2003 Malaysian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Malaysia
Grand Prix = Malaysian
Date = March 23
Year = 2003

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Official name = VI Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix
Race_No = 2
Season_No = 16
Location = Sepang International Circuit
Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 3.44
Course_km = 5.54
Distance_laps = 56
Distance_mi = 192.878
Distance_km = 310.408
Weather = Fine
Pole_Driver = Fernando Alonso
Pole_Team = Renault
Pole_Time = 1:37.044
Pole_Country = Spain
Fast_Driver = Michael Schumacher
Fast_Team = Ferrari
Fast_Time = 1:36.412
Fast_L

Fast_Country = Germany
First_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
First_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
First_Country = Finland
Second_Driver = Rubens Barrichello
Second_Team = Ferrari
Second_Country= Brazil
Third_Driver = Fernando Alonso
Third_Team = Renault
Third_Country = SpainThe 2003 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on March 23, 2003 at the Sepang International Circuit. It was the second race of the 2003 Formula One season, and it was won by Kimi Räikkönen driving the MP4-17 for McLaren-Mercedes. This was Räikkönen's first Formula One Grand Prix victory. This was Fernando Alonso's first pole. He also became the first Spaniard to earn a podium finish. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello predicted whilst on the podium with Alonso and Räikkönen that both drivers would be future world champions.

Before the race, McLaren's David Coulthard was leading the championship however the Scot retired on lap three handing the championship lead to his teammate, Kimi Räikkönen who finished third in the previous race.

Report

Background

Last year's race saw Michael Schumacher qualifying on pole with Juan Pablo Montoya next to him on row one. An incident in the first corner however sent Schumacher to the pits and gave Montoya a drive-though penalty. Montoya still managed to finish second with his teammate Ralf Schumacher in first, providing Williams-BMW with a one two finish.

David Coulthard was leading the championship after winning the first race of the season. Montoya was second. Kimi Räikkönen, Michael Schumacher and Jarno Trulli were in Third, Fourth and Fifth respectively.

Before the race rain was predicted with the likelihood of heavy showers at 60 per cent. High humidity was also predicted by some people however, causing the teams to be split in terms of tactics. [cite news|title=Unsettled weather for Malaysian Grand Prix|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2003/3/143.html|publisher=formula1.com|date=2008-03-19|accessdate=2008-03-19]

Practice

The first Friday practice session saw Fernando Alonso fastest with a time of 1:37.693 and his teammate, Jarno Trulli, two tenths of a second slower putting him in third. Giancarlo Fisichella separated the Renault's with second fastest in the Jordan EJ15. [cite news|title=Alonso fastest in Friday testing|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2003/3/149.html|publisher=formula1.com|date=2003-03-21|accessdate=2008-04-02]

The second session saw Ferrari take over with Michael Schumacher completely eclipsing the efforts of Alonso in the previous session. He went fastest with a 1:34.980. His teammate, Rubens Barrichello, managed second with a 1:35.681 lap at the end of the session. [cite news|title=Schumacher unstoppable|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2003/3/150.html|publisher=formula1.com|date=2003-03-21|accessdate=2008-04-03]

Race

Both the BAR of Jacques Villeneuve and the Toyota of Cristiano da Matta failed on the grid, causing them to start from the pit lane. Alonso lead the all-Renault front row and lead the cars into the first corner, but Michael Schumacher, who started from third position, tangled whilst attempting to pass Jarno Trulli, knocking Trulli into a spin and causing him to lose many places. Schumacher was forced to pit for a new nosecone and after serving a stop-go penalty for the incident, dropped to the rear of the field. He later accepted blame for the incident. [cite news|title=Schumacher accepts blame|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2878095.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2003-03-23|accessdate=2003-03-23]

A chain reaction further back in the field caused Jaguar driver Antônio Pizzonia to rear-end Juan Pablo Montoya, removing the latter's rear wing. Montoya was forced to pit, losing two laps during a rear-wing replacement. As a result, David Coulthard of McLaren-Mercedes was left in second position, but his prospects were ended on the second lap with an electronics failure. He later criticized the team. [cite news|title=Angry Coulthard criticises McLaren|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2877521.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2003-03-23|accessdate=2003-03-23] His team-mate Räikkönen had moved into second place by passing the Sauber of Nick Heidfeld. On the tenth lap, Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello passed Heidfeld for third place.

The podium positions stayed that way with Räikkönen cutting into the lead when Alonso pitted first out of the front three on lap 14, a sign that he was carrying a lighter fuel load during qualifying. Räikkönen circulated until lap 19, using the lighter fuel load to post faster lap times, and after his pit stop emerged ahead of Alonso.

Barrichello also made up time before pitting on the 21st lap, but did not clear Alonso upon his return to the track, with a deficit of over three seconds. By this stage, Trulli had recovered to 6th place, challenging the BAR of Jenson Button for fifth position. Räikkönen gradually extended his lead, which reached 17.8s by the 33rd lap. Button pitted on the 34th lap, allowing Trulli clean air to post faster lap times.

Alonso then pitted on the 35th lap, freeing Barrichello, who did not pit until the 38th lap and re-entered the race ahead of Alonso. Räikkönen was the last of the contenders to pit, doing so on lap 40 and further extending his lead. Meanwhile, a delay with a fuel nozzle had denied Trulli the opportunity to jump Button in the pits. Michael Schumacher, with a light car at the end of his stint, passed Trulli and Button in quick succession before conceding his gains with a final pit stop.

On the 51st lap, Trulli spun attempting to pass Button. He and Schumacher eventually passed Button on the final corner after the Briton made a mistake. Räikkönen eventually earned his maiden Grand Prix victory with a large margin of 39s.

Classification

Qualifying

Race

Notes

*First pole position: Fernando Alonso
*First win: Kimi Räikkönen
* Lap Leaders - Fernando Alonso (1-13) Kimi Räikkönen (14-19, 23-56) and Rubens Barrichello (20-22)
* Alonso broke the record for youngest driver to lead a race although this was later succeeded by Sebastian Vettel at the 2007 Japan GP who was over a year younger

References

External links

* [http://fia.com/archive/F1/2003/002.html Complete Race Guide] "FIA.com"
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2003/3/160.html Race Report - An emotional first win for Raikkonen] "Formula1.com"
* [http://fia.com/resources/documents/598458554__Malaysia_2003_News4.pdf Race Facts and Incidents] "PDF File"
* [http://fia.com/resources/documents/1556793818__MAL_Circuit_2003.pdf Circuit and Facts] "PDF File"

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