MAGNY-COURS (France), June 20: Brazilian Felipe Massa clocked the fastest time in Friday morning’s opening practice session for Sunday’s French Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old Ferrari driver wound up a comfortable seven-tenths of a second clear of nearest rival, Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes.

Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate, Finn Heikki Kovalianen, was third fastest in a quiet and uneventful session at the Magny-Cours circuit in central France.

Under grey skies and in a brisk breeze, defending drivers world champion Finn Kimi Raikkonen was fourth quickest in the second Ferrari.

Practice times:

1. Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1min 15.306sec, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 1:16.002, 3. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) McLaren 1:16.055, 4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:16.073, 5. Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber 1:16.377, 6. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault 1:16.400, 7. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Toyota 1:16.758, 8. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Toro Rosso 1:16.838, 9. Nick Heidfeld (GER) BMW Sauber 1:16.870, 10. Timo Glock (GER) Toyota 1:16.886.—AFP