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2003 Japanese Grand Prix

{{Infobox Grand Prix race report

|Type = F1

|Country = Japan

|Grand Prix = Japanese

|Official name = 2003 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix

|Date = 12 October

|Image = Circuit Suzuka.png

|Year = 2003

|Previous_round= 2003 United States Grand Prix

|Next_round = 2004 Australian Grand Prix

|Race_No = 16

|Season_No = 16

|Location = Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie, Japan

|Course = Permanent racing facility

|Course_mi = 3.608

|Course_km = 5.807

|Distance_laps = 53

|Distance_mi = 191.117

|Distance_km = 307.573

|Weather = Cloudy, Air: {{convert|22|C|F}}, Track {{convert|25|C|F}}

|Attendance = 329,000{{cite web|url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/2022_japanesegp_mediakit_english.pdf |title=Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022 – Media Kit |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=5 October 2022 |access-date=5 October 2022}}

|Pole_Driver = {{flagicon|Brazil}} Rubens Barrichello

|Pole_Team = Ferrari

|Pole_Time = 1:31.713

|Fast_Driver = {{flagicon|Germany}} Ralf Schumacher

|Fast_Team = Williams-BMW

|Fast_Time = 1:33.408

|Fast_Lap =

|First_Driver = {{flagicon|Brazil}} Rubens Barrichello

|First_Team = Ferrari

|Second_Driver = {{flagicon|Finland}} Kimi Räikkönen

|Second_Team = McLaren-Mercedes

|Third_Driver = {{flagicon|UK}} David Coulthard

|Third_Team = McLaren-Mercedes

|Lapchart = {{F1Laps2003|JPN}}

}}

The 2003 Japanese Grand Prix (formally the 2003 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 12 October 2003 at the Suzuka Circuit. It was the sixteenth and final race of the 2003 Formula One World Championship, as well as the 29th Japanese Grand Prix. The 53-lap race was won by Rubens Barrichello driving for Ferrari after starting from pole position. Kimi Räikkönen, who started the race from eighth position, finished second in a McLaren car, with David Coulthard third in the other McLaren.

Barrichello's win saw Ferrari clinch their 13th Constructors Championship title, the team's fifth title in a row, with Barrichello's team-mate Michael Schumacher finishing eighth to secure his record-breaking 6th World Driver's Championship surpassing the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957. This was also Schumacher's fourth consecutive World Driver's title, matching the record set by Fangio in 1957.{{cite web|title=Japanese GP - Sunday - Race Notes|url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r713racenotes.html|publisher=grandprix.com|date=12 October 2003|access-date=6 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429050314/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r713racenotes.html|archive-date=2014-04-29|url-status=dead}}

This event also notably marked the last race for cars using launch control and fully-automatic gearboxes, since their reintroduction at the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix. The FIA banned these two electronic driver aid systems ahead of the {{F1|2004}} season. This was also the final Grand Prix for 3-time race winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jos Verstappen, father of future world champion Max Verstappen.

Report

=Background=

Heading into the final race of the season, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher was leading the World Driver's Championship standings with 92 points; McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen was second on 83 points, 9 points behind Schumacher. A maximum of 10 points were available, which meant that Räikkönen could still win the title. Schumacher only needed an eighth-place finish to become Driver's Champion even if Räikkönen won the race as Schumacher held the tiebreaker on wins over Räikkönen, 6 to 1. Räikkönen needed to win and Schumacher not to score a single point in order for him to become Driver's Champion.{{cite web|title=Deciding the World Championship|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns11986.html|publisher=grandprix.com|date=7 October 2003|access-date=6 May 2013}}

There was one driver change heading into the race. Having been a driver for the BAR-Honda team for most of the season, Jacques Villeneuve pulled out of the Grand Prix after asking to be released by the team and was replaced by the team's test driver Takuma Sato.{{cite web|title=Villeneuve pulls out of Japan's GP|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/10/09/motor.japan/|publisher=CNN International|date=9 October 2003|access-date=6 May 2013}}

Sato had been confirmed as a driver for the team for the 2004 season in the days running up to the race and would drive alongside Jenson Button.{{cite web|title=Sato replaces Villeneuve|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3167332.stm|publisher=BBC Sport (BBC)|date=7 October 2003|access-date=6 May 2013}}

