2003 Formula One World Championship

57th season of FIA Formula One motor racing Formula One 2003 video game Formula One 2003 (video game) December 2023 January 2008 2003 Drivers' Champion: Michael SchumacherConstructors' Champion: Ferrari Formula 3000Porsche Supercup 3 450 Michael Schumacher at Fiorano in 2003.jpg Michael Schumacher won a record-breaking 6th world title and his fourth consecutive world title for Ferrari with 93 points. Kimi Raikkonen at Mengjia Longshan Temple 2002.jpg Kimi Räikkönen (pictured in 2002) finished second with 91 points, just two points behind Schumacher, for McLaren. Juan Pablo Montoya (cropped).jpg Juan Pablo Montoya (pictured in 2002) was third with 82 points for Williams. Michael Schumacher 2003 Silverstone (cropped).jpg Ferrari won the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors. Montoya 2003.jpg Williams-BMW placed second in the Constructors' Championship. Raikkonen 2003.jpg McLaren-Mercedes finished third in the Constructors' Championship, only two points behind Williams. The 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 57th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 2003 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 2003 Formula One World Championship for Constructors, which were contested concurrently over a sixteen-race series that commenced on 9 March and ended on 12 October. Defending champions Michael Schumacher and Scuderia Ferrari were again awarded the World Drivers' Championship and World Constructors' Championship, respectively.2003 FIA Formula One World Championship – Drivers' and Constructors' Final Standings, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015 Schumacher's closest competitors were Kimi Räikkönen, driving for McLaren, and Juan Pablo Montoya, driving for Williams. It was Schumacher's sixth World Drivers' title overall, breaking Juan Manuel Fangio's 46-year-old record. This was also the first season to introduce a new points system during which the points from Sunday's race were allocated to the top 8 drivers on a 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1-basis, with the points system being valid until the end of 2009 ahead of another major overhaul in terms of the scoring system in 2010. Teams and drivers The following teams and drivers competed in the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship. EntrantConstructorChassisEngine†TyreNo. Car numberDriverRounds ITA 2003 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari F2002BF2003-GA Ferrari Tipo 051BFerrari Tipo 052 Bridgestone 1 DEU Michael Schumacher All 2 BRA Rubens Barrichello All GBR BMW WilliamsF1 Team Williams-BMW FW25 BMW P83 Michelin 3 COL Juan Pablo Montoya All 4 DEU Ralf SchumacherRalf Schumacher was entered into the 2003 Italian, but later withdrew due to illness. All ESP Marc Gené 14 GBR West McLaren Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes MP4-17D Mercedes FO110MMercedes FO110P Michelin 5 GBR David Coulthard All 6 FIN Kimi Räikkönen All FRA 1974 Mild Seven Renault F1 Team Renault R23R23B Renault RS23 Michelin 7 ITA 2003 Jarno Trulli All 8 ESP Fernando Alonso All CHE Sauber Petronas Sauber-Petronas C22 Petronas 03A Bridgestone 9 DEU Nick Heidfeld All 10 DEU Heinz-Harald Frentzen All IRL Benson & Hedges Jordan Ford Jordan-Ford EJ13 Ford RS1 Bridgestone 11 ITA 2003 Giancarlo Fisichella All 12 IRL Ralph FirmanRalph Firman was entered into the 2003 Hungarian, but later withdrew after he was injured during free practice. 1–13, 15–16 HUN Zsolt Baumgartner 13–14 GBR HSBC Jaguar Racing Jaguar-Cosworth R4 Cosworth CR-5 Michelin 14 AUS Mark Webber All 15 BRA Antônio Pizzonia 1–11 GBR Justin Wilson 12–16 GBR Lucky Strike BAR Honda BAR-Honda 005 Honda RA003E Bridgestone 16 CAN Jacques Villeneuve 1–15 JPN Takuma Sato 16 17 GBR Jenson Button All ITA 2003 Trust Minardi CosworthMinardi entered first six Grands Prix as "European Minardi Cosworth".https://www.crash.net/f1/news/45812/1/trust-increases-minardi-backing Trust increases Minardi backing 22 May 2003 Crash.net 3 January 2021 Minardi-Cosworth PS03 Cosworth CR-3 Bridgestone 18 GBR Justin Wilson 1–11 DNK Nicolas Kiesa 12–16 19 NLD Jos Verstappen All JPN Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota TF103 Toyota RVX-03 Michelin 20 FRA 1974 Olivier Panis All 21 BRA Cristiano da Matta AllSources:2003 FIA Formula One World Championship http://www.fia.com/FreePress/F1_guide_2003/F1_Guide.html Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile 13 June 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20031004053850/http://www.fia.com/FreePress/F1_guide_2003/F1_Guide.html 4 October 2003Braillon Didier Domenjoz Luc Formula 1 Yearbook 2003–04 Sporting regulations https://archive.org/details/formula1yearbook0000unse_x6v8 2003 Parragon Bath, Somerset 22–41 978-1-4054-2089-1 Internet Archive registrationModels in 2003 https://www.statsf1.com/en/2003/modeles.aspx StatsF1 13 June 2023 † All engines were required to have ten cylinders and an engine capacity not exceeding 3000 cc,2003 Formula One Technical Regulations, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015 and all were of V10 configuration.2003 FIA Formula One World Championship – F1 Guide, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015 Friday drivers Three constructors entered Friday-testing-only drivers over the course of the season. 