2003 Formula One World Championship

The 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 57th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It began 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]

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, missing one race

The 2003 season saw the introduction of new regulations intended to increase F1's excitement, halt falling global TV 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. 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 teammate 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. 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 since 1999.

Notable races include the chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix which was hampered by monsoon conditions and resulted in the wet weather tyre rule being reversed after just three races, 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 since 1978.

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]

The 2003 season is also notable for being the third and last season that fully-automatic gearboxes and launch control were allowed to be used in Formula One, since they were reintroduced in 2001. Both electronic driver aids had been used since the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix, and a rule-change in the technical regulations saw the FIA banning both systems for 2004.[5]

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
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari F2002B
F2003-GA
Ferrari 051B
Ferrari 052
B 1 Germany Michael Schumacher All
2 Brazil Rubens Barrichello All
United Kingdom BMW WilliamsF1 Team Williams-BMW FW25 BMW P83 M 3 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya All
4 Germany Ralf Schumacher[lower-alpha 1] All
Spain Marc Gené 14
United Kingdom West McLaren Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes MP4-17D Mercedes FO110M
Mercedes FO110P
M 5 United Kingdom David Coulthard All
6 Finland Kimi Räikkönen All
France Mild Seven Renault F1 Team Renault R23
R23B
Renault RS23 M 7 Italy Jarno Trulli All
8 Spain Fernando Alonso All
Switzerland Sauber Petronas Sauber-Petronas C22 Petronas 03A B 9 Germany Nick Heidfeld All
10 Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen All
Republic of Ireland Benson & Hedges Jordan Ford Jordan-Ford EJ13 Ford RS1 B 11 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella All
12 Republic of Ireland Ralph Firman[lower-alpha 2] 1–13, 15–16
Hungary Zsolt Baumgartner 13–14
United Kingdom HSBC Jaguar Racing Jaguar-Cosworth R4 Cosworth CR-5 M 14 Australia Mark Webber All
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
Japan Takuma Sato 16
17 United Kingdom Jenson Button All
Italy Trust Minardi Cosworth[lower-alpha 3] Minardi-Cosworth PS03 Cosworth CR-3 B 18 United Kingdom Justin Wilson 1–11
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
21 Brazil Cristiano da Matta All
Sources:[7][8][9]

All engines were required to have ten cylinders and an engine capacity not exceeding 3000 cc,[10] and all were of V10 configuration.[11]

Free practice drivers

Three constructors entered free practice only drivers over the course of the season.

Drivers that took part in free practice sessions during the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship
Constructor Practice drivers
No. Driver name Rounds
Renault 34 United Kingdom Allan McNish 1–9, 11–16
44 France Franck Montagny 10
JordanFord 36 Hungary Zsolt Baumgartner
Sweden Björn Wirdheim
Japan Satoshi Motoyama
12
15
16
MinardiCosworth 39 Italy Matteo Bobbi
Italy Gianmaria Bruni
4
12–16

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 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,[12] 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

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 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).

Season calendar

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

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

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. [15]

Results and standings

Grands Prix

Round Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning 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 Italy 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
Source:[16]

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top eight finishing drivers and constructors as follows:[17]

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th 
Points 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

World Drivers' Championship standings

Pos. Driver AUS
Australia
MAL
Malaysia
BRA
Brazil
SMR
Italy
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 4P 6F Ret 1PF 1P 1PF 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1PF 1F 8 93
2 Finland Kimi Räikkönen 3F 1 2 2 Ret 2 2F 6 RetPF 4 3 Ret 2 4 2P 2 91
3 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2F 2 1PF 3F 2 6 Ret 82
4 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Ret 2 RetPF 3 3F 3 8 5 3 7 1PF Ret Ret 3 Ret 1P 65
5 Germany Ralf Schumacher 8 4 7 4 5 6 4P 2P 1 1P 9 Ret 4 WD Ret 12F 58
6 Spain Fernando Alonso 7 3P 3 6 2 Ret 5 4F 4 Ret Ret 4 1P 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 WD 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
Italy
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
Source:[17]
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenOther points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap

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

Ferrari won the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors
Williams-BMW placed second in the Constructors' Championship
McLaren-Mercedes finished third in the Constructors' Championship, only two points behind Williams
Pos. Constructor No. AUS
Australia
MAL
Malaysia
BRA
Brazil
SMR
Italy
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 4P 6F Ret 1PF 1P 1PF 3 1 5 3 4 7 8 1PF 1F 8 158
2 Ret 2 RetPF 3 3F 3 8 5 3 7 1PF Ret Ret 3 Ret 1P
2 United Kingdom Williams-BMW 3 2 12 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2F 2 1PF 3F 2 6 Ret 144
4 8 4 7 4 5 6 4P 2P 1 1P 9 Ret 4 5 Ret 12F
3 United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes 5 1 Ret 4 5 Ret 5 7 Ret 15 5 5 2 5 Ret Ret 3 142
6 3F 1 2 2 Ret 2 2F 6 RetPF 4 3 Ret 2 4 2P 2
4 France Renault 7 5 5 8 13 Ret 8 6 Ret Ret Ret 6 3 7 Ret 4 5 88
8 7 3P 3 6 2 Ret 5 4F 4 Ret Ret 4 1P 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 No. AUS
Australia
MAL
Malaysia
BRA
Brazil
SMR
Italy
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
Source:[17]

Notes:

  • – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Notes

  1. Ralf Schumacher was entered into the Italian Grand Prix, but later withdrew due to illness.
  2. Ralph Firman was entered into the Hungarian Grand Prix, but later withdrew after he was injured during free practice.
  3. Minardi entered first six Grands Prix as "European Minardi Cosworth".[6]

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. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. 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. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  5. "F1 Regulations - Formula 1 Rules and Regulations for the 2004 F1 Season". newsonf1.com. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  6. "Trust increases Minardi backing". Crash.net. 22 May 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  7. "2003 FIA Formula One World Championship". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 4 October 2003. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  8. Braillon, Didier (2003). "Sporting regulations". In Domenjoz, Luc (ed.). Formula 1 Yearbook 2003–04. Bath, Somerset: Parragon. pp. 22–41. ISBN 978-1-4054-2089-1 via Internet Archive.
  9. "Models in 2003". StatsF1. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  10. 2003 Formula One Technical Regulations, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015
  11. 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship – F1 Guide, www.fia.com via web.archive.org Retrieved 5 July 2015
  12. "Jordan set to lose Honda deal". BBC Sport. 3 May 2002. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  13. "2003". Chicane F1. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  14. "Formula One Calendar 2003". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  15. "FIA statement on 2003 Belgian GP". Motorsport Network. 31 October 2002. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  16. "Formula One Results 2003". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  17. Jones, Bruce (2004). "Final Tables 2003". The Official ITV Sport Guide: 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship. Carlton Books. pp. 100–101. ISBN 1-84442-811-7 via Internet Archive.
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