= Friday drivers =

Three teams in the 2003 Constructors' Championship had the right to run a third car on Friday's additional testing. These drivers did not compete in qualifying or the race.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
ConstructorNatDriver
Renault

| {{flagicon|GBR}}

| Allan McNish

Jordan-Ford

| {{flagicon|JPN}}

| Satoshi Motoyama

Minardi-Cosworth

| {{flagicon|ITA}}

| Gianmaria Bruni

Classification

=Qualifying=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;"
Pos

! No

! Driver

! Constructor

!Q1 Time

! Q2 Time

! Gap

1

| 2

|data-sort-value="BAR"| {{flagicon|BRA}} Rubens Barrichello

| Ferrari

|1:30.758

| 1:31.713

|

2

| 3

| data-sort-value="MON"|{{flagicon|COL}} Juan Pablo Montoya

| Williams–BMW

|1:31.201

| 1:32.412

| +0.699

3

| 21

| data-sort-value="dam"|{{flagicon|BRA}} Cristiano da Matta

| Toyota

|1:32.256

| 1:32.419

| +0.706

4

| 20

| data-sort-value="Pan"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Olivier Panis

| Toyota

|1:31.908

| 1:32.862

| +1.149

5

| 8

|data-sort-value="alo"| {{flagicon|ESP}} Fernando Alonso

| Renault

|1:30.624

| 1:33.044

| +1.331

6

| 14

| data-sort-value="web"|{{flagicon|AUS}} Mark Webber

| Jaguar–Cosworth

|1:31.305

| 1:33.106

| +1.393

7

| 5

|data-sort-value="cou"| {{flagicon|GBR}} David Coulthard

| McLaren–Mercedes

|1:30.482

| 1:33.137

| +1.424

8

| 6

| data-sort-value="rai"|{{flagicon|FIN}} Kimi Räikkönen

| McLaren–Mercedes

|1:30.558

| 1:33.272

| +1.559

9

| 17

| data-sort-value="But"|{{flagicon|GBR}} Jenson Button

| BAR–Honda

|1:32.374

| 1:33.474

| +1.761

10

| 15

| data-sort-value="wil"|{{flagicon|GBR}} Justin Wilson

| Jaguar–Cosworth

|1:32.291

| 1:33.558

| +1.845

11

| 9

| data-sort-value="hei"|{{flagicon|GER}} Nick Heidfeld

| Sauber-Petronas

|1:31.783

| 1:33.632

| +1.919

12

| 10

| data-sort-value="fre"|{{flagicon|GER}} Heinz-Harald Frentzen

| Sauber-Petronas

|1:31.892

| 1:33.896

| +2.183

13

| 16

| data-sort-value="sat"|{{flagicon|JPN}} Takuma Sato

| BAR–Honda

|1:31.832

| 1:33.924

| +2.211

14

| 1

| data-sort-value="scm"|{{flagicon|GER}} Michael Schumacher

| Ferrari

|1:30.464

| 1:34.302

| +2.589

15

| 12

| data-sort-value="fir"|{{flagicon|IRL}} Ralph Firman

| Jordan–Ford

|1:33.057

| 1:34.771

| +3.058

16

| 11

| data-sort-value="fis"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Giancarlo Fisichella

| Jordan–Ford

|1:33.313

| 1:34.912

| +3.199

17

| 19

| data-sort-value="ver"|{{flagicon|NED}} Jos Verstappen

| Minardi–Cosworth

|1:34.836

| 1:34.975

| +3.262

18

| 18

| data-sort-value="kie"|{{flagicon|DEN}} Nicolas Kiesa

| Minardi–Cosworth

|1:36.181

| 1:37.226

| +5.513

19

| 4

| data-sort-value="scr"|{{flagicon|GER}} Ralf Schumacher

| Williams–BMW

|1:30.343

| No time

| data-sort-value="+6"|

20

| 7

| data-sort-value="tru"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Jarno Trulli

| Renault

|1:30.281

| No time

| data-sort-value="+6"|

colspan="7" | Source:{{cite news|url=https://results.motorsportstats.com/results/2003-japanese-grand-prix/classification/a87160f9-a9d4-474d-ac48-ca9420cc9421|title=2003 Japanese Grand Prix – Qualifying|publisher=Motorsport Stats|date=30 October 2019}}

= Race =

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"