3 450 Barrichello 2002.jpg Rubens Barrichello (pictured in 2002) placed fourth. Ralf Schumacher, 2016.png Ralf Schumacher (pictured in 2016) placed fifth, missing one race. + Drivers that took part in Friday testing sessionsConstructorFriday driversNo.Driver nameRounds Renault 34GBR Allan McNish 1–9, 11–16 44FRA Franck Montagny 10Jordan–Ford 36HUN Zsolt BaumgartnerSWE Björn WirdheimJPN Satoshi Motoyama 12–131516Minardi–Cosworth 39ITA Matteo BobbiITA Gianmaria Bruni 412–16 Team changes After failing to complete the 2002 season due to financial difficulties, the Arrows team had their application for admission to the 2003 championship rejected by the FIA prior to the season start date. No reason was publicly given by the FIA and Arrows subsequently folded after 25 years in Formula One since 1978. Jordan switched to Ford-branded Cosworth engines for 2003, after their previous suppliers, Honda, opted to focus on their partnership with BAR. Jordan's contract with the Japanese engine manufacturer was due to expire at the end of the 2003 season, but Honda were no longer willing to provide Jordan with free engines. A link-up with, and possible buy-out by, Asiatech was rumoured,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/1964938.stm Jordan set to lose Honda deal BBC Sport 3 May 2002 17 October 2013 although this did not prove to be the case, and, when funding was withdrawn from the company, Asiatech was wound down. Minardi, who had been using Asiatech engines in 2002, switched to Cosworth units for 2003. Driver changes Fernando Alonso, the team's test driver in 2002, was promoted to a full-time drive at Renault, replacing Jenson Button. Button moved to BAR, where he took the seat vacated by the Toyota-bound Olivier Panis. Panis joined Formula One debutant, and reigning CART champion, Cristiano da Matta at the Japanese team, in an all-new lineup for 2003. Allan McNish, one of the drivers replaced at Toyota, signed with Renault as a test driver, while his teammate from 2002, Mika Salo, left Formula One altogether. Felipe Massa left his Sauber drive to assume the duties of test driver for Ferrari. His place at Sauber was taken by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who had replaced Massa on a one-off basis for the United States Grand Prix (by which time Frentzen was already confirmed as a Sauber driver for 2003), after having driven for Arrows before the team's collapse. Takuma Sato left the Jordan team to take the place of several others (Anthony Davidson, Darren Manning, Ryo Fukuda and Patrick Lemarié) as the sole test driver for BAR, being replaced by 2002 Formula Nippon champion Ralph Firman. Jaguar replaced both Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa for 2003. Their new drivers were Mark Webber, who signed from Minardi, and debutant Antônio Pizzonia, who drove in the International Formula 3000 series in 2002 whilst also performing test driver duties for Williams. Webber's vacated seat at Minardi was filled by Justin Wilson, who had won the International Formula 3000 title in 2001. Alex Yoong's Minardi contract from 2002 was not renewed and he moved to the CART series, albeit only for a brief stint, in 2003. He was replaced at Minardi by Jos Verstappen, who had spent a season on the sidelines after losing his Arrows drive to Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 2002. Mid-season changes Minardi's Justin Wilson joined Jaguar from the German Grand Prix onwards, filling in for the under-performing Antônio Pizzonia, who was offered a test driving role at the team but turned it down. He would later resurface as a test driver at Williams. Wilson's seat at Minardi was taken by the Danish driver Nicolas Kiesa, who joined Formula One from the International Formula 3000 series. Ralph Firman suffered injuries as a result of a crash during practice in Hungary. He was replaced by Zsolt Baumgartner for the Italian Grand Prix before returning to finish the season for Jordan. Baumgartner, another driver who had been competing in the International Formula 3000 series, was the first Hungarian driver to race in Formula One. Ralf Schumacher was unable to race in Italy, due to concussion. He was replaced at Williams by Marc Gené, the team's test driver, for that particular race, before returning for the following Grand Prix. After a string of disappointing results in 2003, Jacques Villeneuve elected to end his season one race early, and was replaced at BAR by test driver Takuma Sato for the Japanese Grand Prix. Villeneuve would later drive for Renault in 2004 as a replacement driver, and sign a multi-year contract at