Atlas F1 News Editor
In stark contrast to the previous year, the 2003 Formula One season was thrilling from Australia to Japan, with Michael Schumacher having to fight all the way to clinch his record sixth world title. Atlas F1's Pablo Elizalde looks back at each of the 16 rounds of the 2003 season, with the hindsight of how it all ended
Winner: David Coulthard
Having won 15 out of 17 races the previous year, Ferrari and Michael Schumacher were expected to continue their domination, but the race offered a very different story despite the German clinching the first pole position of the year in the dominant F2002. Schumacher was one of several drivers who could have won the race, but an extra visit to the pits after damaging his car by running wide - and Rubens Barrichello's retirement - saw Ferrari failing to finish on the podium for the first time since the 1999 European Grand Prix.
Juan Pablo Montoya was another man who could have walked away with victory at the season-opening race, but the Colombian Williams driver threw away his chance of starting the season on a high by spinning out of the lead with only ten laps remaining.
It was a silly mistake that gave David Coulthard the lead and an unexpected victory that rewarded McLaren's gamble at the start of the race. Having qualified poorly, and using the revised MP4-17D car, McLaren read the conditions better than their rivals, as Raikkonen started from the pitlane and Coulthard pitted at the end of lap two so that both could take advantage of dry weather tyres. The Scot avoided trouble and won for the first time since the 2002 Monaco Grand Prix. As it turned out, however, it would be Coulthard's high point of the season, and the rest of the year would be all downhill.
In the end, thanks in large part to the weather, Formula One kicked off the season in spectacular fashion, and there were smiles all over the paddock as the sport celebrated the start of its return to form.
Winner: Kimi Raikkonen
Right from the start, one of the main detractors of the new rules was McLaren boss Ron Dennis. Ironically, his team emerged on top once more, with Kimi Raikkonen scoring an overdue first Formula One victory that confirmed the Finn is a potential World Champion.
The Malaysian Grand Prix also confirmed that the new wave of Formula One greats was already knocking on the door of success, with Renault's Fernando Alonso scoring his first pole and first podium in a weekend where the young guns outshadowed the old guard. Raikkonen, starting from seventh place, drove a flawless race and, benefitting from the retirement of his teammate David Coulthard, placed himself at the top of the standings as the rest of his main rivals struggled.
Michael Schumacher had a terrible weekend, made worse by a mistake at the start of the race when he crashed into Jarno Trulli. For the first time in his Formula One career, the German had failed to finish on the podium in the opening two races of a season. The only consolation for Ferrari was that Rubens Barrichello finished second, albeit almost 40 seconds behind Raikkonen. The Williams team also had a difficult race as they continued to struggle for pace with the FW25, with only Ralf Schumacher capable of scoring some points with a very distant fourth place.
Winner: Giancarlo Fisichella
But it was not only thanks to the weather that the Brazilian Grand Prix was as exciting as it was chaotic. Due to the new wet weather one-tyre rule, the whole field started the race on intermediate tyres on a day where even the Safety Car was struggling to avoid aquaplaning out of the flooded track. With that in mind, it was little wonder that the race was dramatic and confusing from start to finish.
Rubens Barrichello, starting from pole, looked like the man to beat from the start until once more his car let him down at home, a mere seven laps before the race ended. The Brazilian was the only Ferrari driver in contention after Michael Schumacher had spun out of the race. David Coulthard also looked set to win in Brazil until chaos stroke 17 laps from the end when Mark Webber crashed out of the race, leaving all sort of pieces from his Jaguar in the middle of the track.
Although the Safety Car was deployed Fernando Alonso was still going fast and destroyed his Renault, first hitting a tyre from Webber's car and then slamming into the tyre wall. Coulthard had pitted a couple of laps earlier from first while Raikkonen had been overtaken by Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella, who took the lead for the first time shortly before the race was red-flagged for good.
Amid confusion, the Italian driver and his team celebrated a long overdue and unexpected maiden victory until the stewards declared Raikkonen the winner, as the rules were applied and the results that counted were those of lap 53. However five days later the FIA revised the results, found a timing error, and Fisichella was handed a bizarre first win.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
After three unusually poor performances in Australia, Malaysia and Brazil, Ferrari and Schumacher stormed back to form despite delaying the introduction of the new F2003-GA once more. Both the Schumacher brothers showed great determination and professionalism as they travelled to Germany to see their mother for the last time, only to return for the race just hours later.
