2003 Canadian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher won a closely fought Canadian Grand Prix as the leading four cars finished within five seconds. Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya joined him on the podium, with Fernando Alonso keeping the pressure on until the chequered flag.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Ralf Schumacher	Williams
Pole time	1:15.529
Fastest lap	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Fastest-lap time	1:16.040 on lap 53
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Ralf Schumacher	Williams
Third	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
13 June 2003	Optional private testing (participating teams)	08:30–10:30
13 June 2003	Practice 1	11:00
13 June 2003	First qualifying	14:00
14 June 2003	Practice 2	08:00
14 June 2003	Practice 3	09:15
14 June 2003	Warm-up	12:30
14 June 2003	Final qualifying	13:00
15 June 2003	Race	13:00

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

Championship background

Kimi Räikkönen arrived at round 8 leading the 2003 F1 World Championship on 48 points, with Michael Schumacher on 44. McLaren headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 73 points.

Race entries

Jenson Button returned to the BAR after missing the Monaco race following his practice crash. The regular field was otherwise unchanged, with Jacques Villeneuve racing in front of his home supporters at Circuit Gilles Jacques Villeneuve.

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

Antonio Pizzonia made the most of the early dry running to lead Friday practice before rain arrived. Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher followed, but the changing conditions prevented meaningful late improvements. Jenson Button joined the action too late to benefit from the dry track, making his return to the cockpit a particularly awkward one.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2003 Canadian Grand Prix FP1, 13 June 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:16.621	11
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.595s	16
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.607s	17
4	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+0.723s	13
5	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+0.843s	16
6	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.273s	21
7	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+1.352s	12
8	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.534s	16
9	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.544s	16
10	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.619s	24
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.938s	23
12	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+1.965s	16
13	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.095s	19
14	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+3.144s	21
15	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+6.440s	17
16	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+7.950s	15
17	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+11.520s	11
18	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+12.251s	14
19	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+15.037s	8
20	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+15.931s	8

First qualifying

Rubens Barrichello set the fastest time in Friday’s wet qualifying session. The changing conditions added another complication to the single-lap format, with the result establishing the running order for Saturday rather than the race grid.

First Qualifying Classification

2003 Canadian Grand Prix First Qualifying, 13 June 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:30.925	3
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:31.969	3
3	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:32.778	3
4	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:34.759	3
5	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:35.173	3
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:35.373	3
7	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:35.776	3
8	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:36.463	3
9	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:36.699	3
10	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:37.313	3
11	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:37.426	3
12	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:37.479	3
13	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:38.088	3
14	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:38.109	3
15	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:38.210	3
16	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:38.244	3
17	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:38.255	3
18	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:38.617	3
19	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:41.413	3
20	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:44.702	3

Saturday practice

Rubens Barrichello led a Ferrari one-two in the wet first Saturday session, with Jacques Villeneuve third. The slippery track produced repeated excursions, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen hit the barriers at Turn 2. Jenson Button completed a busy session as he rebuilt his rhythm, while Justin Wilson lost part of his engine cover.

Michael Schumacher headed the second Saturday session as the circuit dried, again followed by Rubens Barrichello. Da Cristiano da Matta crashed at Turn 7 and briefly brought out the red flag. Schumacher also spun and lightly touched the barriers before continuing, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen suffered an engine failure. The improving surface made the final preparations far from routine.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

2003 Canadian Grand Prix Saturday Practice, 14 June 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:23.385	42
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.292s	40
3	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+1.855s	30
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.997s	41
5	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+2.283s	32
6	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.319s	37
7	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+2.454s	37
8	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+2.517s	39
9	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+2.576s	42
10	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+3.055s	39
11	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+3.152s	30
12	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+3.305s	38
13	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+3.386s	41
14	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.633s	27
15	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+3.760s	40
16	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+4.840s	32
17	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+4.861s	28
18	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+5.805s	19
19	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+5.830s	22
20	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+7.025s	16

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

Warm-up

Ralf Schumacher led the dry warm-up ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and David Coulthard. After the morning’s wet running, these final minutes offered a valuable check in conditions much closer to those expected for qualifying. Williams emerged with encouraging pace before the decisive single-lap attempts.

Warm-up Classification

2003 Canadian Grand Prix Warm-up, 14 June 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:16.236	6
2	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.461s	7
3	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.077s	8
4	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.324s	7
5	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.415s	7
6	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.440s	8
7	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.453s	9
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+1.563s	7
9	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.571s	6
10	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.694s	7
11	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.743s	7
12	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.747s	8
13	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.092s	8
14	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+2.103s	6
15	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+2.203s	7
16	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+2.343s	7
17	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+2.609s	8
18	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+2.657s	6
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.352s	7
20	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+4.358s	6

Final qualifying

Ralf Schumacher took his second consecutive pole, comfortably ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya, as Williams locked out the front row. Michael Schumacher qualified third. Kimi Räikkönen went off during his attempt and failed to record a time; the championship contender would start the race from the pit lane.

