2003 Australian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Grand Prix = Australian
Country = Australia

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Date = March 9
Year = 2003
Race_No = 1
Season_No = 16
Official name = LXVIII Australian Grand Prix
Course = Temporary street circuit
Location = Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia
Course_mi = 3.295
Course_km = 5.303
Distance_laps = 58
Distance_mi = 191.12
Distance_km = 307.574
Weather = Clear
Pole_Driver = Michael Schumacher
Pole_Team = Ferrari
Pole_Country = Germany
Pole_Time = 1:27.173
Fast_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
Fast_Country = Finland
Fast_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Fast_Time = 1:27.724
Fast_L

First_Driver = David Coulthard
First_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
First_Country = UK
Second_Driver = Juan Pablo Montoya
Second_Team = Williams-BMW
Second_Country= Colombia
Third_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
Third_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Third_Country = Finland

The 2003 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on March 9, 2003 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit.

Qualifying was an all Ferrari affair, with Schumacher edging out Barrichello. Montoya took third, with Frentzen, Panis and Villneuve putting in good performances for 4th, 5th and 6th. The McLarens had poor qualifying, with Coulthard in 11th, and Räikkönen making a mistake, and ending up 15th.

Weather conditions were changeable at the start. Räikkönen stopped for dry tyres at the end of the formation lap. Barrichello jumped the start, and would soon receive a drive-through penalty. Schumacher led at the end of lap 1, with Barrichello in close company. Montoya was 6 seconds behind in third, followed by Frentzen and Villeneuve. Panis went backwards on dry tyres, with the Renaults, Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard climbing quickly. Barrichello received his penalty, and on his in lap, he crashed, putting him out. It was soon time for dry tyres, with the leaders ptting just before a safety car (caused as a result of Firman and da Matta crashing).

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Classification

Notes

*This was the latest win for David Coulthard.
*This race would be the last time a British driver would win for three-and-a-half years, until Jenson Button won the 2006 Hungarian GP
*This race ended a 53 consecutive podium streak for Ferrari, which started at the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix.
*This race ended a 19 consecutive podium streak for Michael Schumacher, which started at the 2001 United States Grand Prix.

=Standings after Grand Prix=
*1. David Coulthard - 10
*2. Juan Pablo Montoya - 8
*3. Kimi Räikkönen - 6
*4. Michael Schumacher - 5
*5. Jarno Trulli - 4
*6. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - 3
*7. Fernando Alonso - 2
*8. Ralf Schumacher - 1

Constructors
*1. McLaren-Mercedes - 16
*2. Williams-BMW - 9
*3. Renault - 6
*4. Ferrari - 5
*5. Sauber-Petronas - 3

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Australian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 2003
Previous_race_in_season = 2002 Japanese Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 2002 Australian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 2004 Australian Grand Prix