Personal tragedies aside, Schumacher performed flawlessly all weekend and gave the F2002 a deservedly glorious sendoff before the debut of the new car in Spain. Only Ralf challenged him at the start of the race, but after Michael moved ahead there was no one to trouble the World Champion, who put on a 2002-style performance in what was the dullest of the first four races of the season.
After the Williams drivers had dropped out of contention Kimi Raikkonen was Schumacher's main challenger as the Finn continued with his strong start to the year. The McLaren driver never looked capable of fighting for victory but still scored a valuable second place that, given the new points system, allowed him to keep a very healthy lead in the Championship standings.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
The true speed of the new Ferrari was hard to judge in just one race, but what was clear is that it helped Schumacher enjoy a perfect weekend right from the start; leading first and final qualifying and then the race from start to finish to confirm the return to Europe had been good news for him. However the story of the race was not as simple as that and, for a change, the Spanish Grand Prix was an exciting race with the result uncertain until the final laps thanks to Alonso's impressive drive.
The local hero chased Schumacher from very early on and put the World Champion under pressure throughout despite driving a much less powerful car. Only Rubens Barrichello in the other F2003-GA was able to somewhat follow the pace of the leading duo while the rest of Schumacher's rivals had disastrous races.
Championship leader Kimi Raikkonen spoiled all his chances of a good result in qualifying and was forced to start from the back for the second time in five races; his race lasted some two seconds as he ran into the back of Antonio Pizzonia's stalled Jaguar. For the Williams drivers the Spanish race also proved disappointing as their car was still off the pace as it struggled with aerodynamic problems.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
After securing pole position with a lap that saw him almost lose control of his car the Ferrari driver looked in control of the race at the start, and although a slight rain made things difficult for him he stayed in the lead until his first pitstop. During the refuelling process however something went wrong with the rig and the Ferrari caught fire. Schumacher did not move, sitting calmly in the car as his mechanics put out the fire and, after losing some 10 seconds, he was back on track as if nothing had happened.
Returning to the circuit behind Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen, Schumacher began his steady charge back towards the front. Only nine laps after his fire scare Montoya retired with a broken engine, and on the same lap Schumacher returned to the lead after passing Raikkonen. The Colombian's retirement came at the worst possible time, with Williams and BMW exchanging public accusations of blame for not having scored a victory since the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix.
After regaining first place Schumacher never looked back, although his victory was still not enough to put him in the Championship lead with a consistent Raikkonen taking advantage of the new points system. Despite having scored two wins more than his rival Schumacher was still behind.
Winner: Juan Pablo Montoya
Montoya's second Formula One victory was long overdue following his seven poles of 2002 and, perhaps more importantly, after he threw away what was a certain win at Melbourne earlier this year. His performance in Monaco took a heavy weight off his shoulders. "Everybody needed this," said Montoya. "You've got to say that I had quite a few races where I had the chance to win. The last one was Melbourne; I threw it away, so there was quite a bit of pressure not to basically make any mistakes."
After his first victory of the year Montoya would go on to score another seven consecutive podiums, including another win in Germany. Williams too welcomed the result with a big sigh of relief following a slow start of the year with a car that seemed to struggle with aerodynamical problems. All the hard work carried out in trying to rectify the problems paid off at the Principality and gave the team a great deal of confidence that would boost them in the following race.
With his win Montoya showed another side of his driving style; more mature and cooler, he kept Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher at bay for several laps, the three crossing the finish line separated by two seconds in a reflection of what the season would turn out to be.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Somehow the elder Schumacher managed to eclipse all his rivals, showing once more that a driver must be as relentless as he is in order to beat him on a regular basis. Both his brother Ralf and his Williams teammate Juan Pablo Montoya looked set to fight for victory after securing a front-row lockout, with the German more than half a second ahead of his brother Michael.
