2003 Formula One season

2003 FIA Formula One
World Championship
Drivers' Champion: Michael Schumacher
Constructors' Champion: Ferrari
Previous: 2002 Next: 2004
Michael Schumacher was F1 world champion for the fourth time in a row (and sixth time overall) for Ferrari with 93 points.
Kimi Räikkönen was just two points behind Schumacher with 91 for McLaren.
Juan Pablo Montoya was third with the Williams team and 82 points.
Rubens Barrichello (pictured in 2002) placed fourth
Ralf Schumacher (pictured in 2004) placed fifth

The 2003 Formula One season was the 54th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship, which commenced on 9 March 2003 and ended on 12 October after sixteen races. World Championship titles were awarded for both drivers and constructors with Michael Schumacher winning the former and Ferrari awarded the latter.[1]

The 2003 season saw the introduction of new regulations intended to increase F1's excitement 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. 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. Only one type of wet weather tyre was allowed to be used in wet weather races. The points system for both the Constructors' and Drivers' titles was changed from 10–6–4–3–2–1 for the first six finishers at each round to 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 for the first eight finishers[2] in an attempt to make the title contests closer.

While Ferrari's Michael Schumacher had won the 2002 championship by 67 points from his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, the 2003 season was much closer. For a great part of the 2003 season, several drivers from several teams had mathematical chances of winning the world championship. Eight different drivers won a Grand Prix, amongst them three first time winners. Kimi Räikkönen, driving for McLaren-Mercedes, and Juan Pablo Montoya, driving for BMW Williams, both had a chance of claiming the 2003 championship until late in the season, with Räikkönen still mathematically in contention at the final race, the Japanese Grand Prix. Räikkönen lost the championship to Schumacher by two points, although he won only one race to Schumacher's six. It was Schumacher's sixth world drivers' title overall, breaking Juan Manuel Fangio's 46-year-old record of five world drivers' titles for most drivers' championships won. Ferrari's defence of the Constructors' title was challenged throughout the year by Williams and McLaren, one of the few seasons where there were three front-running teams but in the end, Ferrari emerged victorious once again and the team clinched their fifth consecutive world constructors' title.

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.

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.

2003 also saw a major leap forward in Formula One safety, with the HANS device being made a mandatory requirement for drivers to wear at all races beginning from the Australian Grand Prix onwards. However, this was not without controversy, as many drivers voiced their complaints about the device, including Barrichello, Jacques Villeneuve, Justin Wilson and Nick Heidfeld.[3][4]

Teams and drivers

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

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre No Driver Rounds Free Practice driver(s)
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari F2002B
F2003-GA
Ferrari 051B
Ferrari 052
B 1 Germany Michael Schumacher All N/A
2 Brazil Rubens Barrichello All
United Kingdom BMW Williams F1 Team Williams-BMW FW25 BMW P83 M 3 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya All N/A
4 Germany Ralf Schumacher 1–13,
15–16
Spain Marc Gené 14
United Kingdom West McLaren Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes MP4-17D Mercedes FO110M
Mercedes FO110P
M 5 United Kingdom David Coulthard All N/A
6 Finland Kimi Räikkönen All
France Mild Seven Renault F1 Team Renault R23
R23B
Renault RS23 M 7 Italy Jarno Trulli All United Kingdom Allan McNish
France Franck Montagny[5]
8 Spain Fernando Alonso All
Switzerland Sauber Petronas Sauber-Petronas C22 Petronas 03A B 9 Germany Nick Heidfeld All N/A
10 Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen All
Republic of Ireland Jordan Ford Jordan-Ford EJ13 Ford RS1 B 11 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella All Hungary Zsolt Baumgartner
Sweden Björn Wirdheim
Japan Satoshi Motoyama
12 Republic of Ireland Ralph Firman 1–12,
15–16
Hungary Zsolt Baumgartner 13–14
United Kingdom Jaguar Racing Jaguar-Cosworth R4 Cosworth CR-5 M 14 Australia Mark Webber All N/A
15 Brazil Antônio Pizzonia 1–11
United Kingdom Justin Wilson 12–16
United Kingdom Lucky Strike BAR Honda BAR-Honda 005 Honda RA003E B 16 Canada Jacques Villeneuve 1–15 N/A
Japan Takuma Sato 16
17 United Kingdom Jenson Button All
Italy European Minardi Cosworth
Trust Minardi Cosworth
Minardi-Cosworth PS03 Cosworth CR-3 B 18 United Kingdom Justin Wilson 1–11 Italy Matteo Bobbi
Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Denmark Nicolas Kiesa 12–16
19 Netherlands Jos Verstappen All
Japan Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota TF103 Toyota RVX-03 M 20 France Olivier Panis All N/A
21 Brazil Cristiano da Matta All

All engines were required to have ten cylinders and an engine capacity not exceeding 3000 cc,[6] and all were of V10 configuration.[7]

Team changes

The Arrows team folded several days after the 2002 German Grand Prix due to financial issues without contesting another Grand Prix.

