MAGNY-COURS, France, June 22, 2008 (AFP)

Ferrari remained calm and collected Sunday after their third one-two of the season in the French Grand Prix put them in charge of both the F1 drivers' and constructors' world championships.

Felipe Massa's victory ahead of defending drivers' champion Kimi Raikkonen of Finland made him the first Brazilian since Ayrton Senna in 2003 to hold an outright lead in the drivers title race.

He now has 48 points to Pole Robert Kubica's 46 with Raikkonen third on 43.

In the constructors' series, Ferrari lead with 91 ahead of BMW Sauber on 74 with rivals McLaren-Mercedes struggling to stay in the race, third on 58.

'It is a very good position for the team and for both of us,' said a disappointed Raikkonen after a race in which he seemed to poise to win until slowed by exhaust problems.

'But we have to stay calm, keep working and keep going in the right direction. The team is very strong and working very well.'

Raikkonen, like Massa, declined to write off the challenge of Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren after he failed to score a point for the second consecutive race since winning the Monaco Grand Prix.

'You know, I failed to score in two races and so did Felipe, so anything can happen,' he said.

'It was disappointing in the end. We had a good car all weekend. I was on pole and leading quite easily and then I had problem with the car.

'That happens sometimes. We were still lucky to finish the race and score eight points. On the last couple of laps, the car almost stopped a few times.

'So, even if it's disappointing not to win, I still took eight points...and I'm in a more confident position (in the championship). A great result for the team, just an unlucky situation.'
He said his car lacked power after the problems developed.

'The car was slow in the straight line and out of the low-speed corners so it was difficult,' he said. 'But luckily we were fast enough in the beginning to go away from the others, and we had a big enough gap.

'Two more laps and we would have not finished the race. As I said it's disappointing but still eight points is good for the championship and good for the team.'