By Sunday however, and despite being on the same strategy, neither of the Williams drivers could keep Schumacher at bay. Montoya threw away all his chances of victory when he spun in the early part of the race, leaving Michael to chase his brother instead of protecting his back. When it mattered the most Ralf was unable to lap as fast as his brother and, by a whisker, Michael emerged ahead after the final round of pitstops.
He did not have the fastest car on track, as proved by that fact that he was caught by Montoya and even by Fernando Alonso in the Renault, but Schumacher stayed ahead of Ralf, who never challenged his brother and got criticised for it afterwards. "I've got to be careful what I say, but possibly to probably Juan would have had a bigger go," said Frank Williams after the race. "But I'm not so sure that he could have got close enough to have a go."
With Kimi Raikkonen already out of contention after having spun in qualifying, Schumacher Senior took full advantage of his rivals' problems to move into the lead of the standings, a position he would not abandon.
Winner: Ralf Schumacher
Both Ralf and Williams had been subject to criticism since the start of the season, and the victory in Germany - BMW's homeland - was both a vindication and proof that Williams had turned the corner and that the FW25 was a real contender for race wins. That however does not tell the true story of the European Grand Prix; the race belonged to Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren for the most part, the Woking-based outfit having, somewhat surprisingly, emerged as the pace-setters at the German circuit.
Having scored his first career pole position Raikkonen was determined to regain the Championship lead lost in Canada, and he was quick right from the start of the weekend. In the race the Finn was flying, and looked set for his second win until much to his dismay the Mercedes-Benz engine let go. In a season where reliability was pivotal, Raikkonen would later regret his misfortune.
Ferrari had little to celebrate as they were never on pace to fight for victory, with Michael Schumacher looking set to miss the podium until Raikkonen's retirement. In the end he had to settle for fifth after going off track while fighting wheel-to-wheel with Montoya; the German's only consolation was that at least he had extended his lead in the standings.
Winner: Ralf Schumacher
The result was also confirmation that the Williams-BMW package had been turned around completely since the start of the season and, aided by the Michelin tyres, the Grove-based squad were now the team to beat. At Magny-Cours Williams had no rivals, and Ralf used his car perfectly to again outperform his teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who could do nothing to stop the German from scoring his second win in succession.
For Ferrari and Michael Schumacher the venue where last season he clinched his fifth world title confirmed that he was in for a tough fight if he wanted to retain his crown for the fourth year running. The Ferrari team, for the second consecutive race, never looked like a contender for victory; the Italian squad's Bridgestone tyres were no match for the Michelin. It was only thanks to Schumacher's skill that Ferrari saved the day with a third place that at least served to increase his lead over Kimi Raikkonen, whose McLaren was also not on pace with the Williams.
The McLaren driver was stronger than Schumacher for most of the weekend but the German driver somehow managed to turn the tables in the race and open his advantage to a somewhat healthy lead over the Finn. But at that moment it was the Williams drivers that he needed to worry most about after the Grove team's second straight one-two finish.
Winner: Rubens Barrichello
As frightening as the moment the intruder jumped onto the track was, it has to be said that it allowed for one of the most exciting races of the season. All the point-scorers completed fantastic races; there were at least six changes for the lead, and the amount and quality of overtaking was simply amazing. In the end it was Barrichello who mastered circumstances and climbed back from 13th to first place in magnificent fashion to become the seventh different winner of the 2003 season. To add more excitement to the Championship there were five drivers separated by just 20 points with fives races remaining.
Barrichello's win came at the right time for both the driver and his Ferrari team, who needed a boost following a couple of races dominated by Williams. Of the Championship contenders it was Juan Pablo Montoya who, continuing with his spectacular streak of results, came off best from the British race after finishing in second place ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher. For the Colombian the result was especially important as it put him back ahead of his teammate Ralf following the impressive performances from the German in recent races. The Silverstone race, however, marked the start of Ralf's decline.
Winner: Juan Pablo Montoya
Montoya's weekend at Hockenheim went flawlessly from the start and, after being dominated by his teammate Ralf Schumacher in recent races, the Colombian was Williams' top man, scoring his first pole position of the season. Of course Montoya's cause was aided by his teammate who, in a controversial crash at the start, eliminated himself as well as both Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello, who were his main rivals all weekend.
