2003 Formula One season

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

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.

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	Michael Schumacher	Luca Badoer Felipe Massa
					2	Rubens Barrichello
BMW WilliamsF1 Team	Williams	FW25	BMW P83 3.0 V10	M	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Antônio Pizzonia 1 Marc Gené 2
					4	Ralf Schumacher
						Marc Gené
West McLaren Mercedes	McLaren	MP4-17D	Mercedes FO110M 3.0 V10 Mercedes FO110P 3.0 V10	M	5	David Coulthard	Alexander Wurz
					6	Kimi Räikkönen
Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	Renault	R23 R23B	Renault RS23 3.0 V10	M	7	Jarno Trulli	Allan McNish
					8	Fernando Alonso
Sauber Petronas	Sauber	C22	Petronas 03A 3.0 V10	B	9	Nick Heidfeld	Neel Jani
					10	Heinz Harald Frentzen
Jordan Ford	Jordan	EJ13	Ford RS1 3.0 V10	B	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Zsolt Baumgartner Satoshi Motoyama
					12	Ralph Firman 3
						Zsolt Baumgartner
Jaguar Racing	Jaguar	R4	Cosworth CR-5 3.0 V10	M	14	Mark Webber	Andre Lotterer
					15	Antônio Pizzonia
						Justin Wilson 4
Lucky Strike BAR Honda	BAR	005	Honda RA003E 3.0 V10	B	16	Jacques Villeneuve 5	Takuma Sato
						Takuma Sato
					17	Jenson Button
European Minardi Cosworth	Minardi	PS03	Cosworth CR-3 3.0 V10	B	18	Justin Wilson	Nicolas Kiesa Matteo Bobbi Gianmaria Bruni
						Nicolas Kiesa 6
					19	Jos Verstappen
Panasonic Toyota Racing	Toyota	TF103	Toyota RVX-03 3.0 V10	M	20	Olivier Panis	Ricardo Zonta
					21	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	Australian Grand Prix	March 9	Melbourne	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
2	Malaysian Grand Prix	March 23	Sepang	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
3	Brazilian Grand Prix	April 6	Interlagos	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan-Ford	Report
4	San Marino Grand Prix	April 20	Imola	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
5	Spanish Grand Prix	May 4	Catalunya	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
6	Austrian Grand Prix	May 18	A1-Ring	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
7	Monaco Grand Prix	June 1	Monaco	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams-BMW	Report
8	Canadian Grand Prix	June 15	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
9	European Grand Prix	June 29	Nürburgring	Ralf Schumacher	Williams-BMW	Report
10	French Grand Prix	July 6	Magny-Cours	Ralf Schumacher	Williams-BMW	Report
11	British Grand Prix	July 20	Silverstone	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	Report
12	German Grand Prix	August 3	Hockenheimring	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams-BMW	Report
13	Hungarian Grand Prix	August 24	Hungaroring	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Report
14	Italian Grand Prix	September 14	Monza	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
15	United States Grand Prix	September 28	Indianapolis	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
16	Japanese Grand Prix	October 12	Suzuka	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	Report

Drivers

Pos Driver AUS MAL BRA SMR ESP AUT MON CAN EUR FRA GBR GER HUN ITA USA JPN Pts 1 M.Schumacher 4 6 Ret 1 1 1 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1 1 8 93 2 Räikkönen 3 1 2 2 Ret 2 2 6 Ret 4 3 Ret 2 4 2 2 91 3 Montoya 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 2 6 Ret 82 4 Barrichello Ret 2 Ret 3 3 3 8 5 3 7 1 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 65 5 R.Schumacher 8 4 7 4 5 6 4 2 1 1 9 Ret 4 Ret 12 58 6 Alonso 7 3 3 6 2 Ret 5 4 4 Ret Ret 4 1 8 Ret Ret 55 7 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 Button 10 7 Ret 8 9 4 Ret Ret 7 Ret 8 8 10 Ret Ret 4 17 10 Webber Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 7 Ret 7 6 6 14 11 6 7 Ret 11 17 11 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 da Matta Ret 11 10 12 6 10 9 11 Ret 11 7 6 11 Ret 9 7 10 14 Heidfeld Ret 8 Ret 10 10 Ret 11 Ret 8 13 17 10 9 9 5 9 6 15 Panis Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 13 8 Ret 8 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 6 16 Villeneuve 9 Ret 6 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 9 10 9 Ret 6 Ret 6 17 Gené 5 4 18 Sato 6 3 19 Firman Ret 10 Ret Ret 8 11 12 Ret 11 15 13 Ret Ret 14 1 20 Wilson Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 13 Ret Ret 13 14 16 Ret Ret Ret 8 13 1 21 Pizzonia Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret 9 Ret 10 10 10 Ret 0 22 Verstappen 11 13 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret 9 14 16 15 Ret 12 Ret 10 15 0 23 Kiesa 12 13 12 11 16 0 24 Baumgartner Ret 11 0 Pos Driver AUS MAL BRA SMR ESP AUT MON CAN EUR FRA GBR GER HUN ITA USA JPN Pts

