2003 Formula One season
Season 2004>
The Formula 1 2003 season was the 54th FIA Formula 1 World Championship. She was discharged through 16 races in the period from March 9 to October 12.
The 2003 season was designated as exciting season for a long time. Until two races before the end of the World Cup three riders still had the opportunity to win the World Cup. Michael Schumacher won in the end his sixth drivers' title. Ferrari was the 5th time in a row winner of the Constructors' Championship.
- 4.1 Australian Grand Prix
- 4.2 Malaysian Grand Prix
- 4.3 Grand Prix of Brazil
- 4.4 Grand Prix of San Marino
- 4.5 Grand Prix of Spain
- 4.6 Grand Prix of Austria
- 4.7 Grand Prix of Monaco
- 4.8 Canadian Grand Prix
- 4.9 European Grand Prix
- 4:10 Grand Prix of France
- 4:11 Grand Prix of Great Britain
- 4:12 Grand Prix of Germany
- 4:13 Grand Prix of Hungary
- 4:14 Grand Prix of Italy
- 4:15 United States Grand Prix
- 4:16 Grand Prix of Japan
- 6.1 Drivers' Championship
- 6.2 Constructors' Championship
Changes in 2003
Racetracks
The Belgian Grand Prix was not held in this season.
Rules
Starting this season, not only get the six best placed teams and drivers per race points, but the top eight. The rankings from 1 to 8 will be rewarded with 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points. This rule was introduced to prevent the one hand, that the championship is decided early in the season, since a driver can settle with a victory to comparatively few championship points. On the other hand, so that the fact bill was taken to ensure that the cars had become more and more reliable. Weaker teams had often only by failures of the top vehicles points opportunities.
Driver
The 2003 season began with some changes in the driver line-up of the teams. The team Minardi, Jaguar and Toyota changed it from all drivers.
Fernando Alonso was the test driver for the regular driver at Renault as a replacement for Jenson Button, Button replaced Olivier Panis at BAR, Panis joined Toyota. The second new Toyota driver was Cristiano da Matta, so that both Mika Salo and Allan McNish were replaced. McNish was a test driver for Renault.
Felipe Massa left Sauber and was a test driver for Ferrari, Massa's place at Sauber was occupied by Heinz -Harald Frentzen. Takuma Satō left the Jordan team, and was a test driver for BAR, Jordan took his position at a Ralph Firman.
In Minardi Alex Yoong was replaced by Jos Verstappen and Mark Webber by Justin Wilson, Webber took the previous place of Eddie Irvine at Jaguar, Antonio Pizzonia replaced there as well Pedro de la Rosa.
Teams and Drivers
Race Calendar
Race Reports
Grand Prix of Australia
The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne ( Australia) took place on 9 March 2003 and went over 58 laps of 5.303 km with a total of 307.574 kilometers.
Michael Schumacher secured the first pole position of the season ahead of Barrichello and Montoya. Since the track at the start of the race was wet, the tire choice was crucial to the beginning. Most riders started on rain tires, but had shortly after the launch, already engage the first pit stop, as the track was dry quickly.
Schumacher missed the lead through a driver error, in which he lost the lateral wind deflector his car. Because of the damage he had to perform an unscheduled pit stop. After Montoya after lying in leadership also made a mistake, David Coulthard won the race for themselves. The fastest lap of the race Kimi Raikkonen drove with 1:27,724 minutes.
Barrichello retired by a driving error from as early as the sixth round. Heidfeld dropped into lap 21 due to a fracture of the right front suspension. Since Fisichella, Pizzonia, Panis, Wilson, Webber, da Matta and Firman could not finish the race, only 11 riders finished the race.
As David Coulthard raced in the Formula 1 until and including 2008, was far from foreseeable at this time that this was to be his last victory.
Grand Prix of Malaysia
The Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur was held on 23 March 2003 and went over 56 laps of 5.543 km with a total of 310.408 kilometers.