After that Montoya's race was almost a walk in the park; he totally dominated the opposition with a chassis/tyres package that was looking more competitive race after race. Just the opposite applied to the Ferrari/Bridgestone package, which struggled for pace most of the weekend, a fact that was made worse by the fact that luck seemed to have deserted Michael Schumacher this time around.
The German, always far from the top of the field, looked set for a distant second place when he suffered a puncture and dropped down to seventh. Despite his poor performances in recent races Schumacher at least had seen Raikkonen unable to close the gap to him in the Championship for various reasons. With Montoya now in second place the Ferrari driver's position was less than comfortable, especially considering his car looked like a tortoise compared to the Colombian's.
Winner: Fernando Alonso
From the moment he set foot in Formula One it became clear that Fernando Alonso was a winner in the making, and he only needed 13 races with the Renault team to confirm it. The 22-year old Spaniard was relentless throughout the weekend as Renault demonstrated again that their chassis was one of the best of the field, with only their engine stopping them from fighting for the top placings more often.
Right from the start of the race Alonso looked like a man on a mission and, aided by Mark Webber blocking his main rivals, the Spaniard never looked back, leading from lights to flag after starting from pole position for the second time in the season. Alonso's determination was evident when, ten laps from the end and with a comfortable gap to second-placed Raikkonen, he lapped Schumacher; it was a moment that felt as though the German was passing the baton to his younger rivals.
If the previous races had not been poor enough for the World Champion team the Hungarian race was a new low, with Schumacher completely off the pace on his way to seventh place as the Ferrari/Bridgestone combination showed there was a lot of work needed in their return to testing if they wanted to stay in the fight for both titles as the battle intensified.
Schumacher left Hungary just one point ahead of Montoya and two over Raikkonen with three races remaining and, more importantly, with the feeling that Ferrari were a team in crisis.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Having finished a lap down on the race winner at the Hungaroring Michael Schumacher and Ferrari faced a race against time to put things right, and the Italian team concentrated all their efforts to hit back at home. Following the end of the testing ban, the World Champions worked flat out with Bridgestone to get on the right track after their streak of poor results. The work paid off.
If Hungary had provided a defining moment when Schumacher had been lapped by Fernando Alonso then Monza saw another, which turned out to be decisive in Schumacher's quest for his sixth world title. The wheel-to-wheel battle between Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya was brief but it was as intense as the 2003 season, and the end result was that the German emerged ahead, something that probably won him the race after a career low streak of five races without a single lap in the lead.
Montoya again showed his improved maturity by driving an intelligent race and settling for second when he realised there was no way to beat his rival there, and that Indianapolis would provide him with a better opportunity to strike. The win may had moved Schumacher only three points ahead of Montoya in the standings, but the psychological effect of it was much bigger as it put Ferrari back in the driving seat to face the final two races of the year.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Despite the recent win at Monza Ferrari did not arrive at Indianapolis as the favourites; the American track in theory benefited the Williams/Michelin package. Following his intelligent race in Italy Juan Pablo Montoya had it all in his favour to hit back and leave the stage set for a thrilling end in Japan. The Colombian, however, threw it all away in a controversial incident with Barrichello for which Montoya received a penalty that killed his race as well as his chances in the title race.
Meanwhile, Schumacher's race was disastrous when the rain began to fall over the IMS: the German even struggled to make the banked corner when the track was still not completely dry. He had dropped down to seventh before the rain got heavier and the Bridgestone tyres gave him the edge over his rivals, who could only watch as Schumacher charged back towards the front. Only Raikkonen, who looked a rank outsider for the title before the race, was able to survive the first showdown, and his second place meant the Finn would delay the celebrations of his Ferrari rival for two more weeks.
For Williams the race proved to be a disaster. The British team arrived in the lead of the Constructors' Championship and with Montoya still in the fight for the Drivers' tile, only to leave with Ferrari ahead of them and with the Colombian fuming at his lost opportunity.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Schumacher arrived in Japan needing only one point to clinch a record-breaking sixth title. Having not retired with a mechanical failure since the 2001 German Grand Prix, and with Kimi Raikkonen needing to win the race, the Ferrari driver was expected to enjoy a relaxing weekend that would see him crowned for the sixth time. But fate had other plans, and a late downpour in qualifying forced Schumacher to start the race from 14th place. Fortunately for the German, Raikkonen was only eighth and Barrichello on pole.
