What a week we had since Formula One troops returned to good old Europe. As much as McLaren-Mercedes had the upper hand in Northern America, so devastating Ferrari struck back in France and Great Britain. The Anglo-German team has to step up its efforts to maintain its lead in both world championships.

After the mid-week tests at Silverstone two weeks ago, we assumed Ferrari was going to close the gap with the McLaren-Mercedes squad. And the French race proved  that was the case indeed. Ferrari celebrated its first double of the season, with Hamilton following at over half a minute. But the forecast of the Briton racing at Silverstone in front of his home crowd, assisted by double world champion Fernando Alonso – or vice-versa if you want - made all of us eager to watch the ninth round of the World Championship. Local hero Hamilton did what he had to do and put his Silver Arrow on pole for Sundays race. Kimi Räikkönen was only a tenth slower, while Fernando Alonso clocked the third time, just a fraction quicker than Felipe Massa. All four master cooks of this current season on the front rows, ready to broil what was supposed to be a spicy soup for the fans.

Lewis as usual did everything right by taking the lead from the word go, Kimi followed with Fernando at his tail. But Felipe waited in the pit lane for the green light. The unlucky Brazilian had stalled his Ferrari engine on the grid, for whatever reason, and was pushed in the pit-lane while the pack made its second formation lap. Finally released, Felipe was red hot and charged through the field, deploying the mighty powers of his Ferrari, passing left and right. Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton maintained his lead, although he was wondering whether his tyre choice had been right, the harder compound falling of sooner than expected. After the race Hamilton admitted that the softer ones would have been the better option for his first and second stint, as Räikkönen proved with a string of fast laps. Although Lewis made a slight mistake at his pit stop, it wouldn’t have changed much, as the Ferrari’s were simply the best. Or, as Fernando admitted: “I think the Ferrari was a little bit too quick today. I don’t think a different pit stop strategy – Fernando was short fuelled at his first stop - would have changed the outcome really. I think second place was the maximum today”. Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton had every reason to keep smiling as he has done for the whole of his F1 maiden season. Nine races, nine podium finishes, two wins and still a comfortable lead in the world championship of 12 points over his teammate Alonso. At the same time, McLaren didn’t lose a single point to Ferrari in the constructors championship, as Felipe Massa came home fifth, after a blinding race.

In a fortnights time we’re racing at the Nürburgring, where the grand stands of the Mercedes Arena will be packed to cheer the McLaren-Mercedes drivers. But in the meantime there are lots of work to be done at Francorchamps, where on 10, 11 and 12 July all Formula 1 teams will take part in a three days test.