Color 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	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	16	6	8	5	5	93
2	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren Mercedes	16	1	10	2	3	91
3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams BMW	16	2	9	1	3	82
4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	16	2	8	3	3	65
5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams BMW	15	2	3	3	1	58
6	Fernando Alonso	Renault	16	1	4	2	1	55
7	David Coulthard	McLaren Mercedes	16	1	3	0	0	51
8	Jarno Trulli	Renault	16	0	1	0	0	33
9	Jenson Button	BAR Honda	16	0	0	0	0	17
10	Mark Webber	Jaguar Cosworth	16	0	0	0	0	17
11	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber Petronas	16	0	1	0	0	13
12	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan Ford	16	1	1	0	0	12
13	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	16	0	0	0	0	10
14	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber Petronas	16	0	0	0	0	6
15	Olivier Panis	Toyota	16	0	0	0	0	6
16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR Honda	15	0	0	0	0	6
17	Marc Gené	Williams BMW	1	0	0	0	0	4
18	Takuma Sato	BAR Honda	1	0	0	0	0	3
19	Ralph Firman	Jordan Ford	14	0	0	0	0	1
20	Justin Wilson	Minardi Cosworth Jaguar Cosworth	16	0	0	0	0	1
21	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar Cosworth	11	0	0	0	0	0
22	Jos Verstappen	Minardi Cosworth	16	0	0	0	0	0
23	Nicolas Kiesa	Minardi Cosworth	5	0	0	0	0	0
24	Zsolt Baumgartner	Jordan Ford	2	0	0	0	0	0

Constructors

Pos	Constructor	AUS	MAL	BRA	SMR	ESP	AUT	MON	CAN	EUR	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	ITA	USA	JPN	Pts
1	Ferrari	4	6	Ret	1	1	1	3	1	5	3	4	7	8	1	1	8	158
		Ret	2	Ret	3	3	3	8	5	3	7	1	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	1
2	Williams	2	12	Ret	7	4	Ret	1	3	2	2	2	1	3	2	6	Ret	144
		8	4	7	4	5	6	4	2	1	1	9	Ret	4	5	Ret	12
3	McLaren	3	1	2	2	Ret	2	2	6	Ret	4	3	Ret	2	4	2	2	142
		1	Ret	4	5	Ret	5	7	Ret	15	5	5	2	5	Ret	Ret	3
4	Renault	7	3	3	6	2	Ret	5	4	4	Ret	Ret	4	1	8	Ret	Ret	88
		5	5	8	13	Ret	8	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	3	7	Ret	4	5
5	BAR	10	7	Ret	8	9	4	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	8	8	10	Ret	Ret	4	26
		9	DNS	6	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	10	9	Ret	6	Ret	6
6	Sauber	6	9	5	11	Ret	DNS	Ret	Ret	9	12	12	Ret	Ret	13	3	Ret	19
		Ret	8	Ret	10	10	Ret	11	Ret	8	13	17	10	9	9	5	9
7	Jaguar	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	7	Ret	7	6	6	14	11	6	7	Ret	11	18
		Ret	Ret	Ret	14	Ret	9	Ret	10	10	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	13
8	Toyota	Ret	11	white10	12	6	10	9	11	Ret	11	7	6	11	Ret	9	7	16
		Ret	Ret	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	13	8	Ret	8	11	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	10
9	Jordan	Ret	Ret	1	15	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	12	Ret	Ret	13	Ret	10	7	Ret	13
		Ret	10	Ret	Ret	8	11	12	Ret	11	15	13	Ret	Ret	11	Ret	14
10	Minardi	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	13	Ret	Ret	13	14	16	12	13	12	11	16	0
		11	13	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	Ret	9	14	16	15	Ret	12	Ret	10	15
Pos	Constructor	AUS	MAL	BRA	SMR	ESP	AUT	MON	CAN	EUR	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	ITA	USA	JPN	Pts

Pos	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	Starts	Wins	Podiums	Poles	F.Laps	Points
1	Ferrari	F2002 F2003-GA	Ferrari 051 V10 Ferrari 052 V10	B	16	8	16	8	8	158
2	Williams-BMW	FW25	BMW P83 V10	M	16	4	12	4	4	144
3	McLaren-Mercedes	MP4-17D	Mercedes Benz F0110M V 10	M	16	2	13	2	3	142
4	Renault	R23 R23B	Renault RS23 V10	M	16	1	5	2	1	88
5	BAR-Honda	005	Honda RA003E V10	B	16	0	0	0	0	26
6	Sauber-Petronas	C22	Petronas 03A V10	B	16	0	1	0	0	19
7	Jaguar-Cosworth	R4	Cosworth CR-5 V10	M	16	0	0	0	0	18
8	Toyota	TF103	Toyota RVX-03 V10	M	16	0	0	0	0	16
9	Jordan-Ford	EJ13	Ford CR-5 V10	B	16	1	1	0	0	13
10	Minardi-Cosworth	PS03	Cosworth CR-3 V10	B	16	0	0	0	0	0

Notes

1. Pizzonia was offered a test driving role at Jaguar but turned it down, and would later resurface as a test driver at BMW-Williams.
2. Williams driver Marc Gené replaced Ralf Schumacher, in Italy.
3. Ralph Firman suffered injuries as a result of a crash during practice in Hungary. He was replaced by Zsolt Baumgartner for several races before returning to finish the season in the EJ15.
4. Having started the season driving for Minardi, Justin Wilson later joined the Jaguar team and filled in for the under-performing Antônio Pizzonia for the last 5 races of the season.
5. Denmark's Nicolas Kiesa took over Wilson's vacated seat in the Minardi.
6. After a string of disappointing results in 2003, Jacques Villeneuve was replaced at BAR by test driver Takuma Sato for the Japanese GP. 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).
7. Renault took part in the Friday testing session. People thought it was not only odd, because not only were they a manufacturer, but also they would get less testing miles. However, Mike Gascoyne the technical director for Renault in 2003 said that not only did Renault save money, Renault also got MORE testing mileage out of their cars.