Still, from his poor position Schumacher should not have had many problems climbing back into the points, but an error while trying to pass Takuma Sato in a heart-stopping moment meant he lost his front wing, dropping the German to the bottom of the field as Raikkonen made progress towards the front. Barrichello inherited the lead following Montoya's retirement, the Colombian having made a fast start. For a brief moment of time during the pitstops Raikkonen led while Schumacher was down in 11th, but the McLaren driver's moment in the sun did not last and Barrichello was soon back in command.
Despite another frightening moment near the end of the race, when brother Ralf struck Michael's car as both fought for position, the Ferrari star drove home in eighth while Barrichello took his second win of the season, giving Ferrari their fifth consecutive Constructor's title in a row. The race, as well as the Championship, left Schumacher "empty and exhausted" as the German wrote another chapter of his amazing career, becoming the first man in history to clinch six Driver's titles.
Round 1: Australia Coulthard Wins in F1's D-Day
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:27.173)
Fastest Lap: Kimi Raikkonen (1:27.724)
Following the boredom and the controversy of the 2002 season, Formula One was under pressure to perform in the opening race of a crucial season. All the radical changes made to the sporting regulations over the winter - including the new qualifying system - were under scrutiny when the season opened in Melbourne and, much to the delight of the powers that be, the sport delivered in style, hinting at what the rest of the year would turn out to be.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Coulthard 10 1. McLaren-Mercedes 16
2. Montoya 8 2. Williams-BMW 9
3. Raikkonen 6 3. Renault 6
4. M.Schumacher 5 4. Ferrari 5
5. Trulli 4 5. Sauber 3
6. Frentzen 3
7. Alonso 2
8. R.Schumacher 1
Round 2: Malaysia Raikkonen's First
Pole Position: Fernando Alonso (1:37.044)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:36.412)
Australia had offered a good starting point to the season, there was no doubt about it. The race outcome, however, had been affected by the changing weather and many doubted the new regulations had had anything to do with the renewed excitement. The Malaysian Grand Prix, then, was an important race to see how much Formula One had changed over the winter, and the conclusion was again a positive one; the event offering another example of brilliant racing and, perhaps more importantly, a new winner.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Raikkonen 16 1. McLaren-Mercedes 26
2. Coulthard 10 2. Ferrari 16
3. Montoya 8 = Renault 16
= Barrichello 8 4. Williams-BMW 14
= Alonso 8 5. Sauber 4
= M.Schumacher 8 6. BAR-Honda 2
= Trulli 8
8. R.Schumacher 6
Round 3: Brazil It's Fisichella, Eventually
Pole Position: Rubens Barrichello (1:13.807)
Fastest Lap: Rubens Barrichello (1:22.032)
Formula One was on a roll, and the Brazilian Grand Prix was just further confirmation that, following the dullest of seasons, the sport was looking good again. There's little doubt that the weather is the single most influential factor when it comes to add excitement to the races, and it played an important role once more that the Interlagos circuit.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Raikkonen 24 1. McLaren-Mercedes 39
2. Coulthard 15 2. Renault 23
3. Alonso 14 3. Ferrari 16
4. Fisichella 10 =. Williams-BMW 16
5. Trulli 9 5. Jordan-Ford 10
6. Montoya 8 6. Sauber 8
= Barrichello 8 7. BAR-Honda 5
= M.Schumacher 8
Round 4: San Marino Emotional Return to Form for Schumacher
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:22.327)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:22.491)
In the opening race of the European season, and especially because it was at their home, Ferrari needed to kick off their season following their terrible start in the first three races of the year. The task was not easy but both the Italian team and their star driver Michael Schumacher raised to the challenge, even if the weekend was very somber both for him and for his brother Ralf, having lost their mother Elisabeth the night prior to the race.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Raikkonen 32 1. McLaren-Mercedes 51
2. Coulthard 19 2. Ferrari 32
3. M.Schumacher 18 3. Renault 26
4. Alonso 17 4. Williams-BMW 23
5. Barrichello 14 5. Jordan-Ford 10
6. R.Schumacher 13 6. Sauber 8
7. Fisichella 10 7. BAR-Honda 6
= Montoya 10
