2003 Formula One season

From WOI Encyclopedia Italia


2003 FIA Formula One World Championship season
Previous: 2002 Next: 2004
Index: Races by country | Races by season
Ralf Schumacher driving his Williams at 2003 United States Grand Prix. For Michael Schumacher's brother, 2003 was the best season in his career
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Ralf Schumacher driving his Williams at 2003 United States Grand Prix. For Michael Schumacher's brother, 2003 was the best season in his career


The 2003 Formula One season was the 54th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It commenced on March 9, 2003, and ended on October 12 after sixteen races.

After a dominant two years from Scuderia Ferrari and Michael Schumacher the 2003 world championship proved to be the most closely contested in decades as for a great part of the season several drivers from several teams had mathematical chances of fighting for the title. Eight different drivers won a Grand Prix, amongst them there were three first time winners.

Notable races include the chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix which was hampered by monsoon conditions, and the British Grand Prix where the track was invaded by the now-defrocked priest Neil Horan, who ran onto the Hangar straight, running towards the 250 km/h train of cars, wearing a green kilt and waving religious banners. Kimi Räikkönen, driving for McLaren-Mercedes, and Juan Pablo Montoya, driving for BMW Williams, had a chance of claiming the 2003 championship right until the end of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix. Another notable race was the Hungarian Grand Prix, which saw a young Fernando Alonso winning his first Formula One race.

After failing to complete the 2002 season due to financial difficulties, the Arrows team had their application for admission to the 2003 season 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.

Another feature of the season was the introduction of rules and regulations to improve F1's excitement and to help the financial difficulties of the smaller teams. One-lap qualifying was introduced as a way for smaller teams to get more TV time. Optional Friday testing was introduced to help reduce testing costs and to give smaller teams a cheaper alternative to testing in exchange for less testing miles on test days (which were banned in 2004). The scoring system was changed to 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 in an attempt to make the constructors' and drivers' title races closer, and only one type of wet weather tyre was allowed to be used in wet weather races.

Contents

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed in the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre No Driver Test driver(s)
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari F2002
F2003-GA 		Ferrari 051 3.0 V10
Ferrari 052 3.0 V10 		B 1 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Luca Badoer
Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Felipe Massa
2 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Rubens Barrichello
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png BMW WilliamsF1 Team Williams FW25 BMW P83 3.0 V10 M 3 Image:22px-Flag_of_Colombia.png Juan Pablo Montoya Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Antônio Pizzonia 1
Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Marc Gené 2
4 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Ralf Schumacher
Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Marc Gené
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png West McLaren Mercedes McLaren MP4-17D Mercedes FO110M 3.0 V10
Mercedes FO110P 3.0 V10 		M 5 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png David Coulthard Image:22px-Flag_of_Austria.png Alexander Wurz
6 Image:22px-Flag_of_Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen
Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Mild Seven Renault F1 Team Renault R23
R23B 		Renault RS23 3.0 V10 M 7 Jarno Trulli Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Allan McNish
8 Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Fernando Alonso
Image:20px-Flag_of_Switzerland.png Sauber Petronas Sauber C22 Petronas 03A 3.0 V10 B 9 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Nick Heidfeld Image:20px-Flag_of_Switzerland.png Neel Jani
10 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Heinz Harald Frentzen
Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Jordan Ford Jordan EJ13 Ford RS1 3.0 V10 B 11 Giancarlo Fisichella Image:22px-Flag_of_Hungary.png Zsolt Baumgartner
Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Satoshi Motoyama
12 Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Ralph Firman 3
Image:22px-Flag_of_Hungary.png Zsolt Baumgartner
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Jaguar Racing Jaguar R4 Cosworth CR-5 3.0 V10 M 14 Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.png Mark Webber Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Andre Lotterer
15 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Antônio Pizzonia
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Justin Wilson 4
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Lucky Strike BAR Honda BAR 005 Honda RA003E 3.0 V10 B 16 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png Jacques Villeneuve 5
 Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Takuma Sato
Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Takuma Sato
17 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Jenson Button
European Minardi Cosworth Minardi PS03 Cosworth CR-3 3.0 V10 B 18 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Justin Wilson Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.png Nicolas Kiesa
Matteo Bobbi
Gianmaria Bruni
Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.png Nicolas Kiesa 6
19 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.png Jos Verstappen
Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota TF103 Toyota RVX-03 3.0 V10 M 20 Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Olivier Panis Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Ricardo Zonta
21 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Cristiano da Matta

Driver changes

Felipe Massa left his Sauber drive to assume the duties of test driver for Ferrari. Jenson Button left Renault to take Panis' seat at BAR. Fernando Alonso moved up from the Renault test driving slot to a full time drive, replacing Jenson Button. Heinz Harald Frentzen joined Sauber to take over from Massa. Frentzen had driven for the Arrows team for part of the 2002 season, but left after the German Grand Prix. The Arrows team folded several days later without contesting another Grand Prix. 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 new driver Ralph Firman.