Sauber for 2005 (though he was replaced in 2006). Calendar The 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship was contested over the following sixteen races: Round Grand Prix Circuit Date1 Australian Grand Prix AUS Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne 9 March2 Malaysian Grand Prix MYS Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur 23 March3 Brazilian Grand Prix BRA Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 6 April4 San Marino Grand Prix ITA 2003 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola 20 April5 Spanish Grand Prix ESP Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló 4 May6 Austrian Grand Prix AUT A1-Ring, Spielberg 18 May7 Monaco Grand Prix MCO Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 1 June8 Canadian Grand Prix CAN Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 15 June9 European Grand Prix DEU Nürburgring, Nürburg 29 June10 French Grand Prix FRA 1974 Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours 6 July11 British Grand Prix GBR Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 20 July12 German Grand Prix DEU Hockenheimring, Hockenheim 3 August13 Hungarian Grand Prix HUN Hungaroring, Mogyoród 24 August14 Italian Grand Prix ITA 2003 Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza 14 September15 United States Grand Prix USA Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 28 September16 Japanese Grand Prix JPN Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 12 OctoberSources:2003 https://www.chicanef1.com/calendar.pl?year=2003 Chicane F1 3 April 2022Formula One Calendar 2003 https://motorsportstats.com/series/formula-one/calendar/2003 Motorsport Stats 3 April 2022 The Belgian Grand Prix scheduled for 31 August was cancelled due to a row over tobacco advertising, despite multiple races taking place without such advertising.https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-statement-on-2003-belgian-gp/1005234/ https://web.archive.org/web/20220816065003/https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-statement-on-2003-belgian-gp/1005234/ FIA statement on 2003 Belgian GP Motorsport Network 31 October 2002 16 August 2022 16 August 2022 dead Regulation changes Technical regulations On 26 June 2002, the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) declared that the HANS ('Head and Neck Support') device would be made compulsory in Formula 1. This was not without controversy, as many drivers voiced their complaints, including Rubens Barrichello, Jacques Villeneuve, Justin Wilson and Nick Heidfeld.Collings Timothy 6 March 2003 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2397462/Formula-One-Villeneuve-hits-out.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2397462/Formula-One-Villeneuve-hits-out.html 12 January 2022 subscription live Formula One: Villeneuve hits out The Daily Telegraph 9 June 2013McKay Peter 31 March 2003 http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/articledetail.aspx?ArticleID=7058 Inside Line: It's close ... but Ferrari isn't panicking Drive.com.au Fairfax Media 9 June 2013 3 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131103131412/http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/articledetail.aspx?ArticleID=7058 dead On 26 February 2003, the FIA decided that no fuel could be added to or removed from the cars between qualifying and race. This was decided based on safety grounds, as it would avoid the danger that, in a search for extra performance in qualifying, teams would run their cars in a manner which might be unsuitable or even dangerous at the start of the race.26 February 2003 https://www.newsonf1.com/2003/news/feb/feb01.htm#26-2-a February 2003 News NewsOnF1 12 January 2024 Hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion steering system became mandatory for all Formula One entrants due to manual rack and pinion steering system deemed too difficult to cornering for drivers. The 2003 season is notable for being the third and last season that fully-automatic gearboxes and launch control were allowed to be used. Both electronic driver aids had been used since the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix, but a change in the technical regulations saw the FIA banning both systems for 2004.https://www.newsonf1.com/f1regs/2004regulations.htm F1 Regulations - Formula 1 Rules and Regulations for the 2004 F1 Season newsonf1.com 6 December 2020 The ban on traction control was ultimately delayed until the 2008 season. Sporting regulations After Ferrari's infamous decision during the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, ordering Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher by, any team orders which interfered with a race result were prohibited from the 2003 season onwards. Only one type of wet weather tyre was allowed to be used in wet weather races. This immediately raised concerns with the tyre suppliers.25 November 2002 