Alonso on top in final practice

Spain’s Fernando Alonso set the pace as the Minardis predictably plummeted down the time sheets when practice resumed for the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours this morning.

The Renault driver finished the penultimate session before final qualifying later today more than 0.1 seconds quicker than Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello as the Formula One’s leading lights reasserted their supremacy.