Round 5: Spain Schumacher Reigns, Alonso Impresses
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:17.762)
Fastest Lap: Rubens Barrichello (1:20.143)
Much was expected from the F2003-GA, which Ferrari finally debuted at the Spanish Grand Prix after making sure it was as reliable as the F2002. And the car did not disappoint, continuing with the Italian team's five-year old tradition of winning straight out of the box. For some of Ferrari's rivals the car did not live up to the expectations of being the successor of one of the most successful Formula One cars in racing history: Michael Schumacher won the race by a slim margin. For others however the car's debut was impressive, and only the blistering pace of Fernando Alonso outshadowed its pace.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Raikkonen 32 1. McLaren-Mercedes 51
2. M.Schumacher 28 2. Ferrari 48
3. Alonso 25 3. Renault 34
4. Barrichello 20 4. Williams-BMW 32
5. Coulthard 19 5. Jordan-Ford 11
6. R.Schumacher 17 6. Sauber 8
7. Montoya 15 7. BAR-Honda 6
8. Fisichella 10 8. Toyota 3
Round 6: Austria Schumacher, Rain or Fire
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:09.150)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:08.337)
Nothing could stop Michael Schumacher from scoring his third consecutive win of the 2003 season; not rain, oil or even fire. At the Austrian Grand Prix, Schumacher managed to escape every possible adversity to secure victory at the A1-Ring for the second year running, turning last year's jeers into cheers as the Ferrari driver eclipsed everyone else without any help from his teammate. From the start of the weekend Schumacher looked determined to win in Austria, and he never gave his rivals a chance.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Raikkonen 40 1. Ferrari 64
2. M.Schumacher 38 2. McLaren-Mercedes 63
3. Barrichello 26 3. Renault 35
4. Alonso 25 = Williams-BMW 35
5. Coulthard 23 5. Jordan-Ford 11
6. R.Schumacher 20 = BAR-Honda 11
7. Montoya 15 7. Sauber 8
8. Fisichella 10 8. Jaguar-Cosworth 4
Round 7: Monaco Williams and Montoya Exorcise their Demons
Pole Position: Ralf Schumacher (1:15.259)
Fastest Lap: Kimi Raikkonen (1:14.545)
Both Williams and Juan Pablo Montoya were under pressure. The team had scored only 35 points and the driver had only 15 after the first six races of the year. So there was no better way to kick-start their season than winning at the most charismatic Grand Prix of the year, on a track where victory had eluded Williams for the last 20 years and 20 months after Montoya had won his last race.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Raikkonen 48 1. McLaren-Mercedes 73
2. M.Schumacher 44 2. Ferrari 71
3. Alonso 29 3. Williams-BMW 50
4. Barrichello 27 4. Renault 42
5. Montoya 25 5. Jordan-Ford 11
= Coulthard 25 = BAR-Honda 11
= R.Schumacher 25 7. Sauber 8
8. Trulli 13 8. Jaguar-Cosworth 4
Round 8: Canada Schumacher the Magician
Pole Position: Ralf Schumacher (1:15.529)
Fastest Lap: Fernando Alonso (1:16.040)
From the start of the weekend, and especially after their victory at Monaco, the Williams drivers looked like the favourites to win the Canadian Grand Prix. Yet at the end of the race it was the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher who got away with victory and, for the first time in the season, with the lead in the Drivers' Championship after his difficult start to 2003.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 54 1. Ferrari 85
2. Raikkonen 51 2. McLaren-Mercedes 76
3. Alonso 34 3. Williams-BMW 64
4. R.Schumacher 33 4. Renault 47
5. Montoya 31 5. Jordan-Ford 11
= Barrichello 31 = BAR-Honda 11
7. Coulthard 25 7. Sauber 8
8. Trulli 13 8. Jaguar-Cosworth 6
Round 9: Europe Sweet Revenge
Pole Position: Kimi Raikkonen (1:31.523)
Fastest Lap: Kimi Raikkonen (1:32.621)
Following his poor start to the 2003 season, and the (perhaps unfair) criticism he was subject to for not trying hard enough to overtake his brother in Canada, Ralf Schumacher was back with a vengeance at the Nurburgring, scoring his first Grand Prix victory since last year's race in Malaysia. The win could not have come at a better moment for the Williams-BMW combination, both parties having agreed on a new long-term deal only two days earlier following lengthy negotiations.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 58 1. Ferrari 95
2. Raikkonen 51 2. Williams-BMW 82
3. R.Schumacher 43 3. McLaren-Mercedes 76
4. Montoya 39 4. Renault 52
= Alonso 39 5. BAR-Honda 13
6. Barrichello 37 6. Jordan-Ford 11
7. Coulthard 25 7. Sauber 9