https://www.autosport.com/general/news/new-f1-tyre-rules-raise-safety-concerns-5034728/5034728/ New F1 tyre rules raise safety concerns autosport.com 12 January 2024 And after the chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix, in which drivers tried to call off the first qualifying session6 April 2003 https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/tyre-troubles-at-interlagos/1028850/ Tyre troubles at Interlagos motorsport.com 12 January 2024 and which saw six drivers crash in the same corner, this rule was scrapped. Furthermore, the 2003 season saw the introduction of new regulations intended to increase F1's excitement, to halt falling global television audiences that had occurred during the previous season, and to help alleviate the financial difficulties of the smaller teams: One-lap qualifying was introduced as a way for smaller teams to get more television exposure. In the qualifying session on Friday, drivers would go out in current championship order, to determine the running order on Saturday. A faster lap time on Friday would mean a later starting time for them on Saturday. On Saturday, drivers contested for their starting position in the race on Sunday, with the fastest driver awarded pole position. In both sessions, drivers could only do one timed lap.28 October 2002 https://www.newsonf1.com/2002/news/oct/oct14.htm#28-10-a 14 - 30 October 2002 News NewsOnF1 12 January 2024 Optional Friday testing at Grand Prix events was introduced in exchange for fewer miles on stand-alone test days. This was intended to give smaller teams a cheaper alternative to these test days, which were to be banned in 2004. The points system for both the Constructors' and Drivers' titles was changed from 10–6–4–3–2–1 (used since 1991) for the first six finishers at each round to 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 for the first eight finishers2003 Formula One Sporting Regulations, www.jomenvisst.de via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015 in an attempt to make the title contests closer and provide better competition between midfield teams. Season summary Rounds 1 to 3 Going into the season, Ferrari was the team to beat, having won the previous four Constructors' Championships. There was a lot of speculation about the effect of the new regulations on their dominance and overall form. In qualifying for the first race, the Australian Grand Prix, nothing seemed to have changed at the front. Reigning Drivers' Champion Michael Schumacher started in pole position, with his teammate Rubens Barrichello beside him. Juan Pablo Montoya in the Williams started in third, but the other Williams and McLaren drivers (Ferrari's main rivals in 2002) started way further down the grid. So the new qualifying format did shake up the order somewhat. After heavy rainfall, the race started in half-wet conditions. The Ferraris started on wet tyres, while Montoya started on dries, as did Kimi Räikkönen at the last minute when he pitted on the end of the formation lap and, thus, started in last place. While Schumacher led away, Barrichello jumped the start and received a drive-through penalty. The track was drying quickly and the changeable conditions took some by surprise: Barrichello crashed on lap five, followed by rookies Ralph Firman and Cristiano da Matta. After two safety car periods, it was last-starting Räikkönen that found himself in the lead of the race, followed by Schumacher and McLaren teammate David Coulthard. During the second round of pit stops, the Ferrari retook the lead and Räikkönen fell back to third, having sped in the pit lane and being served a drive-through penalty. Soon, however, Schumacher sustained damage from a curb stone and received a black-and-orange flag, forcing him to pit for repairs. He fell down to fourth behind Räikkönen, missing out on the podium for the first time since the 2001 Italian Grand Prix. (It also ended Ferrari's podium streak since the 1999 European Grand Prix.) It was Montoya who picked up the scraps, until he spun at the first corner and saw Coulthard pass him for the win. (This would be the Scot's last race victory.) At the Malaysian Grand Prix, it was the Renault team that blocked out the first row. Fernando Alonso, being the then-youngest driver to achieve pole position, started ahead of Jarno Trulli. Michael Schumacher started in third and tried to pass Trulli into the first corner, but tapped him into a spin. The Italian rejoined in last place, but Schumacher had to pit for repairs and was given a driving-through penalty on top of that. His main rivals were just as unlucky: Montoya was rear-ended by Jaguar driver Antônio Pizzonia and lost two laps during a rear-wing replacement, while Coulthard had to retire on the second lap when his car's electronics failed. Räikkönen took the lead, ahead of Alonso and Barrichello. During the second round of pit stops, Barrichello took second place, but Räikkönen was unchallenged, scored his first career win and took the lead in the