Team changes

Toyota announced midway through the 2002 season that both drivers (Mika Salo and Allan McNish) would be replaced. Olivier Panis joined from BAR and Cristiano da Matta signed from the Newman Haas team in the CART series. After being replaced at Toyota, Allan McNish signed with Renault as a test driver. Jaguar replaced both Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa. Their new drivers were Mark Webber and Antônio Pizzonia. At Minardi, Webber's vacated seat was filled by Justin Wilson. Alex Yoong's Minardi contract from 2002 was not renewed and he was replaced in that team by Jos Verstappen.

Results and Standings

Grand Prix

Round Race Date Location Winning Driver Constructor Report
1 Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.png Australian Grand Prix March 9 Melbourne Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png David Coulthard Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png McLaren-Mercedes Report
2 Image:22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.png Malaysian Grand Prix March 23 Sepang Image:22px-Flag_of_Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png McLaren-Mercedes Report
3 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Brazilian Grand Prix April 6 Interlagos Giancarlo Fisichella Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Jordan-Ford Report
4 Image:22px-Flag_of_San_Marino.png San Marino Grand Prix April 20 Imola Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
5 Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Spanish Grand Prix May 4 Catalunya Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
6 Image:22px-Flag_of_Austria.png Austrian Grand Prix May 18 A1-Ring Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
7 Image:22px-Flag_of_Monaco.png Monaco Grand Prix June 1 Monaco Image:22px-Flag_of_Colombia.png Juan Pablo Montoya Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Williams-BMW Report
8 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png Canadian Grand Prix June 15 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
9 Image:22px-Flag_of_Europe.png European Grand Prix June 29 Nürburgring Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Ralf Schumacher Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Williams-BMW Report
10 Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png French Grand Prix July 6 Magny-Cours Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Ralf Schumacher Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Williams-BMW Report
11 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png British Grand Prix July 20 Silverstone Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Rubens Barrichello Ferrari Report
12 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png German Grand Prix August 3 Hockenheimring Image:22px-Flag_of_Colombia.png Juan Pablo Montoya Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Williams-BMW Report
13 Image:22px-Flag_of_Hungary.png Hungarian Grand Prix August 24 Hungaroring Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Fernando Alonso Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Renault Report
14 Italian Grand Prix September 14 Monza Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
15 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png United States Grand Prix September 28 Indianapolis Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
16 Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Japanese Grand Prix October 12 Suzuka Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Rubens Barrichello Ferrari Report

