2003 Hungarian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Hungary
Grand Prix = Hungarian
Date = August 24
Year = 2003

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Caption = The Hungaroring after being modified in 2003.
Race_No = 13
Season_No = 16
Official name = XIX Magyar Nagydíj
Location = Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 2.722
Course_km = 4.381
Distance_laps = 70
Distance_mi = 190.54
Distance_km = 306.67
Weather = Warm, dry and sunny
Pole_Driver = Fernando Alonso
Pole_Country = Spain
Pole_Team = Renault
Pole_Time = 1:21.688
Fast_Driver = Juan Pablo Montoya
Fast_Country = Colombia
Fast_Team = Williams-BMW
Fast_Time = 1:22.095
Fast_L

First_Driver = Fernando Alonso
First_Country = Spain
First_Team = Renault
Second_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
Second_Country = Finland
Second_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Third_Driver = Juan Pablo Montoya
Third_Country = Colombia
Third_Team = Williams-BMW

The 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on August 24, 2003 at the Hungaroring. It was won by Renault's Fernando Alonso from pole, becoming at the time the youngest ever driver to win a Grand Prix, beating the previous record of Bruce McLaren [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3177693.stm] . This record lasted for over five years until it was beaten by Sebastian Vettel on September 14, 2008 in the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

It was the first to be held under the newly revamped Hungaroring, with the main straight lengthened and the first hairpin tightened, as well are further alterations near the latter stages of the lap in order to encourage more overtaking.

During practice Jordan driver Ralph Firman suffered a horrendous crash when his rear wing failed, causing him to swap ends immediately and collide with the crash barriers with such force that he was knocked unconscious and had to sit out the race. He was replaced by Zsolt Baumgartner.

Race report

Alonso, starting from pole on the clean side of the track, made a clean start and lead into the first corner, while the two Williams of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, who had started second and fourth respectively on the dirty line had difficulty getting away and were down to around tenth place by the first corner, being compounded by Schumacher's spin at the second corner.

The McLaren-Mercedes of Kimi Räikkönen managed to climb to third on the opening lap from his grid position of seventh. With Mark Webber struggling in second place, Alonso managed to gain 7s in the first three laps and 21s in the first 13 laps before being forced to pit for fuel. Webber, who had also light-fueled to a gain a high qualifying position, also pitted. Alonso reentered the track in second place, just behind Räikkönen, while Webber dropped much further down the field. At the end of the 16th lap, Räikkönen, Barrichello and Montoya all pitted, allowing Alonso to resume his lead.

On lap 17 Jacques Villeneuve's BAR came to a halt with a hydraulic failure before Michael Schumacher pitted, and was passed by Montoya while in the pits, who had been able to do a quicker lap while not being held up by Schumacher. On the following lap, David Coulthard, the last of the front-runners, who had been in front of both Schumacher and Montoya, pitted for a very long fuel stop, re-entering behind both. On lap 19, the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello suffered a left rear suspension failure, sending him straight on at the first corner hairpin, into the wall. The race stewards decide against deploying the safety car, preserving Alonso's 24s lead over Räikkönen, who rejoined ahead of Webber and is dropping him.

Alonso's teammate Jarno Trulli is leading a train of Montoya, Michael and Ralf Schumacher in a train of cars battling for fourth place, when Ralf overtakes his brother on the 28th lap. Alonso and Webber are again the first to have a second fuel stop, on lap 30 and 31 respectively but this time Alonso has enough of a lead to re-enter the track ahead of Räikkönen while Webber drops to ninth after his stop.

Trulli pitted on the next lap, allowing the faster Williams duo of Montoya and Ralf Schumacher the clear air to set fast laps required to jump him, after Räikkönen rejoined after his pit stop behind them, therefore not causing any impedance. Ralf Schumacher immediately pits on the next lap and rejoins ahead of Trulli but behind Webber after setting a fast lap. Montoya sets the fastest lap of the race on the next lap, and then pits, exiting in front of Webber as well as Ralf Schumacher and with clear track in front, becomes the fastest driver circulating. On lap 38 this leaves Michael Schumacher in third, with Coulthard in fourth, followed by Montoya, Webber, Ralf Schumacher and Trulli. Michael Schumacher then pits, rejoining close behind Trulli, while Webber is attempting to hold off Ralf Schumacher.

After a long first stop, third-placed Coulthard is the last to pit on lap 43, again with a long stop, indicating that he has switched to a two-stop strategy and rejoins between Trulli and Michael Schumacher. On lap 46, Ralf Schumacher finally passes Webber for fourth place, but is now far behind third-placed Montoya who has not been held up by Webber. The third round of pit stops saw no change in the order, aside from Coulthard who moves up to fifth behind Ralf Schumacher as a result of not having to pit. Alonso eventually laps Schumacher, while Montoya spins in the latter stages of the race and has to fend off teammate Ralf Schumacher in the final laps. Alonso ended with a comfortable 16.8s lead over the second-placed Räikkönen.

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3177629.stm] ,

In the process, world champion and the championship leader Michael Schumacher suffered the indignity of being lapped by the Spaniard, and only managed to salvage one point for an eighth place finish. The second and third place finish Räikkönen and Montoya respectively cut his championship lead over his two rivals to just two and one point respectively

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3177693.stm] .

Reaction

After the race, Alonso described the win as "..a dream come true. I am 22 years old and I have my first victory. I hope I have a long career with lots more victories" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3178001.stm] . Jean Todt the team leader of Ferrari, referred to his team's performance as "disappointing" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3178387.stm] .

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Classification

Notes

*With the win, Fernando Alonso became the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix, at the age of 22 years and 26 days. He would hold this record until Sebastian Vettel won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
*The race also holds record of youngest ever podium. The average age of the three drivers was 24 years, seven months and 13 days.
*First Grand Prix: Zsolt Baumgartner.

tandings after Grand Prix

*1. Michael Schumacher - 72
*2. Juan Pablo Montoya - 71
*3. Kimi Räikkönen - 70
*4. Ralf Schumacher - 58
*5. Fernando Alonso - 54
*6. Rubens Barrichello - 49
*7. David Coulthard - 45
*8. Jarno Trulli - 24

Constructors
*1. Williams-BMW - 129
*2. Ferrari - 121
*3. McLaren-Mercedes - 115
*4. Renault - 78

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Hungarian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 2003
Previous_race_in_season = 2003 German Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 2003 Italian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 2002 Hungarian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 2004 Hungarian Grand Prix