2003 Malaysian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Kimi Räikkönen claimed his first Formula 1 victory at Sepang International Circuit, winning convincingly from Rubens Barrichello. Fernando Alonso added his first podium to a breakthrough weekend that had already brought him pole position.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Pole time	1:37.044
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:36.412 on lap 45
First	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren
Second	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Third	Fernando Alonso	Renault

Weekend Schedule

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

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

Championship background

David Coulthard arrived at round 2 leading the 2003 F1 World Championship on 10 points, with Juan Pablo Montoya on 8. McLaren headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 16 points.

Race entries

The ten teams retained their Australian race line-ups. Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Toyota’s da Cristiano da Matta were still settling into their new roles, while the field continued adapting to single-lap qualifying, race-fuel strategy and the compulsory HANS restraint.

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

David Coulthard led Friday practice ahead of the Renaults after the track dried from overnight rain. Antonio Pizzonia damaged his front wing in a gravel excursion, Heinz-Harald Frentzen stopped with an electrical-connector fault and Ralph Firman suffered a front-suspension failure under braking. The optional earlier test had also proved eventful, with Mark Webber damaging his Jaguar after spinning from the back straight’s braking zone.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2003 Malaysian Grand Prix FP1, 21 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:36.102	20
2	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.129s	15
3	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.270s	13
4	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.896s	18
5	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.943s	21
6	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.958s	23
7	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.211s	20
8	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.255s	22
9	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.395s	20
10	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.646s	18
11	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+1.745s	20
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.804s	17
13	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.849s	11
14	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.890s	24
15	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+2.413s	15
16	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+2.414s	13
17	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+2.737s	13
18	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.768s	3
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.081s	13
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.593s	14

First qualifying

Michael Schumacher dominated Friday’s first qualifying run, with Rubens Barrichello second and Juan Pablo Montoya third. Antonio Pizzonia failed to record a time because his Jaguar would not start. Fernando Alonso was only tenth after struggling with oversteer, giving little indication of the result he would produce on Saturday.

First Qualifying Classification

2003 Malaysian Grand Prix First Qualifying, 21 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:34.980	3
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:35.681	3
3	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:35.939	3
4	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:36.038	3
5	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:36.297	3
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:36.301	3
7	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:36.407	3
8	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:36.615	3
9	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:36.632	3
10	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:36.693	3
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:36.706	3
12	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:36.759	3
13	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:36.805	3
14	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:36.995	3
15	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:37.585	3
16	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:37.669	3
17	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:38.240	3
18	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:38.904	3
19	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:39.354	3

Saturday practice

David Coulthard was fastest again in the first Saturday session, but Michael Schumacher had a high-speed spin into the gravel at Turn 12. He recovered to the garage, where Ferrari replaced damaged underfloor components. David Coulthard also spun at the final corner, while Mark Webber avoided further damage after another mistake.

Kimi Räikkönen produced the morning’s best lap in the later session, leaving McLaren at the head of the combined Saturday times. David Coulthard ran through the gravel twice without damaging the car. Justin Wilson’s left-rear wheel detached on his opening lap, bringing his Minardi’s running to an abrupt end and leaving the team with an urgent investigation before qualifying.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

2003 Malaysian Grand Prix Saturday Practice, 22 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:36.557	24
2	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.220s	23
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.292s	29
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.433s	18
5	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+0.536s	34
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.641s	26
7	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.661s	36
8	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.861s	31
9	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.865s	31
10	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.879s	31
11	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+0.886s	30
12	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.066s	23
13	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.194s	37
14	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.390s	34
15	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.423s	27
16	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.533s	30
17	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+1.725s	32
18	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.772s	29
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.825s	19
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+4.081s	14

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

Warm-up

Kimi Räikkönen and David Coulthard led the short warm-up in hot, dry conditions. Ferrari encountered gearbox trouble on Michael Schumacher’s car and replaced the unit before qualifying. The brief session was the last chance to check the cars before the decisive lap and the restrictions governing race preparation.