Alonso had reached the pole position ahead of Trulli and Michael Schumacher in qualifying. Schumacher tried in the first corner after the start to overtake Trulli, and collided with him. Since the car was damaged, he had to make an unscheduled pit stop. He also received by the race for causing the accident a penalty and therefore had to again go through the pit lane. Although he was able to ride with 1:36,412 minutes the fastest lap, but in the end result it was enough for him just to 6th place
Raikkonen went in the 15th round in the lead and let through a flawless race the competition a chance. He won with a significant lead over Barrichello and took over with his first victory in Formula 1, the lead in the drivers' standings.
Minardi drew attention to himself by a protest against the Iraq war: the cars were provided with stickers with the slogan Malaysia for Peace.
Grand Prix of Brazil
The Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo took place on 6 April 2003. As planned, the driving distance would be 71 laps of 4.309 kilometers. The race was canceled, however, after 54 rounds, thus, the total distance 232.686 km.
The track was flooded through violent rain. This led to numerous accidents and failures among drivers. The quickest in qualifying, Rubens Barrichello ( 1:13.807 minutes ) resulted in his home Grand Prix and drove in 1:22.032 minutes, the fastest lap of the race, but had in the 33rd round of his car with an empty tank off. Michael Schumacher slipped in the 27th round on a puddle of, crashed into a tire barrier and had to finish the race. This was Schumacher's first loss since the Grand Prix of Germany 2001. Overall, ten of the 20 participating drivers were up to the 50th round was eliminated.
During the 55th round, the race organizers stopped the race off to another serious accident. Mark Webber was the beginning of the start - finish straight, crashed into the perimeter wall. Shortly thereafter, the Renault of Alonso got out of control when he could not avoid one of the wheels of the lacerated Jaguar. When the race was stopped put the computer to display a round back, as required by the regulations. But the timekeeper saw this, pulled off another round and so Kimi Raikkonen declared the winner. The error was not detected until hours later and subsequently appointed Fisichella the winner. The Italians had been lying in the decisive 54th round in front.
Grand Prix of San Marino
The Grand Prix of San Marino at Imola was held on 20 April 2003 and went over 62 laps of 4.933 km with a total of 305.609 kilometers.
In qualifying Michael Schumacher reached the pole position ahead of his brother Ralf and his team-mate Barrichello. In the early morning hours of April 20, Elisabeth Schumacher, the mother of Michael and Ralf died. Nevertheless, the brothers decided to finish the race. Ralf Schumacher had the better start and took the lead. Until his first pit stop on lap 16 Ralf was able to defend the lead. Because of the short time later following stop of Michael was shorter, it was able to overtake his brother thus.
The McLaren -Mercedes driver Raikkonen and Coulthard drove in contrast to competitors, a strategy with only two pit stops. Michael Schumacher was able to win with two very brief further stops the lead ahead of Raikkonen and reached the last race with the previous year's model Ferrari F2002 next to the fastest lap of 1:22,491 minutes also his first win of the season.
Grand Prix of Spain
The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona took place on 4 May 2003 and went 65 rounds with a total of 307.323 kilometers.
In qualifying, the two Ferrari drivers reached the seats in the front row. Behind Schumacher and Barrichello, the Renault driver Alonso and Trulli were able to position.
Schumacher won the race in the new Ferrari F2003 - GA ahead of Alonso, while the McLaren -Mercedes due to the accidents of Raikkonen with Pizzonia with button in the 17th round no driver could get to the finish at the start and Coulthard.
The Williams - BMW drivers Montoya and Ralf Schumacher could not reach the podium, even though they were opposed to the Ferrari and Renault drivers with a two -stop strategy on the go. The fastest lap of the race Barrichello drove with 1:20,143 minutes.
Grand Prix of Austria
The Grand Prix of Austria in Spielberg took place on 18 May 2003 and went 69 rounds with a total of 298.494 kilometers.