championship. Justin Wilson, driving for Minardi, had to retire when his HANS device got loose and pinched his shoulders, resulting in temporary paralysis of both his arms. (He recovered before the next race.2 April 2003 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2908901.stm Wilson defies pain in Brazil BBC Sport 18 January 2024) Practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix was held in torrential weather conditions. For qualifying, it was no different, and the majority of drivers signed a petition, mandating the FIA to cancel the session if track conditions did not improve.http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/22433 Petition to scrap first qualifying 4 April 2003 Autosport 12 October 2019 12 October 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191012104115/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/22433 live When the rain eased off, however, the session went ahead as planned.http://www.atlasf1.com/news/2003/apr/report.php/id/10003/.html Qualifying Goes Ahead Despite Drivers' Petition 4 April 2003 Atlas F1 subscription 12 October 2019 12 October 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191012104115/http://www.atlasf1.com/news/2003/apr/report.php/id/10003/.html dead The second qualifying session on Saturday was held in warm and dry conditions. Rubens Barrichello achieved pole position for Ferrari. Behind him stood David Coulthard for McLaren and a surprising Mark Webber for Jaguar. On Sunday, the rain was back and even under safety car conditions, drivers struggled to keep the car on track. When the field was released, Coulthard immediately overtook Barrichello, and in the next three laps, Räikkönen passed both of them to take the lead. The track began to dry, except for turn three, where a stream of water was running across the asphalt. Over the course of the race, six drivers crashed when going through that corner, including Michael Schumacher. This led to four safety car interventions. When a lot of drivers had to pit for fuel, Kimi Räikkönen and Giancarlo Fisichella became the leading pair and the Jordan driver overtook the McLaren when he ran wide. It was expected that Coulthard would win after those two had done their stops, but then, Webber and Alonso crashed heavily and the race was stopped. Alonso sustained bruises and was kept in hospital for observation. The sporting regulations said to take the order from two laps before the race suspension as the final result, and Räikkönen was declared the winner. When the FIA found a timekeeping error, however, this was corrected and Fisichella was awarded his first-ever win in an unofficial ceremony ahead of the next race.https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A99897009/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=ad78e897 Fisichella may be granted victory on a countback; Motor racing Eason Kevin 10 April 2003 The Times 15 October 2019 61 Gale Academic OneFile subscription 14 December 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211214090444/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA99897009&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=ad78e897 liveBrazil 2003: Result overturned - Fisichella gets winners trophy at Imola https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfa1TNF0AHQ en 10 August 2019 20 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201120060343/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfa1TNF0AHQ live After three eventful races, Räikkonen (McLaren) was leading the championship with 24 points, ahead of his teammate Coulthard (15 points) and Alonso (Renault, 14 points). Reigning champion Michael Schumacher was down in sixth place. Rounds 4 to 8 thumb|right|Drivers lining up for the start at the Spanish Grand Prix For the San Marino Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher achieved pole position. His brother Ralf and his teammate Rubens Barrichello started behind him. At the start, Ralf overtook Michael but eventually fell back to fourth position. The Ferrari driver won the race, ahead of championship leader Räikkönen and Barrichello. The next race in Spain saw Ferrari debut their new car and their drivers taking up the front row in qualifying. Behind them were the Renaults of Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli. At the start, Alonso overtook Barrichello for second and the top three went on to finish in this order. Trulli made contact with David Coulthard and retired. Räikkönen crashed into the stalled Jaguar of Antônio Pizzonia. In Austria, Michael Schumacher started on pole and won the race. It was the third consecutive weekend that he achieved this. He did have to cope with a slow pit stop and small fire, but he was unchallenged by his rivals, as Räikkönen slowed down with engine-related performance problems and Montoya retired with a blown engine. The Finn held on to second, ahead of Barrichello in third. The twisty track of Monaco favoured the Michelin runners: