FORMULA ONE FRENCH GRAND PRIX: LEWIS HAMILTON will be privately hoping that the most extreme local weather forecast - predicting scattered but very intense thunder storms for the Magny Cours region tomorrow - will prove correct and therefore deal him a possible wild card to play to his own advantage in the French Grand Prix.

Facing a 10-place grid penalty as the price for a moment's inattention in the pit lane at Montreal, where his McLaren plunged into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari, there are few tactical options available to help the 23-year-old mitigate the effects of that handicap.

In simple terms, Hamilton will have to rely on his driving talent as never before to have a realistic chance of maximising his climb through the field. Winning two championship points for a seventh- placed finish is probably the best he can reasonably hope for.

He will also have to balance raw aggression with a measure of restraint, forcing his way past the slower cars immediately ahead of him early in the race before they can slip into a competitive rhythm.

"The biggest problem that Lewis faces trying to battle his way through the field from a lowly grid position is that the Circuit de Nevers is one of those tracks which, by virtue of its design and general layout makes overtaking extremely difficult," said Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren chief executive officer.

"This is largely down to the fact that we are working the front wings on these cars much harder than we used to. They are very much the dominant aerodynamic elements on the current generation of formula one cars and the effect of the 'wash' off the rear wing of the car immediately in front has a significant adverse effect on the car behind."

Hamilton will also have to deal without the benefit of a lighter fuel load than his immediate running mates.

Prior to 2003 it was permitted to top up fuel after running with a like load in qualifying, offering more flexibility for the race strategy.

Running on a one-stop refuelling strategy at the 2001 Canadian grand prix, Mika Hakkinen harnessed this advantage to climb through from eighth on the grid to third place at the chequered flag.

"Since the start of 2003 season the top 10 qualifiers have to use the same fuel as they used in qualifying," said Whitmarsh, "which means that there is little to be gained by gambling on fuel loads.

There is also the problem here at this track in terms of tyre wear. The high levels of degradation caused by this track surface are such that the basic concept of a one- stop strategy is not attractive, so you can see that this is another potential factor which could work against Lewis."

In summary, to have the maximum chance in tomorrow's race, Hamilton needs to run as hard as possible to set the fastest qualifying time, which means he will line up 11th.

"He needs to qualify well, pass two cars into the first corner and a few more besides in the early stage of the race," said Whitmarsh.

"Lewis also needs to remember that historically this race has a record of very little intervention of the safety car during the course of the races here, removing another possible strategic dimension from the event."

STANDINGS

1 R Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 42 points

2 L Hamilton (Brit) McLaren 38

3 F Massa (Bra) Ferrari 38

4 K Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 35

5 N Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 28

6 H Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 15

7 M Webber (Aus) Red Bull 15

8 J Trulli (Ita) Toyota 12

9 F Alonso (Spa) Renault 9

10 N Rosberg (Ger) Williams 8

11 K Nakajima (Jap) Williams 7

12 D Coulthard (Brit) Red Bull 6