Despite setting third fastest time (1:14.559) Kimi Raikkonen will line his McLaren 13th on the grid, having landed a ten place penalty after his engine failed in practice yesterday and had to be replaced.

Michael Schumacher will start third on the grid, the Ferrari revival seemingly in full flow here at Magny Cours, with a time of 1:14.572. His team mate Rubens Barrichello starts 5th after lapping in 1:14.832.

In fourth place, alongside the seven times World Champion, will be young Japanese ace Takuma Sato, whose excellent time of 1:14.655 comfortably eclipsed that of his BAR-Honda team leader Jenson Button (1:15.051) who will start seventh.

Giancarlo Fisichella, so impressive in practice this morning, could not match Alonso's time in the sister Renault, and will start sixth with a time of 1:14.887.

Juan Pablo Montoya will start eighth in his McLaren, while Felipe Massa emerged the quickest of the two Sauber drivers, just in front of team mate Jacques Villeneuve, and the two will start ninth and tenth.

Ralf Schumacher starts the second Toyota in eleventh place, his time compromised by having to run first in the session as a result of his Indianapolis accident.

Williams see no end to the turmoil surrounding their damaged relationship with BMW this weekend, the new aerodynamic modifications showing no great progress and they line up 12th with Mark Webber and 14th with Nick Heidfeld.

Red Bull drivers David Coulthard and Christian Klien start 15th and 16th, and behind them the two Jordans easily outclassed the Minardis.

As usual, fuel levels will play a major part in the race tomorrow, and it is worth remembering that Michael Schumacher took the Ferrari to victory last year with four stops.