The start of the race had to be canceled twice da Matta due to technical problems the Toyota driver. Thus, the scheduled race distance was reduced from 71 to 69 rounds.
During the race it started to rain, so the road was very slippery. Nevertheless, an accident was only the failure of Frentzen the cause. This accident occurred already in the first round, when the track was still dry. The failures of the driver Verstappen, Panis, Montoya, Alonso, Heidfeld and Fisichella were all dictated by technical defects.
At the first pit stop of Michael Schumacher there was a problem when refueling, as a result of the car caught fire. The mechanics were able to extinguish the fire without someone was injured, but Schumacher lost valuable time and thereby forfeited the lead. Schumacher could still win the race and also set the fastest lap of the race with 1:08,337 minutes.
Grand Prix of Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo was held on 1 June 2003 and went 78 rounds with a total of 260.520 kilometers.
Montoya was able to implement his third place behind Ralf Schumacher and Raikkonen in the second Grand Prix victory of his career. For Williams, this was the first win since the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2002.
At the start of Schumacher defended its leadership nor easily. That he had to perform the first driver of the lead group a pit stop was at a disadvantage because Montoya could use this time to eject such a great distance that he was still in the lead after his pit stop. Since it would also Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher managed to Ralf Schumacher finally reached only rank 4
The fastest lap of the race Räikkönen achieved with 1:14,545 minutes. Despite the failures of Villeneuve, Wilson, Verstappen, Webber, Pizzonia and Frentzen reached at least 13 of 19 riders started the goal.
Grand Prix of Canada
The Grand Prix of Canada in Montreal, took place on 15 June 2003 and went 70 rounds with a total of 305.270 kilometers.
The Williams - BMW drivers Ralf Schumacher and Montoya started the race from the front row. Raikkonen had to start from the pit lane because of a driving error in qualifying. He could improve by a few places in the race and eventually was ranked sixth His team-mate Coulthard was the same as the two Sauber driver Frentzen and Heidfeld due to technical problems from.
At the end of lap one spin by Montoya led to the successful overhaul by Michael Schumacher and Alonso. Ralf Schumacher led his first refueling stop by one round from his brother. Since Michael Schumacher was able to pull a head start in this round, thereby succeeded the overhaul. Despite occurring later brake problems at Ferrari he could save the lead until the finish.
Grand Prix of Europe
The European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring took place on 29 June 2003 and went 60 rounds with a total of 308.863 kilometers.
Unlike the previous race, the Williams - BMW drivers Schumacher and Montoya started from the second row behind Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher. However, you could implement in the podium positions one and two, these starting places. Ralf Schumacher drove flawlessly and was able to overtake at the start of his brother. He was the leader, he was able to keep to the finish through an engine failure of Raikkonen in the 25th round. The fastest lap of the race had been reached yet with 1:32,621 minutes Raikkonen.
Montoya was able to achieve his podium finish in a tough duel against Michael Schumacher. The ride ended just before the end for both almost in a collision, but only Schumacher spun off the track and was pushed by the marshals back on the road.
Grand Prix of France
The French Grand Prix at Magny -Cours took place on 6 July 2003 and went 70 rounds with a total of 308.586 kilometers.
In qualifying, Ralf Schumacher was able to reach the pole position ahead of Montoya and Michael Schumacher. Exactly in this order they occupied at the end of the race and the podium.
Ralf Schumacher completed a sovereign race and was able to break both of his teammate Montoya as well as from the other competitors and on. Thus he succeeded the second win of the season in a row. The fastest lap of the race Montoya drove with 1:15,512 minutes.
With Trulli, Alonso, Fisichella and Button, there were only four recorded failures. While the two Renault drivers and the Jordan driver failed each with engine failure, Button went out in the 21st round of fuel.
Grand Prix of Great Britain
The Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone was held on 20 July 2003 and went 60 rounds with a total of 308.355 kilometers.
