Ferrari's Michael Schumacher (right) leads into the first corner as the French Grand Prix gets underway without incident

Schumacher's team-mate Felipe Massa (left) holds off the challenge of Fernando Alonso (right) to retain second place

It's a short-lived race for Honda's Rubens Barrichello, who is forced to retire following mechanical problems

Up front, Schumacher extends his lead with Massa playing the team-mate role to perfection by fending off Alonso

Ralf Schumacher briefly takes the lead during the opening pit stops but a poor stop by his crew drops him to seventh

Alonso also has a spell in front after Schumacher's second stop, but he is left battling Massa for the runner-up spot

It is a dominant performance by Schumacher, who takes the chequered flag to claim a record eighth win at Magny-Cours

Alonso stops a Ferrari one-two by capitalising on Massa's three-stop strategy to limit the points damage

Schumacher's victory means he cuts Alonso's lead at the top of the drivers' standings to 17 points with seven races left