World champion Kimi Raikkonen on Saturday claimed the pole position for the French Formula One Grand Prix as he aims to rebound from recent disappointment on the course where he won in 2007, the dpa reported.
Raikkonen clocked 1 minute 16.449 seconds in Ferrari for the 4.411-kilometres lap to lead the way from teammate Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes with his second pole of the season.
But Hamilton will start Sunday's race from 13th place over a penalty imposed by the ruling body FIA for driving into Raikkonen in a pit lane incident at the Canadian GP two weeks ago.
The Canada winner Robert Kubica of BMW cane seventh Saturday. He leads the championship standings with 42 points from Massa and Hamilton (38 each) and Raikkonen (35).
Ferrari have won five of the last seven races in Magny-Cours, the latest being Raikkonen's success in 2007. The Finn failed to finish in Monte Carlo and had to retire over Hamilton's shunt in Canada.