! Pos

! No

! Driver

! Constructor

! Laps

! Time/Retired

! Grid

! Points

1

| 2

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Rubens Barrichello

| Ferrari

| 53

| 1:25:11.743

| 1

| 10

2

| 6

| {{flagicon|Finland}} Kimi Räikkönen

| McLaren-Mercedes

| 53

| +11.085

| 8

| 8

3

| 5

| {{flagicon|UK}} David Coulthard

| McLaren-Mercedes

| 53

| +11.614

| 7

| 6

4

| 17

| {{flagicon|UK}} Jenson Button

| BAR-Honda

| 53

| +33.106

| 9

| 5

5

| 7

| {{flagicon|Italy}} Jarno Trulli

| Renault

| 53

| +34.269

| 20

| 4

6

| 16

| {{flagicon|Japan}} Takuma Sato

| BAR-Honda

| 53

| +51.692

| 13

| 3

7

| 21

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Cristiano da Matta

| Toyota

| 53

| +56.794

| 3

| 2

8

| 1

| {{flagicon|Germany}} Michael Schumacher

| Ferrari

| 53

| +59.487

| 14

| 1

9

| 9

| {{flagicon|Germany}} Nick Heidfeld

| Sauber-Petronas

| 53

| +1:00.159

| 11

|  

10

| 20

| {{flagicon|France}} Olivier Panis

| Toyota

| 53

| +1:01.844

| 4

|  

11

| 14

| {{flagicon|Australia}} Mark Webber

| Jaguar-Cosworth

| 53

| +1:11.005

| 6

|  

12

| 4

| {{flagicon|Germany}} Ralf Schumacher

| Williams-BMW

| 52

| +1 Lap

| 19

|  

13

| 15

| {{flagicon|UK}} Justin Wilson

| Jaguar-Cosworth

| 52

| +1 Lap

| 10

|  

14

| 12

| {{flagicon|Ireland}} Ralph Firman

| Jordan-Ford

| 51

| +2 Laps

| 15

|  

15

| 19

| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Jos Verstappen

| Minardi-Cosworth

| 51

| +2 Laps

| 17

|  

16

| 18

| {{flagicon|Denmark}} Nicolas Kiesa

| Minardi-Cosworth

| 50

| +3 Laps

| 18

|  

Ret

| 11

| {{flagicon|Italy}} Giancarlo Fisichella

| Jordan-Ford

| 33

| Out of fuel

| 16

|  

Ret

| 8

| {{flagicon|Spain}} Fernando Alonso

| Renault

| 17

| Engine

| 5

|  

Ret

| 10

| {{flagicon|Germany}} Heinz-Harald Frentzen

| Sauber-Petronas

| 9

| Engine

| 12

|  

Ret

| 3

| {{flagicon|Colombia}} Juan Pablo Montoya

| Williams-BMW

| 9

| Hydraulics

| 2

|  

colspan="8"|{{center|Source:{{cite web |title=2003 Japanese Grand Prix |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2003/33/ |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula1.com Limited |access-date=26 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226073636/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2003/33/ |archive-date=26 December 2014}}}}

Championship standings after the race

  • Bold text and an asterisk indicates the World Champions.

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
scope="col" | +/–

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos|Position}}

! scope="col" | Driver

! scope="col" | Points

scope="row" | 10px

| align="center"| 1

| {{flagicon|Germany}} Michael Schumacher*

| 93

scope="row" | 10px

| align="center"| 2

| {{flagicon|Finland}} Kimi Räikkönen

| 91

scope="row" | 10px

| align="center"| 3

| {{flagicon|Colombia}} Juan Pablo Montoya

| 82

scope="row" | 10px 1

| align="center"| 4

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Rubens Barrichello

| 65

scope="row" | 10px 1

| align="center"| 5

| {{flagicon|Germany}} Ralf Schumacher

| 58

colspan=4|Source: {{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2003/japon/championnat.aspx|title=Japan 2003 - Championship • STATS F1|website=www.statsf1.com|access-date=18 March 2019}}

{{col-2}}

;Constructors' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
scope="col" | +/–

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos|Position}}

! scope="col" | Constructor

! scope="col" | Points

scope="row" | 10px

| align="center"| 1

| {{flagicon|Italy}} Ferrari*

| 158

scope="row" | 10px

| align="center"| 2

| {{flagicon|UK}} Williams-BMW

| 144

scope="row" | 10px

| align="center"| 3

| {{flagicon|UK}} McLaren-Mercedes

| 142

scope="row" | 10px

| align="center"| 4

| {{flagicon|France}} Renault

| 88

scope="row" | 10px 1

| align="center"| 5

| {{flagicon|UK}} BAR-Honda

| 26

colspan=4|Source:

{{col-end}}

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

References

{{reflist}}

{{F1 race report

| Name_of_race = Japanese Grand Prix |

Year_of_race = 2003

| Previous_race_in_season = 2003 United States Grand Prix

| Next_race_in_season = 2004 Australian Grand Prix

| Previous_year's_race = 2002 Japanese Grand Prix

| Next_year's_race = 2004 Japanese Grand Prix

}}

{{F1GP 00-09}}

{{coord|34|50|35|N|136|32|26|E|source:kolossus-nowiki|display=title}}

Japanese Grand Prix

Category:Japanese Grand Prix

Grand Prix

Japanese Grand Prix