The Australian Grand Prix 2003 was the 1st round of the 2003 F1 season, and took place at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, on March 9th.

David Coulthard won the race with an expectacular comeback, all the way from the 11th position of the grid, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya, and Kimi Räikkönen completing the podium with an expectacular comeback, all the way from the 15th position of the grid.

Michael Schumacher started from the pole position, but only managed to finish 4th.

Final results

1
10
COU
David Coulthard
McLaren
1:34:42.1
Finished
2
1
MON
Juan Pablo Montoya
Williams
+8.675
Finished
3
12
RAI
Kimi Räikkönen
McLaren
+9.192
Finished
4
3
MSC
Michael Schumacher
Ferrari
+9.482
Finished
5
7
TRU
Jarno Trulli
Renault
+38.801
Finished
6
2
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Sauber
+43.928
Finished
7
3
ALO
Fernando Alonso
Renault
+45.074
Finished
8
1
SCH
Ralf Schumacher
Williams
+45.745
Finished
9
3
VIL
Jacques Villeneuve
BAR
+1:05.536
Finished
10
2
BUT
Jenson Button
BAR
+1:05.974
Finished
11
9
Jos Verstappen
Minardi
+1 Lap
12
1
FIS
Giancarlo Fisichella
Jordan
Gearbox
13
5
PIZ
Antônio Pizzonia
Jaguar
Suspension
14
9
Olivier Panis
Toyota
Fuel pressure
15
8
HEI
Nick Heidfeld
Sauber
Suspension
16
3
Justin Wilson
Minardi
Radiator
17
3
WEB
Mark Webber
Jaguar
Suspension
18
2
Cristiano da Matta
Toyota
Spun off
19
2
Ralph Firman
Jordan
Accident
20
18
BAR
Rubens Barrichello
Ferrari
Accident
Show all

Race evolution

Pit Stops

Unfortunately we do not have pit stops information for this race.

Strategy

Unfortunately we do not have strategy information for this race..

Incidents

The reace did not end without incidents... 9 drivers out of the original 20 who started did not managed to cross the finish line.

These included, Giancarlo Fisichella, who experienced issues with the gearbox on lap 52, Antônio Pizzonia, Nick Heidfeld, and Mark Webber, all of whom suffered a suspension problem, Olivier Panis, who suffered a fuel pressure loss on lap 31, Justin Wilson, who had a problem with the radiator of the car on lap 16, Cristiano da Matta, who lost control and spun off the track on lap 7, and Ralph Firman, and Rubens Barrichello, both had to retire due to an accident.

Gearbox

  • Giancarlo Fisichella
    Lap 52

Suspension

  • Antônio Pizzonia
    Lap 52
  • Nick Heidfeld
    Lap 20
  • Mark Webber
    Lap 15

Fuel pressure

  • Olivier Panis
    Lap 31

Radiator

  • Justin Wilson
    Lap 16

Spun off

  • Cristiano da Matta
    Lap 7

Accident

  • Ralph Firman
    Lap 6
  • Rubens Barrichello
    Lap 5

Qualifying

#1
MSC
#2
BAR
#3
MON
#4
#5
#6
VIL
#7
HEI
#8
BUT
#9
SCH
#10
ALO
#11
COU
#12
TRU
#13
FIS
#14
WEB
#15
RAI
#16
#17
#18
PIZ
#19
#20

From 1996 to 2002 the grid order was decided in a single qualifying session which would last 1 hour. During this time each driver had a maximun of 12 laps to set their best time.

This time around, Michael Schumacher managed to secure the pole position with a time of 1:27.173 seconds, with his teammate Rubens Barrichello rigth behind him at 0.245 seconds, helping Ferrari score a one-two and monopolize the first line of the grid.

Times table

  • Michael Schumacher
    1:27.173
  • Rubens Barrichello
    1:27.418
    + 0.245
    + 0.245
  • Juan Pablo Montoya
    1:28.101
    + 0.683
    + 0.928
  • Heinz-Harald Frentzen
    1:28.274
    + 0.173
    + 1.101
  • Olivier Panis
    1:28.288
    + 0.014
    + 1.115
  • Jacques Villeneuve
    1:28.420
    + 0.132
    + 1.247
  • Nick Heidfeld
    1:28.464
    + 0.044
    + 1.291
  • Jenson Button
    1:28.682
    + 0.218
    + 1.509
  • Ralf Schumacher
    1:28.830
    + 0.148
    + 1.657
  • Fernando Alonso
    1:28.928
    + 0.098
    + 1.755
  • David Coulthard
    1:29.105
    + 0.177
    + 1.932
  • Jarno Trulli
    1:29.136
    + 0.031
    + 1.963
  • Giancarlo Fisichella
    1:29.344
    + 0.208
    + 2.171
  • Mark Webber
    1:29.367
    + 0.023
    + 2.194
  • Kimi Räikkönen
    1:29.470
    + 0.103
    + 2.297
  • Cristiano da Matta
    1:29.538
    + 0.068
    + 2.365
  • Ralph Firman
    1:31.242
    + 1.704
    + 4.069
  • Antônio Pizzonia
    1:31.723
    + 0.481
    + 4.55