2003 Spanish Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher gave Ferrari’s new F2003-GA a winning debut, but Fernando Alonso kept him under pressure throughout an absorbing Spanish Grand Prix. Rubens Barrichello finished third as championship leader Kimi Räikkönen was eliminated at the start.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:17.762
Fastest lap	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:20.143 on lap 52
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Third	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

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

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 5 leading the 2003 F1 World Championship on 32 points, with David Coulthard on 19. McLaren headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 51 points.

Ferrari introduced the F2003-GA at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after beginning the season with its previous car. The name honoured Gianni Agnelli, who had died earlier in the year. Fernando Alonso’s recent performances also gave the home crowd genuine hopes of a podium.

Race entries

The driver line-ups were unchanged. Ferrari’s new car was the principal technical development, while Antonio Pizzonia arrived under pressure to improve his performances alongside Mark Webber at Jaguar.

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

Ralf Schumacher led Friday practice ahead of the Renaults, while Ferrari’s new car began more quietly. The times improved as temperatures and grip rose, with Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli trading the lead before the Williams went quickest. Renault had already gathered useful information in the optional test, whereas Ferrari concentrated on its new car’s first race-weekend preparation.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2003 Spanish Grand Prix FP1, 2 May 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:17.015	17
2	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.123s	7
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.169s	11
4	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.194s	20
5	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+0.205s	13
6	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.882s	18
7	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+0.918s	17
8	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.951s	29
9	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.086s	26
10	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.288s	25
11	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.335s	18
12	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+1.624s	18
13	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+1.676s	16
14	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.716s	23
15	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.723s	24
16	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+1.939s	18
17	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+2.204s	19
18	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+2.322s	17
19	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.249s	21
20	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.544s	12

First qualifying

Michael Schumacher put the new Ferrari fastest in Friday qualifying, ahead of Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso. The result gave Schumacher the final running slot on Saturday, with the Renaults well placed to benefit from a cleaner track immediately before him.

First Qualifying Classification

2003 Spanish Grand Prix First Qualifying, 2 May 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:17.130	3
2	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:17.149	3
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:17.218	3
4	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:17.443	3
5	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:17.613	3
6	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:17.746	3
7	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:17.793	3
8	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:17.862	3
9	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:18.060	3
10	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:18.100	3
11	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:18.409	3
12	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:18.461	3
13	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:18.528	3
14	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:18.607	3
15	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:18.879	3
16	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:18.909	3
17	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:19.050	3
18	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:19.195	3
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:20.822	3
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:21.100	3

Saturday practice

Kimi Räikkönen headed the first Saturday session after displacing Antonio Pizzonia late on. Rubens Barrichello recovered from a spin to finish third, but Juan Pablo Montoya’s session ended when he put a wheel on the grass and spun into the gravel at high speed. Jaguar’s strong pace gave Antonio Pizzonia a welcome boost before the decisive qualifying run.

Fernando Alonso thrilled the home spectators by setting the fastest Saturday lap, comfortably ahead of Rubens Barrichello. Olivier Panis improved to fifth in the combined order, while Williams struggled for pace and Juan Pablo Montoya had another excursion. Jacques Villeneuve crashed at Turn 3 late in the session, leaving BAR to repair the car before qualifying.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

2003 Spanish Grand Prix Saturday Practice, 3 May 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:17.670	24
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.544s	31
3	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.593s	29
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.953s	27
5	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.315s	34
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.342s	26
7	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.480s	30
8	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.489s	31
9	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.502s	37
10	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.592s	38
11	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.672s	44
12	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.855s	30
13	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+2.059s	26
14	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.103s	25
15	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+2.149s	27
16	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+2.176s	36
17	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+2.628s	30
18	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+2.679s	25
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+4.275s	20
20	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+4.290s	27

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 narrowly headed Fernando Alonso in the short warm-up, with Jenson Button third. The final check reinforced the prospect of a Ferrari–Renault contest, although race fuel loads would still influence qualifying. For the drivers whose morning had been interrupted, the brief session offered only a limited opportunity to restore confidence.

Warm-up Classification

2003 Spanish Grand Prix Warm-up, 3 May 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:18.872	7
2	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.056s	4
3	17	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.373s	4
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.388s	4
5	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.547s	4
6	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.567s	6
7	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+0.920s	5
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+1.086s	6
9	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.126s	6
10	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.167s	5
11	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.244s	6
12	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.255s	4
13	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.533s	4
14	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	+1.606s	6
15	15	Antonio Pizzonia	Jaguar	+1.964s	4
16	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	+3.125s	3
17	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	+3.130s	6
18	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	No time	3
19	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	No time	5

Final qualifying

Ferrari locked out the front row in final qualifying, Michael Schumacher ahead of Rubens Barrichello, with Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli behind. Kimi Räikkönen made an error and abandoned his lap, leaving the championship leader at the back. The new car’s first pole gave Ferrari the ideal platform, but Renault’s speed promised a serious race challenge.