Ralf Schumacher (Williams) started on pole, ahead of Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren) and Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams). The race featured no on-track overtakes, so the order was decided by the start and the pit stops. Montoya took the win, just six tenths ahead of Räikkönen, and Michael Schumacher completed the podium. Ralf finished in fourth. In Canada, Ralf Schumacher started on pole again, with his teammate beside him. Michael Schumacher started in third, but during the race, managed to get ahead of both Williams drivers. It was a race of attrition, where just nine drivers finished and Schumacher, too, had to nurse his ailing car home. But the German held on to take the win. Recovering from his start to the season, Schumacher had taken the lead in the championship (54 points) and was now three points ahead of Kimi Räikkönen (51). A group of four drivers, led by Fernando Alonso (34 points), were fighting over third place. Rounds 9 to 13 thumb|right|Jos Verstappen set the fastest time in Friday qualifying on a drying track The European Grand Prix, held at the Nürburgring, saw Kimi Räikkönen take pole position and lead the race, until his McLaren's engine broke down on lap 25. Ralf Schumacher in the Williams came through to take a victory on home soil. His teammate Juan Pablo Montoya and his brother Michael Schumacher collided on lap 43, dropping the German down to sixth. Montoya held on to take second on the podium, ahead of Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello. Williams overtook McLaren for second position in the Constructors' Championship. At the Circuit de Magny-Cours in France, Ralf Schumacher started from pole, with Montoya and Michael Schumacher behind him. This was also the order of the top three at the finish. This would be Ralf's last win in F1 and, as of 2025, Williams' last 1-2 finish. For the British Grand Prix, it was Rubens Barrichello who achieved pole position, but Jarno Trulli in the Renault who led into the first corner. There was a brief safety car intervention to clear up debris from David Coulthard's McLaren, but the race was truly disrupted when, on lap 11, Neil Horan invaded the track. Wearing a kilt and waving religious banners, he ran towards the cars, who swerved to avoid him. A track marshal tackled him and pulled him to the side. The safety car was deployed and almost everyone pitted. Among others, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Juan Pablo Montoya fell outside the top ten. The Toyota drivers Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis opted not to pit and took the lead, ahead of Coulthard. It was Räikkönen, eventually, who passed Da Matta for the lead. Under pressure from Rubens Barrichello, however, the Finn made a mistake and gave up the win. A further error allowed Montoya to get by into second position. thumb|right|Kimi Räikkönen's McLaren after the German Grand Prix The F1 circus was back in Germany, this time for the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim. Montoya achieved pole position, just 0.018 seconds ahead of his teammate. At the start, Ralf Schumacher squeezed Räikkönen and Barrichello, who hit each other and crashed out, with Ralf retiring a lap later. He was charged with a ten-place grid penalty, but this was reversed after a successful appeal.Agence France-Presse Ralf Schumacher penalised for GP pile-up http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/04/1059849339686.html The Age 5 August 2003 Montoya held on to win, ahead of Coulthard and Trulli, the Renault driver scoring his only podium of the season. The last race of the summer was held on the revamped Hungaroring in Hungary. Alonso scored pole position and held on to win the race. It was his first victory and it made him the youngest winning driver in F1 history. Räikkönen and Montoya joined him on the podium, while Michael Schumacher could only manage eighth. In the Drivers' Championship, Räikkönen (70 points) and Montoya (71 points) had closed up to Schumacher (72 points), leaving no room for error with just three races to go. In the Constructors' Championship, it was now the Williams team in the lead with 129 points, over Ferrari with 121 and McLaren with 115. Rounds 14 to 16 thumb|right|Zsolt Baumgartner drove two races for Jordan. On home soil at Monza, with the support of the tifosi, the Scuderia Ferrari did what they had to do: Michael Schumacher qualified on pole and won. Juan Pablo Montoya for Williams and Michael's teammate Rubens Barrichello joined him on the podium. Up to the 2023 Italian Grand Prix, this was the shortest-duration (fully completed) race in F1 history, and it was a race with one of F1's highest-ever average speeds (247.6 km/h on), dethroned only 22 years later by the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. thumb|right|Start of the 2003 United States Grand Prix Kimi Räikkönen had not given up his championship hopes and achieved pole