2003 French Grand Prix


The 2003 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 6 July 2003 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. It was the tenth race of the 2003 Formula One season. The 70-lap race was won by Ralf Schumacher driving for the Williams team after starting from pole position. Juan Pablo Montoya finished second in the other Williams car, with Michael Schumacher third driving for Ferrari. Ralf Schumacher's victory was his second consecutive win of the season having won the preceding European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.
As a consequence of the race, Michael Schumacher extended his lead in the World Drivers' Championship to eight points over Kimi Räikkönen, with Ralf Schumacher a further three points behind. In the World Constructors' Championship, Williams reduced the gap to Ferrari from thirteen points to three points.
This was the first French Grand Prix held at the upgraded version of Magny-Cours, having made Château d'Eau a sharper right hand corner, and a complete modification of the Lycée section, becoming a very sharp right hand turn after the back straight which then leads to a difficult final chicane next to the pit entrance. The pit lane was also significantly shortened as a result of the upgrades.

Classification

Qualifying

PosNoDriverConstructorQ1 TimeQ2 TimeGap
14 Ralf SchumacherWilliams-BMW1:29.3271:15.019
23 Juan Pablo MontoyaWilliams-BMW1:28.9881:15.136+0.117
31 Michael SchumacherFerrari1:27.9291:15.480+0.461
46 Kimi RäikkönenMcLaren-Mercedes1:29.1201:15.533+0.514
55 David CoulthardMcLaren-Mercedes1:28.9371:15.628+0.609
67 Jarno TrulliRenault1:29.0241:15.967+0.948
78 Fernando AlonsoRenault1:29.4551:16.087+1.068
82 Rubens BarrichelloFerrari1:27.0951:16.166+1.147
914 Mark WebberJaguar-Cosworth1:25.1781:16.308+1.289
1020 Olivier PanisToyota1:24.1751:16.345+1.326
1115 Antônio PizzoniaJaguar-Cosworth1:24.6421:16.965+1.946
1216 Jacques VilleneuveBAR-Honda1:24.6511:16.990+1.971
1321 Cristiano da MattaToyota1:26.9751:17.068+2.049
1417 Jenson ButtonBAR-Honda1:30.3711:17.077+2.058
159 Nick HeidfeldSauber-Petronas1:24.0421:17.445+2.426
1610 Heinz-Harald FrentzenSauber-Petronas1:26.1511:17.562+2.543
1711 Giancarlo FisichellaJordan-Ford1:28.5021:18.431+3.412
1812 Ralph FirmanJordan-Ford1:23.4961:18.514+3.495
1919 Jos VerstappenMinardi-Cosworth1:20.8171:18.709+3.690
2018 Justin WilsonMinardi-CosworthTime deleted1:19.619+4.600

Race

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings
;Constructors' Championship standings