaren and BMW.

"Toyota had a strong race today, but we'll have more in the future," Webber said.

He now has 18 points in the world championship in a consistent season which has produced his best result to date since his first year with Williams in 2005 which included 36 points and his first podium, at Monaco.

Webber was plagued by mechanical problems in his first year with Red Bull and last season suffered seven retirements and managed only three points-scoring grands prix.

This year he has failed to score points in just two races - the season-opener in Australia and in Canada where he finished 12th.

Webber fought back from a dodgy start to win the battle of the Renault-powered cars.

His sixth place meant he finished ahead of the two factory Renaults, with Nelsinho Piquet and former dual world champion Fernando Alonso behind him, followed by his own Red Bull teammate David Coulthard.

"My start wasn't great, but my first stint wasn't too bad in terms of pace," Webber said.

"I was trying to keep up with Fernando as I knew he was (on less fuel) and I put in some laps that were right on the edge before the first stop.

"It's good for the team to get some more points today.

"It was a tough week in the build-up to this race, in terms of effort from the factory and the boys at the track, and three points is not to be sniffed at."

Massa and Ferrari took charge of this year's championship with their third double of the season.

The 27-year-old Brazilian's third win this year and eighth of his career lifted him back on top of the drivers' title race and increased Ferrari's lead in the constructors' championship after eight of this year's 18 Grands Prix.

Massa, the fourth different leader of the championship in four races, is now on top with 48 points in the drivers' table, ahead of Poland's Robert Kubica on 46.

Raikkonen, who finished second, is third with 43 ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton on 38.


F1GP - French Grand PrixPos No Driver Team Time/Retired
1 2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:31:50.245
2 1 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari +17.9 secs
3 11 Jarno Trulli Toyota +28.2 secs
4 23 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren +28.9 secs
5 4 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber +30.5 secs
6 10 Mark Webber Red Bull +40.3 secs
7 6 Nelson Piquet Jr. Renault +41.0 secs
8 5 Fernando Alonso Renault +43.3 secs
9 9 David Coulthard Red Bull +51.0 secs
10 22 Lewis Hamilton McLaren +54.5 secs
11 12 Timo Glock Toyota +57.7 secs
12 15 Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso +58.0 secs
13 3 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber +62.0 secs
14 17 Rubens Barrichello Honda +1 Lap
15 8 Kazuki Nakajima Williams +1 Lap
16 7 Nico Rosberg Williams +1 Lap
17 14 Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso +1 Lap
18 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India +1 Lap
19 20 Adrian Sutil Force India +1 Lap
20 16 Jenson Button Honda Retired