2003 French Grand Prix

The 2003 French Grand Prix (formally the LXXXIX Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France) was a Formula One motor race held on 6 July 2003 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. It was the tenth race of the 2003 Formula One season. The 70-lap race was won by Ralf Schumacher driving for the Williams team after starting from pole position, which would turn out to be his last race win in Formula One. Juan Pablo Montoya finished second in the other Williams car, with Michael Schumacher third driving for Ferrari. Ralf Schumacher's victory was his second consecutive win of the season having won the preceding European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.

2003 French Grand Prix
Race 10 of 16 in the 2003 Formula One World Championship
Race details
Date 6 July 2003
Official name LXXXIX Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France
Location Magny-Cours, France
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 4.411 km (2.741 mi)
Distance 70 laps, 308.770 km (191.861 mi)
Weather Cloudy, Air: 26 °C (79 °F), Track 35 °C (95 °F)
Attendance 101,537
Pole position
Driver
Williams-BMW
Time 1:15.019
Fastest lap
Driver Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW
Time 1:15.512
Podium
First
Williams-BMW
Second
Williams-BMW
Third
Ferrari
Juan Pablo Montoya finished 2nd and set the fastest lap of the race.
Ralph Firman finished 15th in his Jordan EJ13.
Kimi Räikkönen took 4th in his McLaren MP4-17.

As a consequence of the race, Michael Schumacher extended his lead in the World Drivers' Championship to eight points over Kimi Räikkönen, with Ralf Schumacher a further three points behind. In the World Constructors' Championship, Williams reduced the gap to Ferrari from thirteen points to three points.

This was the first French Grand Prix held at the upgraded version of Magny-Cours, having made Château d'Eau a sharper right hand corner, and a complete modification of the Lycée section, becoming a very sharp right hand turn after the back straight which then leads to a difficult final chicane next to the pit entrance. The pit lane was also significantly shortened as a result of the upgrades.

Classification

Qualifying
PosNoDriverConstructorQ1 TimeQ2 TimeGap
1 4 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW 1:29.327 1:15.019
2 3 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW 1:28.988 1:15.136 +0.117
3 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:27.929 1:15.480 +0.461
4 6 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:29.120 1:15.533 +0.514
5 5 David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes 1:28.937 1:15.628 +0.609
6 7 Jarno Trulli Renault 1:29.024 1:15.967 +0.948
7 8 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:29.455 1:16.087 +1.068
8 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1:27.095 1:16.166 +1.147
9 14 Mark Webber Jaguar-Cosworth 1:25.178 1:16.308 +1.289
10 20 Olivier Panis Toyota 1:24.175 1:16.345 +1.326
11 15 Antônio Pizzonia Jaguar-Cosworth 1:24.642 1:16.965 +1.946
12 16 Jacques Villeneuve BAR-Honda 1:24.651 1:16.990 +1.971
13 21 Cristiano da Matta Toyota 1:26.975 1:17.068 +2.049
14 17 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1:30.371 1:17.077 +2.058
15 9 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas 1:24.042 1:17.445 +2.426
16 10 Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Petronas 1:26.151 1:17.562 +2.543
17 11 Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Ford 1:28.502 1:18.431 +3.412
18 12 Ralph Firman Jordan-Ford 1:23.496 1:18.514 +3.495
19 19 Jos Verstappen Minardi-Cosworth 1:20.817 1:18.709 +3.690
20 18 Justin Wilson Minardi-Cosworth Time deleted 1:19.619 +4.600

Race
PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
1 4 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW 70 1:30:49.213 1 10
2 3 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW 70 +13.813 2 8
3 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 70 +19.568 3 6
4 6 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 70 +38.047 4 5
5 5 David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes 70 +40.289 5 4
6 14 Mark Webber Jaguar-Cosworth 70 +1:06.380 9 3
7 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 69 +1 Lap 8 2
8 20 Olivier Panis Toyota 69 +1 Lap 10 1
9 16 Jacques Villeneuve BAR-Honda 69 +1 Lap 12  
10 15 Antônio Pizzonia Jaguar-Cosworth 69 +1 Lap 11  
11 21 Cristiano da Matta Toyota 69 +1 Lap 13  
12 10 Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Petronas 68 +2 Laps 16  
13 9 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas 68 +2 Laps 15  
14 18 Justin Wilson Minardi-Cosworth 67 +3 Laps 20  
15 12 Ralph Firman Jordan-Ford 67 +3 Laps 18  
16 19 Jos Verstappen Minardi-Cosworth 66 +4 Laps 19  
Ret 7 Jarno Trulli Renault 45 Engine 6  
Ret 8 Fernando Alonso Renault 43 Engine 7  
Ret 11 Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Ford 42 Engine 17  
Ret 17 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 23 Out of fuel 14  
Source:[1]

Notes
  • This race was Ralf Schumacher's 6th and final victory of his Formula One career and the only time he won from pole position.
  • As of 2020, this is the last race in which Williams achieved a 1–2 finish.
  • This race ended David Coulthard's 5 consecutive fastest laps in France, which began in the 1998 race.
  • Jos Verstappen ended up quickest after the first qualifying session due to a drying track. This was the only time a Minardi topped the timesheets at a race weekend.[2]
  • Justin Wilson's time after Q1 was deleted after scrutineering found his car was 2 kg underweight. It was 1:20.968 which at the time was good enough for 2nd place giving Minardi a 1–2.

Championship standings after the race
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

References
  1. "2003 French Grand Prix". Formula1.com. Formula1.com Limited. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  2. "Provisional pole for Verstappen in French GP qualifying". Motorsport.com. 15 May 2013.
  3. "France 2003 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
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2003 European Grand Prix		 FIA Formula One World Championship
2003 season		 Next race:
2003 British Grand Prix
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2002 French Grand Prix		 French Grand Prix Next race:
2004 French Grand Prix

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