Hungary: Alonso's Magyar Masterclass

Another walk for JV
By pitpass.com (23/08/2003)
August 24 2003

Although it's absolutely baking at the Hungaroring for today's race it's worth noting that the wind is also very strong. Ahead of the race Fernando Alonso remains incredibly cool and refuses to admit that he could be on the verge of becoming the youngest winner in the history of F1.

His rivals, Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jarno Trulli and Michael Schumacher are more concerned that they start the race on the dirty side of the track.

Having witnessed a crash that eliminated three title contenders at the first corner of the German GP, we're hoping that no such similar problems mar today's race.

The cars head off on the warm-up lap and everyone gets away cleanly.

As Alonso disappears into the distance Ralf seems unable to get away losing several places before the first corner, da Matta fails to even get away, his race is over, or so it appears, moments later he gets going again. Meanwhile Ralf has locked up and spun at turn two, dropping to eighteenth.

At the end of the first lap Alonso leads Webber by 1.9s followed by Barrichello, Raikkonen, Trulli and Coulthard.

By the end of the second lap Alonso has stretched his lead to 3.1s, Webber, Barrichello and Raikkonen are running nose-to-tail, as are Coulthard, Michael and Montoya. Barrichello makes a move on Webber which sees him going wide and cutting the chicane, as result he has to allow the Australian back through and Raikkonen and Trulli also nip through.

Ralf has worked his way up to sixteenth as Raikkonen is hassling Webber but he's unable to make it stick. Montoya is running in eighth and is under serious pressure from Heidfeld, the German yet to secure a seat for 2004.

After four laps Alonso leads by 10.2s as Webber is preoccupied with Raikkonen. The Jaguar is a mobile chicane and as result there's a massive traffic jam building up in its wake - Raikkonen, Trulli, Barrichello, Coulthard, Michael, Montoya and Heidfeld.

Another fastest lap for Alonso, 1:23.984, as Ralf moves up to twelfth. Forgetting about Alonso, who now leads by 13.8s, the next eight are covered by less than six seconds.

At the end of lap seven Alonso leads by 15.5 followed by Webber, Raikkonen, Trulli, Barrichello, Coulthard, Michael and Montoya. Heidfeld has now dropped back and is chased by Villeneuve, behind the Canadian Justin Wilson is under pressure from Ralf.

At this point we should point out that Jos Verstappen is running in fifteenth but under pressure from Frentzen and Button. Baumgartner meanwhile is running a steady race in eighteenth. Ahead of Kiesa and da Matta.

Button gets past Frentzen and sets off after Verstappen as Alonso posts another fastest lap with a 1:23.437.

Webber is still running in second with Raikkonen all over him while Trulli has dropped back into the clutches of Barrichello.

Button gets past Verstappen as Ralf gets past Villeneuve to take tenth, the German is giving a superb performance.

Twelve lap completed and Alonso leads by 21s, that's enough for a pit stop, a storming drive from the Spaniard.

Justin Wilson is the first driver to pit followed by Verstappen and race leader Alonso. The Renault is stationary for 6.4s exiting behind Raikkonen in second. Webber also stops as does Kiesa.

Raikkonen now leads from Alonso, Trulli, Barrichello, Coulthard, Michael, Montoya, Heidfeld, Ralf and Panis. Webber has dropped to twelfth.

At the end of lap fourteen Fisichella pits as does Villeneuve, sadly the BAR comes to a halt at the pitlane exit, his race over.

Raikkonen and Trulli both pit at the end of lap 15, giving the lead back to Alonso who is ahead of Barrichello, Coulthard and Michael.

Lap 16 and Barrichello pits as does Montoya, this is fast and furious.

Alonso now leads from Coulthard, Michael, Ralf only for both Schumachers to pit together. Both Germans are stationary for 7.3s though the WilliamsF1 driver is slower getting away. Next time around Coulthard pits.

With nineteen laps completed - together with the first round of stops - Alonso leads by 23.6 from Raikkonen, Webber, Trulli, Barrichello, Montoya, Michael, Coulthard, Ralf and Heidfeld. Frentzen, who has yet to stop, is ahead of Panis, Wilson, Button and Fisichella. The one driver who benefited from the stops was Montoya who got ahead of Michael and Coulthard.

Barrichello goes off at turn one following a suspension failure, a heavy crash but the Brazilian is out of the car and is clearly OK. Montoya was right behind Rubens and appeared to run over debris from the Ferrari.

The safety car is not brought out instead yellow flags are waved to warn the drivers. Alonso now leads Raikkonen by 24.1s ahead of Webber, who is a further 8.3s behind, Trulli (5.1), Montoya (0.4), Michael (1.0), Ralf (1.1) and Coulthard (4.3).

Outside the top ten we have Panis - who is actually running tenth - ahead of Wilson, Button, Fisichella, Frentzen, Jos, Baumgartner, Kiesa and da Matta.

Montoya is all over Trulli with Michael keeping a watching eye while brother Ralf is all over the back of the lone Ferrari.

Alonso is scything his way through the field as team-mate Trulli is falling back into the clutches of Montoya. Meanwhile a mere 0.4s separates the Schumacher brothers.