Drivers

Pos Driver AUS Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.png MAL Image:22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.png BRA Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png SMR Image:22px-Flag_of_San_Marino.png ESP Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png AUT Image:22px-Flag_of_Austria.png MON Image:22px-Flag_of_Monaco.png CAN Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png EUR Image:22px-Flag_of_Europe.png FRA Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png GBR Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png GER Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png HUN Image:22px-Flag_of_Hungary.png ITA USA Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png JPN Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Pts
1 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png M.Schumacher 4 6 Ret 1 1 1 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1 1 8 93
2 Image:22px-Flag_of_Finland.png Räikkönen 3 1 2 2 Ret 2 2 6 Ret 4 3 Ret 2 4 2 2 91
3 Image:22px-Flag_of_Colombia.png Montoya 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 2 6 Ret 82
4 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Barrichello Ret 2 Ret 3 3 3 8 5 3 7 1 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 65
5 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png R.Schumacher 8 4 7 4 5 6 4 2 1 1 9 Ret 4 Ret 12 58
6 Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Alonso 7 3 3 6 2 Ret 5 4 4 Ret Ret 4 1 8 Ret Ret 55
7 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Coulthard 1 Ret 4 5 Ret 5 7 Ret 15 5 5 2 5 Ret Ret 3 51
8 Trulli 5 5 8 13 Ret 8 6 Ret Ret Ret 6 3 7 Ret 4 5 33
9 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Button 10 7 Ret 8 9 4 Ret Ret 7 Ret 8 8 10 Ret Ret 4 17
10 Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.png Webber Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 7 Ret 7 6 6 14 11 6 7 Ret 11 17
11 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Frentzen 6 9 5 11 Ret DNS Ret Ret 9 12 12 Ret Ret 13 3 Ret 13
12 Fisichella Ret Ret 1 15 Ret Ret 10 Ret 12 Ret Ret 13 Ret 10 7 Ret 12
13 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png da Matta Ret 11 10 12 6 10 9 11 Ret 11 7 6 11 Ret 9 7 10
14 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Heidfeld Ret 8 Ret 10 10 Ret 11 Ret 8 13 17 10 9 9 5 9 6
15 Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Panis Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 13 8 Ret 8 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 6
16 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png Villeneuve 9 Ret 6 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 9 10 9 Ret 6 Ret 6
17 Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Gené 5 4
18 Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Sato 6 3
19 Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Firman Ret 10 Ret Ret 8 11 12 Ret 11 15 13 Ret Ret 14 1
20 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Wilson Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 13 Ret Ret 13 14 16 Ret Ret Ret 8 13 1
21 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Pizzonia Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Ret 10 10 10 Ret 0
22 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.png Verstappen 11 13 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret 9 14 16 15 Ret 12 Ret 10 15 0
23 Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.png Kiesa 12 13 12 11 16 0
24 Image:22px-Flag_of_Hungary.png Baumgartner Ret 11 0
Pos Driver AUS Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.png MAL Image:22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.png BRA Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png SMR Image:22px-Flag_of_San_Marino.png ESP Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png AUT Image:22px-Flag_of_Austria.png MON Image:22px-Flag_of_Monaco.png CAN Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png EUR Image:22px-Flag_of_Europe.png FRA Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png GBR Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png GER Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png HUN Image:22px-Flag_of_Hungary.png ITA USA Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.png JPN Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Finished, in points
Blue Finished, no points
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Blank Did not participate
Blank Injured (INJ)
Blank Excluded (EX)
Pos Driver Constructor(s) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F.Laps Points
1 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Michael Schumacher Ferrari 16 6 8 5 5 93
2 Image:22px-Flag_of_Finland.png Kimi Räikkönen Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png McLaren Mercedes 16 1 10 2 3 91
3 Image:22px-Flag_of_Colombia.png Juan Pablo Montoya Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Williams BMW 16 2 9 1 3 82
4 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 16 2 8 3 3 65
5 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Ralf Schumacher Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Williams BMW 15 2 3 3 1 58
6 Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Fernando Alonso Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Renault 16 1 4 2 1 55
7 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png David Coulthard Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png McLaren Mercedes 16 1 3 0 0 51
8 Jarno Trulli Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Renault 16 0 1 0 0 33
9 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Jenson Button Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png BAR Honda 16 0 0 0 0 17
10 Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.png Mark Webber Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Jaguar Cosworth 16 0 0 0 0 17
11 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Heinz-Harald Frentzen Image:20px-Flag_of_Switzerland.png Sauber Petronas 16 0 1 0 0 13
12 Giancarlo Fisichella Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Jordan Ford 16 1 1 0 0 12
13 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Cristiano da Matta Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Toyota 16 0 0 0 0 10
14 Image:22px-Flag_of_Germany.png Nick Heidfeld Image:20px-Flag_of_Switzerland.png Sauber Petronas 16 0 0 0 0 6
15 Image:22px-Flag_of_France.png Olivier Panis Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Toyota 16 0 0 0 0 6
16 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Canada.png Jacques Villeneuve Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png BAR Honda 15 0 0 0 0 6
17 Image:22px-Flag_of_Spain.png Marc Gené Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Williams BMW 1 0 0 0 0 4
18 Image:22px-Flag_of_Japan.png Takuma Sato Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png BAR Honda 1 0 0 0 0 3
19 Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Ralph Firman Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Jordan Ford 14 0 0 0 0 1
20 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Justin Wilson Minardi Cosworth
Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Jaguar Cosworth 		16 0 0 0 0 1
21 Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png Antônio Pizzonia Image:22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.png Jaguar Cosworth 11 0 0 0 0 0
22 Image:22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.png Jos Verstappen Minardi Cosworth 16 0 0 0 0 0
23 Image:22px-Flag_of_Denmark.png Nicolas Kiesa Minardi Cosworth 5 0 0 0 0 0
24 Image:22px-Flag_of_Hungary.png Zsolt Baumgartner Image:22px-Flag_of_Ireland.png Jordan Ford 2 0 0 0 0 0

Constructors

Pos Constructor AUS Image:22px-Flag_of_Australia.png MAL Image:22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.png BRA Image:22px-Flag_of_Brazil.png SMR