Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica is fit to race in this weekend's French Grand Prix, FIA doctors said. After his crash in Montreal, Kubica wasn’t allowed to drive in the US Grand Prix, as doctors feared for his health. But after a new medical exam, Formula One doctor Gary Hartstein decided Kubica is fit to compete.

"I am 100 per cent fit and am delighted that I can drive again," said the 22-year-old Pole on Thursday. "Luckily I only had to miss one race."

The French GrandPrix is the eighth of 17 races in a championship in which MacLaren-Mercedes’s Hamilton seems to be the new revelation. 

The Briton won last two races in Canada and United States and he hopes to celebrate his third win in a row at Magny-Cours. In order to achieve his hat-trick, Hamilton must avoid the type of accident he suffered the last time he raced in France in the GP2 series.

"The French round of the GP2 championship last year was not my best weekend. I did make my way up through the field to fifth to score some points, so it is possible to overtake here," he said. Hamilton has a 10-points lead over his team-mate, the current world champion, Fernando Alonso. The Spanish driver is hoping for a comeback in the French GP.

"The championship starts now," Alonso said. "We have done just seven races and now I'm more comfortable and full of confidence."

The McLaren team has a 35-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' title race but driver Felipe Massa hopes that he can still challenge for the drivers' title this season. "The championship isn't decided yet," said the Brazilian.

In fact, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa were quickest drivers in the opening free practice session Friday. The Finnish driver set a fastest lap of one minute 15.382 seconds, beating Massa by 0.065 seconds.

Hamilton was only the sixth in 1:16.277, three places behind Fernando Alonso who was 0.772 seconds off Raikkonen's pace.