Giancarlo Fisichella becomes the third retiree of the afternoon as Montoya almost passes Trulli as his group encounters back-marker Baumgartner, in the confusion Ralf gets past Michael. The Ferrari driver so keenly watching the Montoya/Trulli fight and Baumgartner that he took his eye off the ball, or in this case Ralf.

At the end of lap 31 Alonso pits as Raikkonen posts the fastest lap of the race, a lap later it's Webber's turn to pit.

Trulli pits allowing the two WilliamsF1 drivers to close on Raikkonen who is 23.3s up the road. A lap later the Finn also pits after 7.2s he out again but he's unable to get ahead of the two WilliamsF1, Ralf slamming the door firmly in his face.

Alonso leads from Montoya, Ralf and Raikkonen. Ralf pits as Montoya posts the fastest lap of the race, 1:22.640. The Colombian is now second behind Alonso with Raikkonen third and Michael fourth. Next time around Montoya pits, he's stationary for 7s as Baumgartner's engine blows up on the main straight, that's the second Jordan out.

Alonso now leads from Raikkonen, Michael, Coulthard, Montoya, Webber, Ralf and Trulli, however Michael and Coulthard have yet to make their second stops.

1:22.095 another fastest lap form Montoya who is 6.1s behind Coulthard. Michael is hot on the heels of Raikkonen as Ralf is all over the back of Webber's Jaguar. In all the excitement Panis has finally retired.

At the end of lap 49 Michael pits and remains stationary for over 10s, lots of fuel or was there a problem? He exits in eighth behind Trulli while Coulthard, fourth, still has to make his second stop.

With 41 laps completed Alonso leads Raikkonen by 25.8s followed by Coulthard, Montoya, Webber, Ralf, Trulli, Michael, Heidfeld and Button, though the Englishman like Coulthard has yet to make his second stop. Wilson is eleventh ahead of Frentzen, Verstappen, da Matta and Kiesa.

Ralf continues to hassle Webber while brother Michael is all over Trulli.

Coulthard finally makes his second stop on lap 43, the Scot clearly on a two-stop strategy, meanwhile Justin Wilson's race come to a halt as yet another Ford/Cosworth engine detonates.

Coulthard has exited the pits between Trulli and Michael, another blow for the Ferrari driver at a time when nothing seems to be going right for the five-time champion.

Ralf finally gets past Webber the German giving a virtuoso performance today, not wishing to take anything away from Alonso.

With 46 laps completed Alonso leads Raikkonen by 25s followed by Montoya, Ralf, Webber, Trulli, Coulthard and Michael. These are the only drivers on the same lap as the race leader.

At the end of lap 48 Alonso makes his third stop of the afternoon, meanwhile Michael is over Coulthard like a rash. Frentzen pulls off the track with a problem, the German's race is over.

Webber pits on lap 50 as does Schumacher, clearly Ferrari think a change of strategy is needed.

Next time around Raikkonen pits as does Montoya and Verstappen.

Alonso still leads form Raikkonen, Ralf, Montoya, Trulli, Coulthard, Webber, Heidfeld and Michael, the Ferrari driver is outside the points.

Trulli and Heidfeld both pit, the Italian exiting ahead of Michael Schumacher, much to the German's clear frustration. The Ferrari driver is all over Trulli.

Ralf pits and exits behind his team-mate, however the German is soon back on the pace posting best time of the day in sector three.

With fifteen minutes remaining Alonso leads Raikkonen by 23.5s ahead of Montoya, Ralf, Coulthard, Webber, Trulli and Michael.

Fastest man on track is Ralf Schumacher while brother Michael is continuing to hassle Trulli.

Alonso continues on his way towards what could well be a historic day for F1 while WilliamsF1 looks set to take the lead in the constructors' championship. If the leaders' positions remain static Michael will still lead the drivers' championship however.

As Michael Schumacher continues to shadow Trulli, Fernando Alonso prepares to lap the reigning World Champion. Schumacher is shown the blue flag and moves aside for the young pretender. Trulli allows his team-mate by and promptly falls into the clutches of the Ferrari.

Meanwhile Montoya spins, an unforced error, which allows Ralf to close the gap. Will the German be ordered to hold position or will he go for it? The Colombian informs his crew that his rear wheels locked.

Ralf closes to within 1.5s of his team-mate, the German lapping 0.3s faster than the Colombian.

Michael continues to shadow Trulli as the two WilliamsF1 drivers are lapping 1.5s faster than anyone else.

Ralf is pushing his team-mate all the way as Alonso cruises to certain victory. A quiet afternoon for Raikkonen, Coulthard and Webber though not in any way wishing to take anything away from their solid performances.

Fernando takes a superb win an outstanding and historic performance as he becomes the youngest race winner in F1 history a record held by legendary Kiwi Bruce McLaren since 1959.

The World Championship is now wide open with Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen on 72, 71 and 70 points respectively and Ferrari now trailing WilliamsF1 in the Constructors' Championship by 8 points.

A fantastic performance from young Fernando but also a superb drive by Ralf Schumacher who was quite outstanding today.


This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.