Final Qualifying Classification

2003 Canadian Grand Prix Final Qualifying, 14 June 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:15.529	3
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:15.923	3
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:16.047	3
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:16.048	3
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:16.143	3
6	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:16.182	3
7	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:16.598	3
8	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:16.718	3
9	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:16.826	3
10	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:16.939	3
11	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:17.024	3
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:17.086	3
13	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:17.337	3
14	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:17.347	3
15	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:18.014	3
16	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:18.036	3
17	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:18.205	3
18	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:18.560	3
19	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:18.692	3
20	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	No time	2

Kimi Räikkönen spun off at the second corner and did not set a time in Q2.

What happened in the 2003 Canadian Grand Prix?

Ralf Schumacher held the lead at the start, while Juan Pablo Montoya resisted Michael Schumacher through the opening corners. Rubens Barrichello hit Fernando Alonso’s Renault and needed a new front wing. Juan Pablo Montoya then spun at the final corner on the second lap, dropping to fifth before fighting back past Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso.

The first pit stops decided the lead. Michael Schumacher stayed out longer than the Williams drivers and used the clear track to move ahead. Later, he managed his tyres and brakes carefully, allowing Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and eventually Fernando Alonso to close into a tightly packed leading group.

Despite the close finish, none of the pursuers found a way past. Michael Schumacher took victory ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, with Fernando Alonso fourth. Rubens Barrichello recovered to fifth, followed by Kimi Räikkönen, Mark Webber and Olivier Panis. The victory moved Schumacher ahead of Kimi Räikkönen in the championship.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 54 points, followed by Kimi Räikkönen on 51. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 85, with McLaren on 76.

2003 Canadian Grand Prix race results

The 2003 Canadian Grand Prix was held on 15 June 2003, with a scheduled start of 13:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	70	1:31:13.591	10
2	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	70	+0.784	8
3	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	70	+1.355	6
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	70	+4.481	5
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	70	+1:04.261	4
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	70	+1:10.502	3
7	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	69	+1 Lap	2
8	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	69	+1 Lap	1
9	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	68	+2 Laps	0
10	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	66	Brakes	0
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	64	Suspension	0
Ret	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	60	Gearbox	0
Ret	17	Jenson Button	BAR	51	Gearbox	0
Ret	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	47	Gearbox	0
Ret	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	47	Engine	0
Ret	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	22	Collision damage	0
Ret	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	20	Gearbox	0
Ret	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	20	Engine	0
Ret	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	14	Brakes	0
Ret	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	6	Electronics	0

Kimi Räikkönen and Ralph Firman started from the pit lane.

2003 Canadian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	53	1:16.040	206.465
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	39	1:16.349	205.629
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	35	1:16.368	205.578
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	46	1:16.378	205.551
5	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	48	1:16.599	204.958
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	67	1:16.699	204.691
7	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	23	1:17.088	203.658
8	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	20	1:17.186	203.399
9	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	54	1:17.324	203.036
10	17	Jenson Button	BAR	22	1:17.562	202.413
11	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	45	1:17.592	202.335
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	44	1:17.769	201.874
13	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	38	1:17.787	201.828
14	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	40	1:17.904	201.524
15	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	42	1:18.039	201.176
16	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	38	1:18.521	199.941
17	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	16	1:18.696	199.496
18	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	18	1:19.453	197.596
19	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	6	1:19.780	196.786
20	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	3	1:20.043	196.139

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 Canadian Grand Prix.

2003 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	54
2	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	51
3	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	34
4	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	33
5	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	31
6	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	31
7	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	25
8	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	13
9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Jordan	10
10	Jenson Button	British	BAR	8
11	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Sauber	7
12	Mark Webber	Australian	Jaguar	6
13	Cristiano da Matta	Brazilian	Toyota	3
14	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	3
15	Olivier Panis	French	Toyota	1
16	Nick Heidfeld	German	Sauber	1
17	Ralph Firman	Irish	Jordan	1
18	Antônio Pizzonia	Brazilian	Jaguar	0
19	Jos Verstappen	Dutch	Minardi	0
20	Justin Wilson	British	Minardi	0

2003 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	85
2	McLaren	76
3	Williams	64
4	Renault	47
5	Jordan	11
6	BAR	11
7	Sauber	8
8	Jaguar	6
9	Toyota	4
10	Minardi	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