Warm-up Classification

2003 Malaysian Grand Prix Warm-up, 22 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:37.506	4
2	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.342s	4
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.554s	5
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.616s	4
5	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+0.681s	5
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.937s	4
7	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.962s	7
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+1.109s	4
9	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.115s	4
10	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.134s	4
11	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.174s	4
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.194s	6
13	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.370s	4
14	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.401s	4
15	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.427s	4
16	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.977s	3
17	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.082s	6
18	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+3.696s	5
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.952s	3
20	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+5.378s	4

Final qualifying

Fernando Alonso became Formula 1’s youngest pole-sitter with a superb race-fuel qualifying lap, and Jarno Trulli made it an all-Renault front row. Michael Schumacher took third. Kimi Räikkönen qualified seventh after a braking error, while the mix of fuel loads and tyre choices promised a race that would not simply follow the starting order.

Final Qualifying Classification

2003 Malaysian Grand Prix Final Qualifying, 22 March 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:37.044	3
2	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:37.217	3
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:37.393	3
4	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:37.454	3
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:37.579	3
6	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:37.766	3
7	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:37.858	3
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:37.974	3
9	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:38.073	3
10	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:38.094	3
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:38.097	3
12	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:38.289	3
13	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:38.291	3
14	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:38.416	3
15	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:38.516	3
16	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:38.624	3
17	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:38.789	3
18	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:40.417	3
19	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:40.599	3
20	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:40.910	3

Antônio Pizzonia set no time in the first qualifying session due to a fuel pick-up problem issue in the car.

What happened in the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix?

Fernando Alonso led away, but Michael Schumacher collided with Jarno Trulli at the second corner, setting off further contact behind. Schumacher needed a new nose and received a drive-through penalty. David Coulthard retired early with an electrical failure, leaving Kimi Räikkönen to carry McLaren’s challenge.

Kimi Räikkönen gained ground before the first stops and used a longer opening stint to move ahead of Fernando Alonso. Rubens Barrichello also passed the Renault through the strategy sequence. Fernando Alonso, racing while unwell, then had to manage engine and gearbox problems, while Kimi Räikkönen built a commanding lead and conserved the car late on.

Kimi Räikkönen won by almost 40 seconds from Rubens Barrichello, with Fernando Alonso taking his first podium. Ralf Schumacher recovered to fourth, followed by Jarno Trulli, Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and Nick Heidfeld. Kimi Räikkönen left Malaysia leading the drivers’ championship after McLaren’s second win in two races.

After the race, Kimi Räikkönen headed the drivers’ standings with 16 points, followed by David Coulthard on 10. McLaren led the constructors’ table on 26, with Ferrari on 16.

2003 Malaysian Grand Prix race results

The 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix was held on 23 March 2003, with a scheduled start of 15:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	56	1:32:22.195	10
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	56	+39.286	8
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	56	+1:04.007	6
4	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	56	+1:28.026	5
5	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	55	+1 Lap	4
6	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	55	+1 Lap	3
7	17	Jenson Button	BAR	55	+1 Lap	2
8	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	55	+1 Lap	1
9	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	55	+1 Lap	0
10	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	55	+1 Lap	0
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	55	+1 Lap	0
12	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	53	+3 Laps	0
13	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	52	+4 Laps	0
Ret	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	42	Brakes/Spun off	0
Ret	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	41	Fatigue	0
Ret	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	35	Engine	0
Ret	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	12	Fuel pressure	0
Ret	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	2	Electrical	0
Ret	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	0	Launch control	0
DNS	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	0	Electrical	0

Cristiano da Matta started the race from the pit lane.

2003 Malaysian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	45	1:36.412	206.974
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	24	1:36.542	206.695
3	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	10	1:36.764	206.221
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	12	1:37.078	205.554
5	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	53	1:37.484	204.698
6	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	26	1:37.787	204.063
7	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	2	1:38.021	203.576
8	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	24	1:38.071	203.472
9	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	35	1:38.156	203.296
10	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	7	1:38.176	203.255
11	17	Jenson Button	BAR	10	1:38.413	202.765
12	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	6	1:38.464	202.660
13	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	9	1:38.528	202.529
14	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	3	1:38.572	202.438
15	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	19	1:39.287	200.980
16	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	14	1:39.665	200.218
17	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	3	1:39.667	200.214
18	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	12	1:39.752	200.044

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 Malaysian Grand Prix.

2003 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

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

2003 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	McLaren	26
2	Ferrari	16
3	Renault	16
4	Williams	14
5	Sauber	4
6	BAR	2
7	Jordan	0
8	Minardi	0
9	Toyota	0
–	Jaguar	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