2003 Australian Grand Prix
| 2003 Australian Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 1 of 16 in the 2003 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 9 March 2003 | ||||
| Official name | 2003 Foster's Australian Grand Prix | ||||
| Location | Albert Park Circuit, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||
| Course | Temporary street circuit | ||||
| Course length | 5.303 km (3.295 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 58 laps, 307.574 km (191.118 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Damp at beginning, dry later, cloudy, mild | ||||
| Attendance | 118,000 | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||||
| Time | 1:27.173 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:27.724 on lap 32 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Second | Williams-BMW | ||||
| Third | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
The 2003 Australian Grand Prix (formally the 2003 Foster's Australian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held at the Albert Park Circuit, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9 March 2003. It was the first round of the 2003 Formula One World Championship and the eighth World Championship Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. McLaren's David Coulthard won the 58-lap race after starting in 11th position. Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya finished in second and Coulthard's teammate Kimi Räikkönen took third.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, the World Drivers' Champion, took pole position after setting the quickest lap time in the second qualifying session.The circuit was damp after an overnight rainstorm but quickly dried due to a strong wind. Schumacher led the race for six laps until a pit stop on lap seven to switch from wet to dry tyres. The lead changed seven times between four different drivers. Montoya led after the second round of pit stops, but lost first place and the race victory to Coulthard when he lost control of his car on lap 48. The safety car was deployed twice during the race, including an accident involving Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello on lap six.
The victory was the 13th and last of Coulthard's Formula One career. The race result meant Coulthard left Australia as the World Drivers' Championship leader with ten championship points. Montoya was two championship points behind in second, and Räikkönen was another two points back in third. McLaren led the World Constructors' Championship with 16 championship points while Williams were second with nine championship points with 15 races remaining in the season.