8. Trulli 13 8. Jaguar-Cosworth 9
Round 10: France Ralf's Magic Week
Pole Position: Ralf Schumacher (1:15.019)
Fastest Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:15.512)
Ralf Schumacher needed only one week, and the best car of the field, to silence his detractors following a weak start to his season in which he had failed to step onto the podium in the first six races of the year. Since returning to the top three in Austria, the German driver began an impressive streak of results that culminated in back-to-back wins following a flawless performance at the French Grand Prix. Since the Canadian GP Ralf scored 28 points out of a possible 30, starting from pole position in two of the three races.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 64 1. Ferrari 103
2. Raikkonen 56 2. Williams-BMW 100
3. R.Schumacher 53 3. McLaren-Mercedes 85
4. Montoya 47 4. Renault 52
5. Barrichello 39 5. BAR-Honda 13
= Alonso 39 6. Jaguar-Cosworth 12
7. Coulthard 29 7. Jordan-Ford 11
8. Trulli 13 8. Sauber 9
Round 11: Britain Barrichello Amid the Chaos
Pole Position: Rubens Barrichello (1:21.209)
Fastest Lap: Rubens Barrichello (1:22.236)
Victory had eluded Rubens Barrichello more than once in the first 10 races of the season, but when things finally went right the Brazilian showed he can be as fast as anyone with a superb win in an action-packed British Grand Prix that had it all, including a track intruder that make Barrichello's win the most ironic. "This is the second time that somebody has come on to the racetrack and I have won the race," said Barrichello after the race, the Ferrari driver having won in Germany 2000 in similar conditions. "They are all going to be saying this guy was a Brazilian, for sure!"
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 69 1. Ferrari 118
2. Raikkonen 62 2. Williams-BMW 108
3. Montoya 55 3. McLaren-Mercedes 95
4. R.Schumacher 53 4. Renault 55
5. Barrichello 49 5. BAR-Honda 14
6. Alonso 39 6. Jaguar-Cosworth 12
7. Coulthard 33 7. Jordan-Ford 11
8. Trulli 16 8. Sauber 9
Round 12: Germany A Walk in the Park
Pole Position: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:15.167)
Fastest Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:14.917)
The fact that Juan Pablo Montoya scored 50 points out of a possible 60 says it all about the Colombian's form, and the German Grand Prix was the culmination of his strongest streak of results since he made his Formula One debut in 2001. Only six races prior to the German Grand Prix Montoya had scored a mere 15 points and Williams looked out of contention, but the victory at Monaco looked to be the turning point of Montoya's season and, with four races left, he was looking like the man to beat.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 71 1. Ferrari 120
2. Montoya 65 2. Williams-BMW 118
3. Raikkonen 62 3. McLaren-Mercedes 103
4. R.Schumacher 53 4. Renault 66
5. Barrichello 49 5. BAR-Honda 15
6. Alonso 44 6. Toyota 14
7. Coulthard 41 7. Jaguar-Cosworth 12
8. Trulli 22 8. Jordan-Ford 11
Round 13: Hungary The Changing of the Guard
Pole Position: Fernando Alonso (1:21.688)
Fastest Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:22.095)
Michael Schumacher may have ultimately won his fourth consecutive title, but if 2003 demonstrated anything it is that the next generation of men who will dominate the sport were already on the grid this year. The Hungarian Grand Prix was the race that epitomised just that fact; the signs have been there since the season kicked off in Australia, with drivers more than ten years younger than Schumacher already fighting and beating the German.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 72 1. Williams-BMW 129
2. Montoya 71 2. Ferrari 121
3. Raikkonen 70 3. McLaren-Mercedes 115
4. R.Schumacher 58 4. Renault 78
5. Alonso 54 5. BAR-Honda 15
6. Barrichello 49 = Jaguar-Cosworth 15
7. Coulthard 45 7. Toyota 14
8. Trulli 24 8. Jordan-Ford 11
Round 14: Italy Ferrari Revival
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:20.963)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:21.832)
It is no coincidence that Ferrari had won the last four Constructors' Championships, and the Maranello squad showed why at the Italian Grand Prix by completing a remarkable comeback from their nightmare weekend three weeks earlier in Hungary. "The tension we felt was as strong as our will to win," said Jean Todt, reflecting the pressure Ferrari were feeling ahead of their home race. "It was almost as if the team were trying to win for the first time ever."
