Jun 30, 2007
Associated Press

MAGNY COURS, France (AP) -- Lewis Hamilton looked likely to continue his string of pole positions after leading the free practice for the French Grand Prix on Saturday.

Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen followed Hamilton.

Hamilton timed 1 minute, 14.843 seconds on the 4.41-kilometer (2.74-mile) circuit to be fastest in the third practice.

Massa was second with 1:14.906, ahead of Raikkonen with 1:15.276.

The qualifications take place later Saturday.

Last year Michael Schumacher and Massa led a Ferrari 1-2 in the qualifications. Schumacher had the pole with 1:15.493 and went on to win the race, with Massa second.

Hamilton had the pole positions in Canada and United States and won both races to make it seven straight podium finishes -- two wins, four seconds and a third in 2007.

Two-time defending world champion Fernando Alonso, Hamilton's teammate, was eighth with 1:15.742 in a limited amount of laps. Alonso had only fast lap due to mechanical problems and did not go out until the final five minutes of the one-hour session.

Hamilton leads the drivers' standings with 58 points, 10 ahead of Alonso and 19 in front of third-placed Massa with 39.

McLaren has 12 of a possible 14 podium positions this season to lead the constructors' standings with 106 points. Ferrari is second with 71.

Last year, Alonso finished third at the Magny Cours circuit behind the Ferraris. Alonso won in 2005.

After winning two races earlier this season, Massa has finished third twice and been disqualified in Canada for running a red light in the pit lane during a caution.

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