2003 French Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Ralf Schumacher made it two victories in a week as Williams delivered another one-two at the French Grand Prix. Juan Pablo Montoya followed him home, while Michael Schumacher recovered third place through the final round of pit stops.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Ralf Schumacher	Williams
Pole time	1:15.019
Fastest lap	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams
Fastest-lap time	1:15.512 on lap 36
First	Ralf Schumacher	Williams
Second	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams
Third	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

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

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

Championship background

Michael Schumacher arrived at round 10 leading the 2003 F1 World Championship on 58 points, with Kimi Räikkönen on 51. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 95 points.

Magny-Cours featured a revised final section, with changes at Château d’Eau and Lycée and a shorter pit lane. The alterations added another element to a weekend in which Williams arrived fresh from its Nürburgring one-two.

Race entries

The driver line-ups were unchanged, but BAR’s preparations were disrupted by a legal dispute that prevented its cars from taking part in Friday practice. The team was able to run in qualifying later that day.

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

Mark Webber led Friday practice on a wet circuit, benefiting from earlier running in the private test. Conditions improved enough for repeated changes at the top, and the Jaguar finished more than a second clear of Ralf Schumacher. Mark Webber also lost his front wing in a low-speed pit-lane collision with Michael Schumacher, while both BARs remained in the garage because of the court proceedings.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2003 French Grand Prix FP1, 4 July 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:26.915	27
2	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.167s	24
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.345s	20
4	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.381s	19
5	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.527s	30
6	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.766s	16
7	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.803s	21
8	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.858s	20
9	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+1.867s	16
10	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.888s	21
11	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.931s	22
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+2.402s	23
13	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+2.693s	21
14	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+2.725s	22
15	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+2.898s	18
16	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+3.876s	25
17	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+5.176s	19
18	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+5.620s	17

First qualifying

A drying track produced an extraordinary Friday result as Jos Verstappen put Minardi fastest, almost three seconds clear. Justin Wilson initially made it a Minardi one-two, but his time was removed because the car was underweight. Jos Verstappen’s reward was the final running slot for Saturday’s decisive session.

First Qualifying Classification

2003 French Grand Prix First Qualifying, 4 July 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:20.817	3
2	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:23.496	3
3	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:24.042	3
4	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:24.175	3
5	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:24.642	3
6	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:24.651	3
7	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:25.178	3
8	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:26.151	3
9	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:26.975	3
10	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:27.095	3
11	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:27.929	3
12	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:28.502	3
13	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:28.937	3
14	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:28.988	3
15	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:29.024	3
16	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:29.120	3
17	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:29.327	3
18	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:29.455	3
19	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:30.731	3
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	DEL	3

Saturday practice

Fernando Alonso narrowly beat Rubens Barrichello in the first Saturday session as BAR finally began its practice programme. Jenson Button’s return was interrupted when he parked with a smoking engine at the end of the session. Antonio Pizzonia also ran off, but most drivers enjoyed a relatively straightforward opportunity to learn the revised circuit in better conditions.

Free Practice 2 Classification

2003 French Grand Prix FP2, 5 July 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:16.076	24
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.114s	19
3	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.215s	20
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.419s	15
5	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.611s	21
6	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.764s	19
7	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.974s	13
8	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.042s	25
9	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.047s	14
10	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.110s	18
11	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.121s	21
12	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.265s	22
13	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.376s	20
14	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.883s	16
15	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+2.219s	15
16	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+2.379s	13
17	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.673s	14
18	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+2.800s	17
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.013s	21
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.872s	17

Ralf Schumacher led Juan Pablo Montoya in the second Saturday session, underlining Williams’ strong form. David Coulthard spun in the revised final complex but continued, whereas Jos Verstappen’s engine failed. Jenson Button managed only three laps after spending much of the session in the garage, leaving him short of running before qualifying.

Free Practice 3 Classification

2003 French Grand Prix FP3, 5 July 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:14.966	17
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.611s	17
3	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.634s	14
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.952s	19
5	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.046s	14
6	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.073s	20
7	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.146s	24
8	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.167s	17
9	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.379s	18
10	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.410s	22
11	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+2.070s	25
12	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.135s	21
13	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+2.724s	22
14	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+2.810s	23
15	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+2.842s	3
16	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.942s	21
17	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+3.091s	25
18	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+3.704s	17
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.730s	8
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+4.078s	18

Warm-up

Ralf Schumacher again headed Juan Pablo Montoya in the warm-up, with Kimi Räikkönen third. Williams carried its morning momentum into the final preparations, while BAR had only this short session left to recover some of the practice time lost earlier in the weekend.