position for the United States Grand Prix. Barrichello managed second and Olivier Panis scored Toyota's best qualifying result when he set the third-fastest time. Montoya and Schumacher started in fourth and seventh, respectively. Räikkönen made a clean start, but Barrichello was passed by Panis when his launch control failed to automatically shift up to second gear.28 September 2003 Sunday's Selected Quotes – US GP https://www.atlasf1.com/news/2003/sep/report.php/id/11866/.html 24 December 2023 Atlas F1 24 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231224103359/https://www.atlasf1.com/news/2003/sep/report.php/id/11866/.html live Montoya was falling back and, on the third lap, collided with Barrichello, earning himself a drive-through penalty. Rain started falling and on lap 6, Panis was the first to switch to intermediate tyres. On the next lap, Montoya was back behind Schumacher and, on his second attempt, managed to overtake him. As the rain eased up, all drivers that had pitted, switched back to dry tyres, only for the rain to reappear on lap 18. Schumacher decided to pit and stay on dry tyres, but then came in again on lap 22 for intermediates. Mark Webber shortly led the race before crashing out, with the same happening to then-leader David Coulthard. On lap 38, Schumacher had passed all drivers in front of him and held on to take the win. Championship rival Räikkönen came home in second, followed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Sauber. Montoya finished sixth, which meant he was now out of contention for the championship. Räikkönen's only hope was to win the last race of the season and Schumacher failing to finish. In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari was leading Williams with 147 over 144 points. The Japanese Grand Prix saw Michael Schumacher qualify in 14th, his worst grid position in a Ferrari. Kimi Räikkönen started in 8th, so he faced an uphill battle to take the win that he needed. Räikkönen needed to win and Schumacher not to score a single point in order for him to become Drivers' Champion, since Schumacher held the tiebreaker on wins over Räikkönen, 6 to 1. Rubens Barrichello started on pole, with Montoya beside him. The Toyota's commenced their home race in third and fourth. On the first lap, Fernando Alonso in the Renault jumped up to third and Montoya took the lead. Schumacher was careful to stay out of trouble at the start, looking to score at least one point, but when trying to overtake Takuma Sato, he hit the local driver's rear wheel and lost his front wing. This forced him to pit and he rejoined in last place. This practically handed the Constructors' Championship to Williams, until Montoya suddenly retired with a hydraulics problem. Schumacher narrowly avoided a replication of his incident at the chicane, this time with Cristiano da Matta, but it led to his brother Ralf running into the back of him. All this left Räikkönen unchallenged to climb up to second position, but this was insufficient to overtake Schumacher on points. Barrichello took the win which was sufficient for Ferrari to win the Constructors' Champion. Michael Schumacher ended the season on 93 points, ahead of Kimi Räikkönen with 91 and Juan Pablo Montoya with 82. It was a record sixth Drivers' Championship and Schumacher's fourth in a row. Ferrari were Constructors' Champions for the fifth consecutive year. Results and standings Grands Prix Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor Report 1 AUS Australian Grand Prix DEU Michael Schumacher FIN Kimi Räikkönen GBR David Coulthard GBR McLaren-Mercedes Report 2 MYS Malaysian Grand Prix ESP Fernando Alonso DEU Michael Schumacher FIN Kimi RäikkönenGBR McLaren-Mercedes Report 3 BRA Brazilian Grand Prix BRA Rubens Barrichello BRA Rubens Barrichello ITA 2003 Giancarlo FisichellaIRL Jordan-Ford Report 4 ITA 2003 San Marino Grand Prix DEU Michael Schumacher DEU Michael Schumacher DEU Michael Schumacher ITA 2003 Ferrari Report 5 ESP Spanish Grand Prix DEU Michael Schumacher BRA Rubens Barrichello DEU Michael Schumacher ITA 2003 Ferrari Report 6 AUT Austrian Grand Prix DEU Michael Schumacher DEU Michael Schumacher DEU Michael Schumacher ITA 2003 Ferrari Report 7 MCO Monaco Grand Prix DEU Ralf Schumacher FIN Kimi Räikkönen COL Juan Pablo Montoya GBR Williams-BMW Report 8 CAN Canadian Grand Prix DEU Ralf Schumacher ESP Fernando Alonso DEU Michael Schumacher ITA 2003 Ferrari Report 9 DEU European Grand Prix FIN Kimi Räikkönen FIN Kimi Räikkönen DEU Ralf Schumacher GBR Williams-BMW Report 10 FRA 1974 French Grand Prix DEU Ralf Schumacher COL Juan Pablo Montoya DEU Ralf Schumacher GBR Williams-BMW Report 11 GBR British Grand Prix BRA Rubens Barrichello BRA Rubens Barrichello BRA Rubens Barrichello ITA 2003 Ferrari Report 12 DEU German Grand Prix COL Juan Pablo Montoya COL Juan Pablo Montoya COL Juan Pablo MontoyaGBR Williams-BMW Report 13 HUN Hungarian Grand Prix ESP Fernando Alonso COL Juan Pablo Montoya ESP Fernando Alonso