Jordan switched to using Ford 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,[8] 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.

Renault took part in Friday testing sessions. People thought it was odd because not only were they a manufacturer, they would also get fewer testing miles. However, Mike Gascoyne, the technical director for Renault in 2003, said that not only did Renault save money, they also got more testing mileage out of their cars.

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, 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 two races 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 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).

Season calendar

The 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship was contested over the following sixteen races:

Round Race Date Location
1 Australian Grand Prix 9 March Australia Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne
2 Malaysian Grand Prix 23 March Malaysia Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur
3 Brazilian Grand Prix 6 April Brazil Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo
4 San Marino Grand Prix 20 April Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
5 Spanish Grand Prix 4 May Spain Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
6 Austrian Grand Prix 18 May Austria A1-Ring, Spielberg
7 Monaco Grand Prix 1 June Monaco Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
8 Canadian Grand Prix 15 June Canada Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
9 European Grand Prix 29 June Germany Nürburgring, Nürburg
10 French Grand Prix 6 July France Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours
11 British Grand Prix 20 July United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone
12 German Grand Prix 3 August Germany Hockenheimring, Hockenheim
13 Hungarian Grand Prix 24 August Hungary Hungaroring, Budapest
14 Italian Grand Prix 14 September Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza
15 United States Grand Prix 28 September United States Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis
16 Japanese Grand Prix 12 October Japan Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka

Results and standings

Grands Prix

Rd. Grand Prix Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Constructor Report
1 Australia Australian Grand Prix Germany Michael Schumacher Finland Kimi Räikkönen United Kingdom David Coulthard United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2 Malaysia Malaysian Grand Prix Spain Fernando Alonso Germany Michael Schumacher Finland Kimi Räikkönen United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
3 Brazil Brazilian Grand Prix Brazil Rubens Barrichello Brazil Rubens Barrichello Italy Giancarlo Fisichella Republic of Ireland Jordan-Ford Report
4 San Marino San Marino Grand Prix Germany Michael Schumacher Germany Michael Schumacher Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
5 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Germany Michael Schumacher Brazil Rubens Barrichello Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
6 Austria Austrian Grand Prix Germany Michael Schumacher Germany Michael Schumacher Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
7 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Germany Ralf Schumacher Finland Kimi Räikkönen Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya United Kingdom Williams-BMW Report
8 Canada Canadian Grand Prix Germany Ralf Schumacher Spain Fernando Alonso Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
9 Germany European Grand Prix Finland Kimi Räikkönen Finland Kimi Räikkönen Germany Ralf Schumacher United Kingdom Williams-BMW Report
10 France French Grand Prix Germany Ralf Schumacher Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Germany Ralf Schumacher United Kingdom Williams-BMW Report
11 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Brazil Rubens Barrichello Brazil Rubens Barrichello Brazil Rubens Barrichello Italy Ferrari Report
12 Germany German Grand Prix Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya United Kingdom Williams-BMW Report
13 Hungary Hungarian Grand Prix Spain Fernando Alonso Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
14 Italy Italian Grand Prix Germany Michael Schumacher Germany Michael Schumacher Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
15 United States United States Grand Prix Finland Kimi Räikkönen Germany Michael Schumacher Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
16 Japan Japanese Grand Prix Brazil Rubens Barrichello Germany Ralf Schumacher Brazil Rubens Barrichello Italy Ferrari Report

Drivers

Pos Driver AUS
Australia
MAL
Malaysia
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
ESP
Spain
AUT
Austria
MON
Monaco
CAN
Canada
EUR
Germany
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
JPN
Japan
Points
1 Germany Michael Schumacher 4 6 Ret 1 1 1 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1 1 8 93
2 Finland Kimi Räikkönen 3 1 2 2 Ret 2 2 6 Ret 4 3 Ret 2 4 2 2 91
3 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 2 6 Ret 82
4 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Ret 2 Ret 3 3 3 8 5 3 7 1 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 65
5 Germany Ralf Schumacher 8 4 7 4 5 6 4 2 1 1 9 Ret 4 Ret 12 58
6 Spain Fernando Alonso 7 3 3 6 2 Ret 5 4 4 Ret Ret 4 1 8 Ret Ret 55
7 United Kingdom David Coulthard 1 Ret 4 5 Ret 5 7 Ret 15 5 5 2 5 Ret Ret 3 51
8 Italy Jarno Trulli 5 5 8 13 Ret 8 6 Ret Ret Ret 6 3 7 Ret 4 5 33
9 United Kingdom Jenson Button 10 7 Ret 8 9 4 DNS Ret 7 Ret 8 8 10 Ret Ret 4 17
10 Australia Mark Webber Ret Ret 9 Ret 7 7 Ret 7 6 6 14 11 6 7 Ret 11 17
11 Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen 6 9 5 11 Ret DNS Ret Ret 9 12 12 Ret Ret 13 3 Ret 13
12 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella 12 Ret 1 15 Ret Ret 10 Ret 12 Ret Ret 13 Ret 10 7 Ret 12
13 Brazil Cristiano da Matta Ret 11 10 12 6 10 9 11 Ret 11 7 6 11 Ret 9 7 10
14 Germany Nick Heidfeld Ret 8 Ret 10 10 Ret 11 Ret 8 13 17 10 9 9 5 9 6
15 France Olivier Panis Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 13 8 Ret 8 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 6
16 Canada Jacques Villeneuve 9 DNS 6 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 9 10 9 Ret 6 Ret 6
17 Spain Marc Gené 5 4
18 Japan Takuma Sato 6 3
19 Republic of Ireland Ralph Firman Ret 10 Ret Ret 8 11 12 Ret 11 15 13 Ret DNS Ret 14 1
20 United Kingdom Justin Wilson Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 13 Ret Ret 13 14 16 Ret Ret Ret 8 13 1
21 Brazil Antônio Pizzonia 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Ret 10 10 10 Ret 0
22 Netherlands Jos Verstappen 11 13 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret 9 14 16 15 Ret 12 Ret 10 15 0
23 Denmark Nicolas Kiesa 12 13 12 11 16 0
24 Hungary Zsolt Baumgartner Ret 11 0
Pos Driver AUS
Australia
MAL
Malaysia
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
ESP
Spain
AUT
Austria
MON
Monaco
CAN
Canada
EUR
Germany
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
JPN
Japan
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest lap

