One cannot criticise Ferrari for winning. Criticism can only apply to McLaren, who seems to be getting worse every year and Williams who is just not getting that last little out of the car.

I wonder if Rubens ever did think that he may win the race. He was very fast on a lighter fuel load but when it counted he was still behind Michael.

Montoya seemed fast enough to certainly get on the podium but I despair at the mess he made of switching to the spare car. The rules are very clear and it is inconceivable that a team with their budget did not have someone totally dedicated to watching the time. What a mess!

Sato in the only finishing BAR must have been pleased with his podium position. BAR was marginally faster than Renault in Indianapolis. Honda is producing more power but still not reliably. But then reliability is easier to fix than a power shortage.

I still wonder how hard the Ferraris are being pushed. The pattern seems to be that they push for a dozen or so laps and then settle to bring the cars home. There may not be team orders but I am sure that Ferrari do not want their drivers to compete to the point that one or both retire.

That then also raises the question of how close BAR and/or Renault are really getting to Ferrari. If both Ferrari drivers pushed hard for the entire race I would not be surprised to see them lap the entire field.

The starting grid at Magny Cours (track layout) is right at the beginning of the pit straight, which will allow the cars to get up to full speed through Grande Courbe (turn 1) negotiated at some 270km/H (167mph) before slowing slightly for Estoril (turn 2) entered at 200km/H (124 mph) steadily accelerating to exit at close to 300km/H(186mph) by the time the ever easing bend straightens in what is regarded as Golf (turn 4) where the cars will get well over 300km/H(186mph) before braking for Adelaide, a very tight right turn that is almost a hairpin. Again hard on the accelerator up to at least 280km/H(174mph) dropping only 20 or 30 kilometres per hour through the gentle "s" of Nurburgring bleeding off a further 30km/H through turn 8 before winding it back up to 280km/H(174mph) through 9 and 10, slowing to 225km/H(140mph) for 11 and 12. A quick dip on the accelerator before really slowing (80km/H or 50mph) for Chāteau d'Eau. Then it is flat out through turn 14 before braking to 80kmh/50mph again for turn 15 that leads into the pit straight just to get hard on the brakes for the weird chicane at the start to the pit lane. Turn left and you are in the pits, right and you are in the straight.

This is the bit that I just do not know what to write about any more. Ferrari are so dominant that there seems little chance that any of the other teams will catch up before the season is over. With 8 wins Michael is so far ahead of the rest of the field that he can relax. Even Barrichello who is 18 points behind Michael is also 18 points ahead of Button in third place. Ferrari have more than twice Renault's points in second place.

Renault may be second in the championship but as there are more fast circuits in the end of the season they may even lose second place to BAR who seem to be faster on high speed circuits.

Williams are showing a glimmer of speed so they may be worth watching. I hope that Ralf recovers fully for the French race - that was a big shunt!

Toyota are finally showing an improvement. They may not be fast enough to tale on the leaders but they are getting away from McLaren now.

But I am afraid that, unless something very dramatic happens, for the foreseeable future most races will be a procession behind the red cars. Lets hope that Magny Cours brings back some interest to the sport.

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