Final Qualifying Classification

2003 Spanish Grand Prix Final Qualifying, 3 May 2003

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:17.762	3
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:18.020	3
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:18.233	3
4	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:18.615	3
5	17	Jenson Button	BAR	1:18.704	3
6	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:18.811	3
7	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:19.006	3
8	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:19.128	3
9	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:19.377	3
10	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:19.427	3
11	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:19.563	3
12	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:19.615	3
13	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:19.623	3
14	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:19.646	3
15	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	1:20.215	3
16	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	1:20.308	3
17	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:20.976	3
18	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	1:22.104	3
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	1:22.237	3
20	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	No time	2

Kimi Räikkönen did not set a time in the second session after he went off the circuit in turn seven.

What happened in the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix?

Fernando Alonso threatened the Ferraris at the start, but Rubens Barrichello regained second before the opening exchanges settled. Further back, Kimi Räikkönen struck Antonio Pizzonia’s stalled Jaguar and both retired. Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard also collided at the first corner, ending the Renault’s race and forcing the McLaren into the pits.

Fernando Alonso passed Rubens Barrichello through the first pit-stop sequence and kept Michael Schumacher within reach. David Coulthard later collided with Jenson Button and retired, completing McLaren’s difficult afternoon. The leading pair continued to push through the final stops, with Fernando Alonso reducing the margin but unable to overturn Ferrari’s advantage.

Michael Schumacher won from Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello. Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher took fourth and fifth, followed by da Cristiano da Matta, Mark Webber and Ralph Firman. Da Cristiano da Matta and Ralph Firman scored their first Formula 1 points, while Schumacher’s victory substantially reduced Kimi Räikkönen’s championship lead.

After the race, Kimi Räikkönen headed the drivers’ standings with 32 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 28. McLaren led the constructors’ table on 51, with Ferrari on 48.

2003 Spanish Grand Prix race results

The 2003 Spanish Grand Prix was held on 4 May 2003, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	65	1:33:46.933	10
2	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	65	+5.716	8
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	65	+18.001	6
4	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	65	+1:02.022	5
5	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	64	+1 lap	4
6	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	64	+1 lap	3
7	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	64	+1 lap	2
8	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	63	+2 laps	1
9	17	Jenson Button	BAR	63	+2 laps	0
10	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	63	+2 laps	0
11	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	63	+2 laps	0
12	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	62	+3 laps	0
Ret	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	43	Engine	0
Ret	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	41	Gearbox	0
Ret	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	38	Suspension	0
Ret	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	17	Collision	0
Ret	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	12	Electrical	0
Ret	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	0	Collision	0
Ret	15	Antônio Pizzonia	Jaguar	0	Launch control / collision	0
Ret	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	0	Collision	0

2003 Spanish Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	52	1:20.143	212.470
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	51	1:20.307	212.036
3	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	42	1:20.476	211.591
4	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	8	1:20.798	210.747
5	20	Olivier Panis	Toyota	14	1:20.803	210.734
6	21	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	22	1:20.935	210.391
7	17	Jenson Button	BAR	7	1:21.300	209.446
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	21	1:21.448	209.065
9	10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	32	1:21.791	208.189
10	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	20	1:21.967	207.742
11	16	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	9	1:22.175	207.216
12	9	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	34	1:22.568	206.230
13	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	10	1:22.577	206.207
14	12	Ralph Firman	Jordan	29	1:22.719	205.853
15	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	17	1:22.900	205.404
16	19	Jos Verstappen	Minardi	16	1:22.942	205.300
17	18	Justin Wilson	Minardi	7	1:23.222	204.609

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 Spanish Grand Prix.

2003 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	32
2	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	28
3	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	25
4	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	20
5	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	19
6	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	17
7	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	15
8	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Jordan	10
9	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	9
10	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Sauber	7
11	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	3
12	Cristiano da Matta	Brazilian	Toyota	3
13	Jenson Button	British	BAR	3
14	Mark Webber	Australian	Jaguar	2
15	Nick Heidfeld	German	Sauber	1
16	Ralph Firman	Irish	Jordan	1
17	Olivier Panis	French	Toyota	0
18	Jos Verstappen	Dutch	Minardi	0
19	Justin Wilson	British	Minardi	0
20	Antônio Pizzonia	Brazilian	Jaguar	0

2003 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	McLaren	51
2	Ferrari	48
3	Renault	34
4	Williams	32
5	Jordan	11
6	Sauber	8
7	BAR	6
8	Toyota	3
9	Jaguar	2
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