2008 French Grand Prix

2008 French Grand Prix
Race 8 of 18 in the 2008 Formula One World Championship ← Previous race Next race →
Race details[1][2][3]
Date	22 June 2008
Official name	Formula 1 Grand Prix de France 2008
Location	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours, France
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	4.411 km (2.741 miles)
Distance	70 laps, 308.586 km (191.746 miles)
Weather	Dry at first; light rain in the final stages
Pole position
Driver	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari
Time	1:16.449
Fastest lap
Driver	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari
Time	1:16.630 on lap 16
Podium
First	Felipe Massa	Ferrari
Second	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari
Third	Jarno Trulli	Toyota
Lap leaders

The 2008 French Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France 2008)^[1] was a Formula One motor race held on 22 June 2008 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France. This race would be the last French Grand Prix for a decade, before returning in 2018 at Circuit Paul Ricard. The 70-lap race event, the eighth of the 2008 Formula One World Championship, was won by Felipe Massa for the Ferrari team starting from second position. Kimi Räikkönen, who started from pole position, finished second in the other Ferrari car; Jarno Trulli was third in a Toyota.

Räikkönen and Massa both made a clean start. Renault's Fernando Alonso, who started third, was overtaken by Trulli and BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica. The front three of Räikkönen, Massa and Trulli maintained their positions through the first round of pit stops. On lap 30, Räikkönen led Massa by six and a half seconds, and Trulli by 30 seconds. Just before half distance, Räikkönen's right exhaust pipe broke, which caused the engine to lose power. Massa, in second place, began lapping quicker than Räikkönen, and he caught and passed him on lap 39. Massa maintained his lead through the second round of pit stops, and won the race; Räikkönen finished almost 18 seconds behind. Trulli fended off McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, who challenged him in the latter stages, to take third.

Massa's win promoted him into the lead of the Drivers' Championship for the first time in his career, overtaking Kubica. Kubica was second, two points behind Massa, while Räikkönen was third. In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari increased their lead to 17 points ahead of BMW Sauber, McLaren a further 16 points behind in third.