Warm-up Classification

2003 French Grand Prix Warm-up, 5 July 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:15.092	4
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.605s	6
3	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.730s	5
4	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.731s	4
5	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.787s	6
6	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.146s	4
7	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.170s	7
8	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.240s	6
9	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.709s	4
10	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.999s	7
11	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+2.120s	5
12	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.212s	5
13	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+2.286s	7
14	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+2.290s	6
15	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+2.853s	5
16	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+3.208s	7
17	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+3.335s	4
18	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.807s	5
19	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+4.362s	5
20	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	No time	3

Final qualifying

On a dry track, Ralf Schumacher claimed pole ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya for a Williams front-row lockout. Michael Schumacher qualified third ahead of Kimi Räikkönen. The result gave Williams the ideal starting position to repeat its success at the preceding round.

Final Qualifying Classification

2003 French Grand Prix Final Qualifying, 5 July 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:15.019	3
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:15.136	3
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:15.480	3
4	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:15.533	3
5	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:15.628	3
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:15.967	3
7	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:16.087	3
8	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:16.166	3
9	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:16.308	3
10	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:16.345	3
11	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:16.965	3
12	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:16.990	3
13	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:17.068	3
14	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:17.077	3
15	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:17.445	3
16	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:17.562	3
17	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:18.431	3
18	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:18.514	3
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:18.709	3
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:19.619	3

Justin Wilson drove a time of 1:20.968 but his time was removed because his car was underweight.

What happened in the 2003 French Grand Prix?

Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya retained the first two places at the start, while Kimi Räikkönen passed Michael Schumacher for third. Rubens Barrichello spun at the new final corner and faced a recovery drive. Out front, Ralf Schumacher steadily extended his advantage in clear air.

The leading order changed little through the early stops, although David Coulthard used an earlier visit to move ahead of Michael Schumacher. Both Renaults then retired with engine failures, ending their home-race challenge. During the final stops, David Coulthard left his pit box with the fuel hose still attached and lost valuable time.

Ralf Schumacher remained ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya through the last pit-stop sequence and completed a commanding victory. Michael Schumacher gained third as Kimi Räikkönen struggled with his rear brakes, limiting the championship damage. Williams’ second consecutive one-two confirmed that its recent surge was becoming a serious title challenge.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 64 points, followed by Kimi Räikkönen on 56. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 103, with Williams on 100.

2003 French Grand Prix race results

The 2003 French Grand Prix was held on 6 July 2003, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	70	1:30:49.213	10
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	70	+13.813	8
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	70	+19.568	6
4	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	70	+38.047	5
5	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	70	+40.289	4
6	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	70	+1:06.380	3
7	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	69	+1 lap	2
8	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	69	+1 lap	1
9	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	69	+1 lap	0
10	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	69	+1 lap	0
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	69	+1 lap	0
12	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	68	+2 laps	0
13	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	68	+2 laps	0
14	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	67	+3 laps	0
15	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	67	+3 laps	0
16	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	66	+4 laps	0
Ret	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	45	Engine	0
Ret	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	43	Engine	0
Ret	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	42	Engine	0
Ret	17	Jenson Button	BAR	21	Out of fuel	0

2003 French Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	36	1:15.512	210.292
2	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	37	1:15.698	209.775
3	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	17	1:15.981	208.994
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	19	1:16.303	208.112
5	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	19	1:16.609	207.281
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	33	1:17.025	206.161
7	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	11	1:17.029	206.150
8	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	47	1:17.068	206.046
9	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	47	1:17.104	205.950
10	17	Jenson Button	BAR	19	1:17.149	205.830
11	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	36	1:17.398	205.168
12	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	67	1:17.416	205.120
13	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	49	1:17.786	204.144
14	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	63	1:17.870	203.924
15	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	18	1:18.099	203.326
16	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	66	1:18.754	201.635
17	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	21	1:18.994	201.022
18	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	23	1:19.093	200.771
19	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	13	1:19.345	200.133
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	25	1:19.588	199.522

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 French Grand Prix.

2003 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	64
2	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	56
3	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	53
4	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	47
5	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	39
6	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	39
7	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	29
8	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	13
9	Mark Webber	Australian	Jaguar	12
10	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Jordan	10
11	Jenson Button	British	BAR	10
12	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Sauber	7
13	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	3
14	Cristiano da Matta	Brazilian	Toyota	3
15	Olivier Panis	French	Toyota	2
16	Nick Heidfeld	German	Sauber	2
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	103
2	Williams	100
3	McLaren	85
4	Renault	52
5	BAR	13
6	Jaguar	12
7	Jordan	11
8	Sauber	9
9	Toyota	5
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