Drivers did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Constructors

Ferrari won the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors
Williams placed second in the Constructors' Championship
McLaren finished third in the Constructors' Championship, only two points behind Williams
Pos Constructor Car
no.
AUS
Australia
MAL
Malaysia
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
ESP
Spain
AUT
Austria
MON
Monaco
CAN
Canada
EUR
Germany
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
JPN
Japan
Points
1 Italy Ferrari 1 4 6 Ret 1 1 1 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1 1 8 158
2 Ret 2 Ret 3 3 3 8 5 3 7 1 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1
2 United Kingdom Williams-BMW 3 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 2 6 Ret 144
4 8 4 7 4 5 6 4 2 1 1 9 Ret 4 5 Ret 12
3 United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes 5 1 Ret 4 5 Ret 5 7 Ret 15 5 5 2 5 Ret Ret 3 142
6 3 1 2 2 Ret 2 2 6 Ret 4 3 Ret 2 4 2 2
4 France Renault 7 5 5 8 13 Ret 8 6 Ret Ret Ret 6 3 7 Ret 4 5 88
8 7 3 3 6 2 Ret 5 4 4 Ret Ret 4 1 8 Ret Ret
5 United Kingdom BAR-Honda 16 9 DNS 6 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 9 10 9 Ret 6 Ret 6 26
17 10 7 Ret 8 9 4 DNS Ret 7 Ret 8 8 10 Ret Ret 4
6 Switzerland Sauber-Petronas 9 Ret 8 Ret 10 10 Ret 11 Ret 8 13 17 10 9 9 5 9 19
10 6 9 5 11 Ret DNS Ret Ret 9 12 12 Ret Ret 13 3 Ret
7 United Kingdom Jaguar-Cosworth 14 Ret Ret 9 Ret 7 7 Ret 7 6 6 14 11 6 7 Ret 11 18
15 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Ret 10 10 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 13
8 Japan Toyota 20 Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 13 8 Ret 8 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 16
21 Ret 11 10 12 6 10 9 11 Ret 11 7 6 11 Ret 9 7
9 Republic of Ireland Jordan-Ford 11 12 Ret 1 15 Ret Ret 10 Ret 12 Ret Ret 13 Ret 10 7 Ret 13
12 Ret 10 Ret Ret 8 11 12 Ret 11 15 13 Ret Ret 11 Ret 14
10 Italy Minardi-Cosworth 18 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 13 Ret Ret 13 14 16 12 13 12 11 16 0
19 11 13 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret 9 14 16 15 Ret 12 Ret 10 15
Pos Constructor Car
no.
AUS
Australia
MAL
Malaysia
BRA
Brazil
SMR
San Marino
ESP
Spain
AUT
Austria
MON
Monaco
CAN
Canada
EUR
Germany
FRA
France
GBR
United Kingdom
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
ITA
Italy
USA
United States
JPN
Japan
Points

References

  1. 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship – Drivers' and Constructors' Final Standings, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015
  2. 2003 Formula One Sporting Regulations, www.jomenvisst.de via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015
  3. Collings, Timothy (2003-03-06). "Formula One: Villeneuve hits out". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  4. McKay, Peter (2003-03-31). "Inside Line: It's close ... but Ferrari isn't panicking". drive.com.au. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  5. Anointed test driver for one race in 2003
  6. 2003 Formula One Technical Regulations, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015
  7. 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship – F1 Guide, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015
  8. "Jordan set to lose Honda deal". BBC Sport. 3 May 2002. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

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