Rubens Barrichello was able to reach the pole position in front of Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen in qualifying. The race was also dominated by Barrichello and also the fastest lap of the race with 1:22,236 minutes was driven by him.
With Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella and Antonio Pizzonia launched only three riders fell out with technical problems. All the other 17 riders were able to finish the race.
During the race, a spectator ran onto the slopes in a kilt and thus brought both themselves and the riders in danger. With luck, all the drivers were able to avoid him, the viewer has been removed by the marshals of the track.
Grand Prix of Germany
The Grand Prix of Germany at Hockenheim was held on August 3, 2003 and went 67 rounds with a total of 306.458 kilometers.
The first starting place reached Juan Pablo Montoya Ralf Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello before. At the start there was a serious accident, in which some racers were involved occurred. For Ralf Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Raikkonen, Heinz -Harald Frentzen, Justin Wilson and Ralph Firman he meant an early end of the race.
Montoya was unchallenged lead the race, set the fastest race lap in 1:14,917 minutes and finally win. The second place took a long time Michael Schumacher, until a puncture forced him to another pit stop four laps from the end, so that it only reached number seven.
Grand Prix of Hungary
The Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest was held on 24 August 2003 and went 70 rounds with a total of 306.663 kilometers.
In qualifying, reached the pole position Fernando Alonso ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Mark Webber. Alonso was able to put his starting place in his first victory in a Formula 1 race. He was age 22 the youngest race winner and also the first Spaniard to win a Formula 1 race.
Michael Schumacher could only reach the eighth. Kimi Raikkonen improved contrast with his second place finish his chances in the World Cup standings. Schumacher led by a point before Montoya and two points ahead of Räikkönen the drivers' standings just short of.
Grand Prix of Italy
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza was held on 14 September 2003 and went 53 rounds with a total of 306.720 kilometers.
Michael Schumacher reached the pole position ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya and Rubens Barrichello. In exactly the same order as the riders were able to finish the race. In addition, Schumacher drove the fastest lap of the race with 1:21,832 minutes.
With David Coulthard, Olivier Panis, Jos Verstappen, Jenson Button, Cristiano da Matta, Justin Wilson and Jarno Trulli seven riders fell prematurely from technical defects.
United States Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of USA Indianapolis took place on 28 September 2003 and went 73 rounds with a total of 306.106 kilometers.
In qualifying, reached the pole position Kimi Raikkonen ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Olivier Panis.
The race was strongly influenced by the rain. Michael Schumacher won the seventh place of the race. Even Heinz- Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld came along very well with the wet conditions. Frentzen was third, Heidfeld could reach the fifth place. For Juan Pablo Montoya was lost the championship two races after his sixth place and a backlog of now 10 points behind Schumacher.
The fastest lap of the race Michael Schumacher drove in 1:11,473 minutes.
Grand Prix of Japan
The Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka took place on 12 October 2003 and went 53 rounds with a total of 307.573 kilometers.
The first three grid positions occupied Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya and Cristiano da Matta. Michael Schumacher took only 14th place, Kimi Raikkonen of 8th place Barrichello was overtaken in the first round of Montoya. Even Alonso came very close to him.
In the sixth round Michael Schumacher collided with Takuma Satō and had to then in the box to pick up a new front spoiler. Thus he fell back to last place. Montoya had to quit the race early after a technical defect in the ninth round.
Since Raikkonen did not come with second place out and Schumacher eighth place also yet reached a championship point, Schumacher was able to secure two points clear at the title of the Drivers' World Championship.
Qualifyingduelle
At each race weekend double qualifying took place. The results of the double - qualifying are noted in the parentheses.
World Cup ratings
World Champion will be the one driver or designer who has accumulated up to the end of the season the most points in the World Cup. The distribution of points, the placings in the overall results of each race are taken into account. The eight first-placed rider in each race will receive points according to the following scheme: