2003 Australian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

David Coulthard won an eventful Australian Grand Prix as Formula 1’s new rules produced an unpredictable season opener. Juan Pablo Montoya recovered from a late spin to finish second, with Kimi Räikkönen third after starting from the pit lane.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:27.173
Fastest lap	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren
Fastest-lap time	1:27.724 on lap 32
First	David Coulthard	McLaren
Second	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams
Third	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
7 March 2003	Optional private testing (participating teams)	08:30–10:30
7 March 2003	Practice 1	11:00
7 March 2003	First qualifying	14:00
8 March 2003	Practice 2	09:00
8 March 2003	Practice 3	10:15
8 March 2003	Warm-up	13:30
8 March 2003	Final qualifying	14:00
9 March 2003	Race	14:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

The 2003 F1 World Championship introduced single-lap qualifying on Friday and Saturday, race-fuel qualifying and parc fermé restrictions between final qualifying and the race. Points now extended to eighth place, on a 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 scale. A short Saturday warm-up replaced Sunday warm-up, while Renault, Jaguar, Jordan and Minardi chose restricted private testing in exchange for extra running at race weekends. HANS head-and-neck restraints also became compulsory.

Race entries

Da Cristiano da Matta joined Olivier Panis in an all-new Toyota line-up. Mark Webber moved to Jaguar alongside rookie Antonio Pizzonia, while Justin Wilson and the returning Jos Verstappen raced for Minardi. Ralph Firman joined Giancarlo Fisichella at Jordan, Fernando Alonso returned to racing with Renault, and Jenson Button moved to BAR. Ferrari began with its successful F2002 rather than the new car it was still preparing.

Renault, Jaguar, Jordan and Minardi could use the additional morning testing period under the restricted-testing agreement. This was separate from the official free-practice sessions and was not available to the whole field.

Friday practice

Kimi Räikkönen and David Coulthard put McLaren first and second in Friday practice, but the new fuel and qualifying rules made the order difficult to interpret. Both BAR drivers suffered engine problems, while a fuel-pump fault interrupted Giancarlo Fisichella. Jarno Trulli, who had already led the optional morning test for the participating teams, placed Renault third as the drivers negotiated a dusty, slippery Albert Park Circuit.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2003 Australian Grand Prix FP1, 7 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:26.509	18
2	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.479s	23
3	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.777s	7
4	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.950s	21
5	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.145s	13
6	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.157s	25
7	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.162s	8
8	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.409s	17
9	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+1.420s	12
10	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.473s	24
11	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.583s	13
12	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.698s	19
13	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.853s	12
14	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.984s	10
15	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+2.189s	24
16	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.818s	6
17	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+3.022s	15
18	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.689s	14
19	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+4.097s	17
20	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+5.020s	5

First qualifying

Rubens Barrichello was fastest in Friday’s one-lap session, earning the final running slot on Saturday. Kimi Räikkönen took second and Jacques Villeneuve third despite having to use the spare BAR after his practice engine failure. Michael Schumacher, first onto the dirty track as reigning champion, was fourth. Friday’s times determined Saturday’s order, not the starting grid.

First Qualifying Classification

2003 Australian Grand Prix First Qualifying, 7 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:26.372	3
2	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:26.551	3
3	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:26.832	3
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:27.103	3
5	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:27.159	3
6	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:27.242	3
7	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:27.255	3
8	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:27.352	3
9	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:27.411	3
10	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:27.450	3
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:27.478	3
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:27.510	3
13	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:27.563	3
14	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:27.633	3
15	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:27.675	3
16	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:28.266	3
17	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:29.977	3
18	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:30.053	3
19	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:30.092	3
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:30.479	3

Saturday practice

Overnight rain left Saturday’s opening session dirty and treacherous. Michael Schumacher hit the barriers at Ascari and damaged the Ferrari’s left-front corner, then Kimi Räikkönen crashed at Whiteford and caused a red flag. Jenson Button went fastest after the restart, while Jacques Villeneuve stopped with a hydraulic problem. Both Ferrari and McLaren faced repair work before qualifying.

Jarno Trulli set the quickest Saturday lap in the second morning session, while Michael Schumacher returned in his repaired Ferrari. Kimi Räikkönen missed the running as McLaren worked on his damaged car. David Coulthard suffered a puncture and then a fuel-pump problem, leaving the team with an unsettled build-up to the decisive afternoon lap.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

2003 Australian Grand Prix Saturday Practice, 8 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:26.928	23
2	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.487s	30
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.496s	29
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.589s	23
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.630s	27
6	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.772s	32
7	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.886s	29
8	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.121s	18
9	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.162s	18
10	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.249s	23
11	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.432s	29
12	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.493s	26
13	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.581s	16
14	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.636s	10
15	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.662s	27
16	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+1.691s	28
17	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+2.886s	26
18	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+3.623s	10
19	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.929s	20
20	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+4.138s	19

The Saturday classification combines the two morning practice sessions. Times are each driver’s best across those sessions; lap totals cover both.

Warm-up

Rubens Barrichello led Michael Schumacher in the new 15-minute Saturday warm-up. The brief session offered a final check before the race-fuel qualifying run, rather than the traditional Sunday preparation. Wind affected Jenson Button’s balance, and the teams had little time left to settle their cars before the new parc fermé restrictions took effect.

Warm-up Classification

2003 Australian Grand Prix Warm-up, 8 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:27.738	7
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.106s	7
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.404s	4
4	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.916s	4
5	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.954s	5
6	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+0.956s	6
7	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.157s	6
8	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.165s	4
9	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.467s	7
10	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.608s	5
11	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.747s	4
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.915s	6
13	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.150s	6
14	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.253s	4
15	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+2.550s	3
16	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+2.587s	4
17	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.325s	4
18	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+4.491s	5
19	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+4.676s	4
20	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	No time	1

Final qualifying

Michael Schumacher recovered from his practice accident to claim pole, using a set-up based on Rubens Barrichello’s car. Rubens Barrichello completed Ferrari’s front row, ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Kimi Räikkönen’s difficult weekend left him fifteenth after an unsuccessful decisive run, while the new race-fuel requirement added uncertainty about how the grid would translate into race pace.

Final Qualifying Classification

2003 Australian Grand Prix Final Qualifying, 8 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:27.173	3
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:27.418	3
3	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:28.101	3
4	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:28.274	3
5	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:28.288	3
6	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:28.420	3
7	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:28.464	3
8	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:28.682	3
9	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:28.830	3
10	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:28.928	3
11	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:29.105	3
12	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:29.136	3
13	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:29.344	3
14	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:29.367	3
15	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:29.470	3
16	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:29.538	3
17	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:31.242	3
18	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:31.723	3
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	No time	2
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	No time	2

Jos Verstappen and Justin Wilson did not set a lap time in the second session, in order to avoid the parc fermé regime.

What happened in the 2003 Australian Grand Prix?

A damp but drying track split the tyre choices. The Ferraris initially led on intermediates, but Rubens Barrichello crashed and Michael Schumacher lost time switching to dry tyres. Two Safety Car periods reshaped the race, and Kimi Räikkönen’s pit-lane start on dry tyres brought him into contention.

Kimi Räikkönen lost his chance of victory to a pit-lane speeding penalty, while Michael Schumacher had to stop after damaging his Ferrari’s aerodynamic bodywork. Juan Pablo Montoya appeared set to win, but a late spin handed the lead to David Coulthard. The Colombian recovered without losing second.

David Coulthard won ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Räikkönen, with Michael Schumacher fourth. Jarno Trulli, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Fernando Alonso and Ralf Schumacher took the remaining points under the expanded scoring system. McLaren left Melbourne leading both championships, while Ferrari’s extraordinary run of podium finishes had finally ended.

After the race, David Coulthard headed the drivers’ standings with 10 points, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya on 8. McLaren led the constructors’ table on 16, with Williams on 9.

2003 Australian Grand Prix race results

The 2003 Australian Grand Prix was held on 9 March 2003, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	58	1:34:42.124	10
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	58	+8.675	8
3	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	58	+9.192	6
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	58	+9.482	5
5	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	58	+38.801	4
6	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	58	+43.928	3
7	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	58	+45.074	2
8	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	58	+45.745	1
9	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	58	+1:05.536	0
10	17	Jenson Button	BAR	58	+1:05.974	0
11	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	57	+1 Lap	0
12	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	52	Gearbox	0
13	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	52	Suspension	0
Ret	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	31	Fuel pressure	0
Ret	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	20	Suspension	0
Ret	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	16	Radiator	0
Ret	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	15	Suspension	0
Ret	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	7	Spun off	0
Ret	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	6	Accident	0
Ret	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	5	Accident	0

Kimi Räikkönen and Jos Verstappen started the race from the pit lane.

2003 Australian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	32	1:27.724	217.623
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	27	1:27.759	217.536
3	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	39	1:27.942	217.083
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	35	1:28.170	216.522
5	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	28	1:28.272	216.272
6	17	Jenson Button	BAR	57	1:28.600	215.471
7	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	37	1:28.617	215.430
8	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	44	1:28.638	215.379
9	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	57	1:28.770	215.059
10	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	35	1:29.096	214.272
11	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	37	1:29.217	213.981
12	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	49	1:29.274	213.845
13	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	23	1:29.694	212.843
14	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	14	1:29.697	212.836
15	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	29	1:31.785	207.994
16	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	13	1:33.139	204.971
17	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	14	1:33.519	204.138
18	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	7	1:33.753	203.628
19	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	6	1:36.644	197.537
20	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	5	1:37.086	196.638

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

2003 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2003 Australian Grand Prix.

2003 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	10
2	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	8
3	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	6
4	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	5
5	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	4
6	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Sauber	3
7	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	2
8	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	1
9	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	0
10	Jenson Button	British	BAR	0
11	Jos Verstappen	Dutch	Minardi	0
–	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Jordan	0
–	Antônio Pizzonia	Brazilian	Jaguar	0
–	Olivier Panis	French	Toyota	0
–	Nick Heidfeld	German	Sauber	0
–	Justin Wilson	British	Minardi	0
–	Mark Webber	Australian	Jaguar	0
–	Cristiano da Matta	Brazilian	Toyota	0
–	Ralph Firman	Irish	Jordan	0
–	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	0

2003 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	McLaren	16
2	Williams	9
3	Renault	6
4	Ferrari	5
5	Sauber	3
6	BAR	0
7	Minardi	0
–	Jordan	0
–	Jaguar	0
–	Toyota	0

2003 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2003 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	9 March
2	2003 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	23 March
3	2003 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	6 April
4	2003 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	20 April
5	2003 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	4 May
6	2003 Austrian Grand Prix	A1-Ring, Spielberg	18 May
7	2003 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	1 June
8	2003 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	15 June
9	2003 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	29 June
10	2003 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	6 July
11	2003 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	20 July
12	2003 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	3 August
13	2003 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	24 August
14	2003 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	14 September
15	2003 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	28 September
16	2003 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	12 October