FRA 1974 Renault Report 14 ITA 2003 Italian Grand PrixDEU Michael Schumacher DEU Michael Schumacher DEU Michael Schumacher ITA 2003 Ferrari Report 15USA United States Grand Prix FIN Kimi RäikkönenDEU Michael SchumacherDEU Michael Schumacher ITA 2003 Ferrari Report 16 JPN Japanese Grand Prix BRA Rubens Barrichello DEU Ralf Schumacher BRA Rubens Barrichello ITA 2003 Ferrari ReportSource:Formula One Results 2003 https://motorsportstats.com/series/formula-one/results/2003 Motorsport Stats 3 April 2021 Scoring system List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems Points were awarded to the top eight finishing drivers and constructors as follows:Jones Bruce The Official ITV Sport Guide: 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship Final Tables 2003 https://archive.org/details/formulaonegrandp0000jone_i0o1/ 2004 Carlton Books 100–101 1-84442-811-7 Internet Archive registration Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th  Points 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 World Drivers' Championship standings Pos. PositionDriver AUSAUS MALMYS BRABRA SMRITA 2003 ESPESP AUTAUT MONMCO CANCAN EURDEU FRAFRA 1974 GBRGBR GERDEU HUNHUN ITAITA 2003 USAUSA JPNJPN Points 1 DEU Michael Schumacher 4 p 6 f Ret 1 p f 1 p 1 p f 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1 p f 1 f 893 2 FIN Kimi Räikkönen 3 f 1 2 2 Ret 2 2 f 6 Ret p f 4 3 Ret 2 4 2 p 291 3 COL Juan Pablo Montoya 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2 f 2 1 p f 3 f 2 6 Ret82 4 BRA Rubens Barrichello Ret 2 Ret p f 3 3 f 3 8 5 3 7 1 p f Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 p65 5 DEU Ralf Schumacher 8 4 7 4 5 6 4 p 2 p 1 1 p 9 Ret 4WD Ret 12 f58 6 ESP Fernando Alonso 7 3 p 3 6 2 Ret 5 4 f 4 Ret Ret 4 1 p 8 Ret Ret55 7 GBR David Coulthard 1Ret 4 5Ret 5 7Ret 15† 5 5 2 5RetRet 351 8 ITA 2003 Jarno Trulli 5 5 8 13Ret 8 6RetRetRet 6 3 7Ret 4 533 9 GBR Jenson Button 10 7Ret 8 9 4DNSRet 7Ret 8 8 10RetRet 417 10 AUS Mark WebberRetRet 9†Ret 7 7Ret 7 6 6 14 11† 6 7Ret 1117 11 DEU Heinz-Harald Frentzen 6 9 5 11Ret DNSRetRet 9 12 12RetRet 13† 3Ret13 12 ITA 2003 Giancarlo Fisichella 12†Ret 1 15†RetRet 10Ret 12RetRet 13†Ret 10 7Ret12 13 BRA Cristiano da MattaRet 11 10 12 6 10 9 11†Ret 11 7 6 11Ret 9 710 14 DEU Nick HeidfeldRet 8Ret 10 10Ret 11Ret 8 13 17 10 9 9 5 96 15 FRA 1974 Olivier PanisRetRetRet 9RetRet 13 8Ret 8 11 5RetRetRet 106 16 CAN Jacques Villeneuve 9 DNS 6RetRet 12RetRetRet 9 10 9Ret 6Ret6 17 ESP Marc Gené 54 18 JPN Takuma Sato 63 19 IRL Ralph FirmanRet 10RetRet 8 11 12Ret 11 15 13RetWDRet 141 20 GBR Justin WilsonRetRetRetRet 11 13RetRet 13 14 16RetRetRet 8 131 21 BRA Antônio Pizzonia 13†RetRet 14Ret 9Ret 10† 10 10Ret0 22 NLD Jos Verstappen 11 13RetRet 12RetRet 9 14 16 15Ret 12Ret 10 150 23 DNK Nicolas Kiesa 12 13 12 11 160 24 HUN Zsolt BaumgartnerRet 110Pos. PositionDriver AUSAUS MALMYS BRABRA SMRITA 2003 ESPESP AUTAUT MONMCO CANCAN EURDEU FRAFRA 1974 GBRGBR GERDEU HUNHUN ITAITA 2003 USAUSA JPNJPN Points Source: Notes: – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance. World Constructors' Championship standings Pos. PositionConstructorNo. Car number AUSAUS MALMYS BRABRA SMRITA 2003 ESPESP AUTAUT MONMCO CANCAN EURDEU FRAFRA 1974 GBRGBR GERDEU HUNHUN ITAITA 2003 USAUSA JPNJPN Points 1 ITA 2003 Ferrari 1 4 p 6 f Ret 1 p f 1 p 1 p f 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1 p f 1 f 8 158 2 Ret 2 Ret p f 3 3 f 3 8 5 3 7 1 p f Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 p 2 GBR Williams-BMW 3 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2 f 2 1 p f 3 f 2 6 Ret 144 4 8 4 7 4 5 6 4 p 2 p 1 1 p 9Ret 4 5Ret 12 f 3 GBR McLaren-Mercedes 5 1Ret 4 5Ret 5 7Ret 15† 5 5 2 5RetRet 3 142 6 3 f 1 2 2 Ret 2 2 f 6 Ret p f 4 3 Ret 2 4 2 p 2 4 FRA 1974 Renault 7 5 5 8 13Ret 8 6RetRetRet 6 3 7Ret 4 5 88 8 7 3 p 3 6 2 Ret 5 4 f 4 Ret Ret 4 1 p 8 Ret Ret 5 GBR BAR-Honda 16 9 DNS 6RetRet 12RetRetRet 9 10 9Ret 6Ret 6 26 17 10 7Ret 8 9 4DNSRet 7Ret 8 8 10RetRet 4 6 CHE Sauber-Petronas 9Ret 8Ret 10 10Ret 11Ret 8 13 17 10 9 9 5 9 19 10 6 9 5 11Ret DNSRetRet 9 12 12RetRet 13† 3Ret 7 GBR Jaguar-Cosworth 14RetRet 9†Ret 7 7Ret 7 6 6 14 11† 6 7Ret 11 18 15 13†RetRet 14Ret 9Ret 10† 10 10RetRetRetRet 8 13 8 JPN Toyota 20RetRetRet 9RetRet 13 8Ret 8 11 5RetRetRet 10 16 21Ret 11 10 12 6 10 9 11†Ret 11 7 6 11Ret 9 7 9 IRL Jordan-Ford 11 12†Ret 1 15†RetRet 10Ret 12RetRet 13†Ret 10 7Ret 13 12Ret 10RetRet 8 11 12Ret 11 15 13RetRet 11Ret 14 10 ITA 2003 Minardi-Cosworth 18RetRetRetRet 11 13RetRet 13 14 16 12 13 12 11 16 0 19 11 13RetRet 12RetRet 9 14 16 15Ret 12Ret 10 15Pos. PositionConstructorNo. Car number AUSAUS MALMYS BRABRA SMRITA 2003 ESPESP AUTAUT MONMCO CANCAN EURDEU FRAFRA 1974 GBRGBR GERDEU HUNHUN ITAITA 2003 USAUSA JPNJPN Points Source: Notes: – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance. Notes References External links Formula One formula1.com – 2003 drivers standings (archived) formula1.com – 2003 teams standings (archived) Category:Formula One seasons Formula 1