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 82 1. Williams-BMW 141
2. Montoya 79 2. Ferrari 137
3. Raikkonen 75 3. McLaren-Mercedes 120
4. R.Schumacher 58 4. Renault 79
5. Barrichello 55 5. BAR-Honda 18
= Alonso 55 6. Jaguar-Cosworth 17
7. Coulthard 45 7. Toyota 14
8. Trulli 24 8. Jordan-Ford 11
Round 15: USA Schumacher's Master Class
Pole Position: Kimi Raikkonen (1:11.670)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:11.473)
From being criticised in the press and accused of having fallen asleep on their laurels to getting to within a stone's throw of both titles; that's what Ferrari and Michael Schumacher did in the space of one month after the German gave a master class of driving skill at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Just as he had turned around his Championship situation in Italy Schumacher managed to turn around the United States Grand Prix, coming back from nowhere to score a dominant win that left him one point away from a record sixth title.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 92 1. Ferrari 147
2. Raikkonen 83 2. Williams-BMW 144
3. Montoya 82 3. McLaren-Mercedes 128
4. R.Schumacher 58 4. Renault 84
5. Barrichello 55 5. Sauber 19
= Alonso 55 6. BAR-Honda 18
7. Coulthard 45 7. Jaguar-Cosworth 18
8. Trulli 29 8. Toyota 14
Round 16: Japan Michael the Sixth
Pole Position: Rubens Barrichello (1:31.713)
Fastest Lap: Ralf Schumacher (1:33.408)
The most exciting seasons in recent (and not so recent) years deserved a nerve-wrecking Championship-deciding race. The Japanese Grand Prix maybe did not provide the best wheel-to-wheel racing of the season, and at no point during the race the title contenders fought each other, but the weather on Saturday and Michael Schumacher on Sunday made sure everybody was hanging onto the edge of their seats until almost the final lap of 2003. It was a fitting way to end the season.
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 93 WC 1. Ferrari 158 CC
2. Raikkonen 91 2. Williams-BMW 144
3. Montoya 82 3. McLaren-Mercedes 142
4. Barrichello 65 4. Renault 88
5. R.Schumacher 58 5. BAR-Honda 26
6. Alonso 55 6. Sauber 19
7. Coulthard 51 7. Jaguar-Cosworth 18
8. Trulli 34 8. Toyota 16
9. Buttton 17 (2x4) 9. Jordan-Ford 13
10. Webber 17 (3x6) 10. Minardi-Cosworth 0
11. Frentzen 13
12. Fisichella 12
13. da Matta 10
14. Panis 6 (1x5, 2x8)
15. Heidfeld 6 (1x5, 2x8)
16. Villeneuve 6 (2x6)
17. Gene 4
18. Sato 3
19. Firman 1 (1x8)
20. Wilson 1 (1x8)
21. Pizzonia 0 (1x9)
22. Verstappen 0 (1x9)
23. Kiesa 0 (1x11)
24. Baumgartner 0 (1x11)
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Volume 9, Issue 43
2003 Season Review
2003 Race-by-Race Review
2003 Drivers Review
2003 Teams Review
2003 Technical Review
The Atlas F1 Top Ten
Atlas F1 Exclusive
Giancarlo Fisichella: Through the Visor
Columns
2003 Qualifying Differentials
2003 Trivia Quiz
Elsewhere in Racing
The Weekly Grapevine
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