Europe: Full Grand Prix Lap by Lap

Sauber secure points
By pitpass.com (29/06/2003)
June 29 2003

Bright sunshine for this afternoon's European Grand Prix as a McLaren starts from pole position for the first time sine Monaco 2001.

In case you haven't read Eoin's excellent pitpass.com article regarding Norbert Haug, it's worth doing so, especially in light of the fact that prior to the race the Mercedes Motorsport boss admitted that he got a "bollocking" from Ron Dennis for 'celebrating Raikkonen's pole yesterday. Seems like Kimi isn't the only 'iceman' at Woking.

The cars head off on the formation lap and everyone gets away cleanly except Heidfeld who is starting from the pitlane.

As the cars line up on the grid there are clouds in the distance.

In the race to the first corner Raikkonen hold position while Ralf gets through on the inside of his brother and Barrichello slips past Montoya. Those on the clean side of the grid have got the jump on those on the dirty side.

At the end of the first lap Raikkonen leads Ralf by 1.1s followed by Michael, Barrichello, Montoya, Trulli, Alonso, Panis, Coulthard and da Matta. Meanwhile Firman is up to eleventh and Wilson is ahead of Villeneuve.

Kimi posts fastest lap on lap two, clocking a 1:33.447, by the end of the next lap he is 2.6s ahead of the WilliamsF1.

Coulthard is all over Panis, who lost seventh to Alonso at the start, for eighth while Fisichella hounds Pizzonia and Wilson shadows his team-mate Verstappen.

Four laps completed and Raikkonen leads by 3.9s with Michael 0.3s down on his brother. The Renaults appear to be struggling for grip while Barrichello is pulling away from Montoya.

Coulthard is all over Panis while at the back of the field Villeneuve is having to fend off Heidfeld who started from the pitlane.

Lap 7 and Kimi posts the second fastest lap of the race with a 1:33.310, while Panis, Coulthard and da Matta also set a blistering pace.

At the back Villeneuve is trying his hardest to get past Verstappen while attempting to hold off Heidfeld, a great scrap.

1:33.297 another fastest lap for Kimi as Villeneuve gets pat Verstappen as does Heidfeld three corners later. Going into turn two however the Canadian loses it and spins 360 degrees allowing Heidfeld and Verstappen back through.

Kimi now leads by 6.4s as he posts another fastest lap, behind the order remains the same; Ralf ahead of Michael, Barrichello, Montoya, Trulli, Alonso, Panis, Coulthard and da Matta.

Lap 13 and Firman is the first driver to pit while Panis spins losing places to Coulthard, da Matta, Button and Webber, the Frenchman will be gutted.

Fisichella is another early stopper, which gives some indication as to how poor the Jordans are.

Lap 12 and Kimi posts another fastest lap as he stretches the lead to 7.3s, it's good but he's not really getting away from Ralf. Trulli posts best time of the day in sector one as Kimi posts another fastest lap.

Montoya posts fastest time in sector one as the Minardi - Villeneuve battle continues at the back. Suddenly Jacques slows, his front wing hanging off the car, clearly he's hit the notorious bollards. Another nightmare race for the former champion.

Webber pits as does Frentzen, as Ralf now trails Raikkonen by 8.4s. Next time around it's Trulli that pits as Villeneuve gets a new front wing.

Fifteen laps completed and Raikkonen leads Ralf by 8.6s ahead of Michael, Barrichello, Montoya, Alonso, Trulli and Coulthard.

Next time around Raikkonen pits as does Michael Schumacher, the Finn is stationary for 8.8s with the German standing still for about the same.

Ralf now leads Montoya as Barrichello pits leaving Alonso third and Coulthard fourth, though all four drivers have yet to stop.

Montoya pits at the end of lap 18 as does Alonso and Coulthard.

Ralf stays out and now leads Raikkonen by 21.3s followed by Michael, Barrichello, Montoya, Alonso, Trulli, Coulthard, da Matta and Heidfeld, who must surely have started on full tanks.

Button is in eleventh ahead of Panis, Webber, Frentzen, Pizzonia, Firman, Fisichella, Wilson, Verstappen and Villeneuve.

At the end of lap 21 Ralf finally stops for fuel, he's stationary for 7.7s and gets out ahead of his brother.

One-third distance completed and no retirements.

Raikkonen leads Ralf by 4.3s at the end of lap 22 with Michael a further 3.4s down the road. Coulthard is putting pressure on Trulli as Panis is all over Button and Fisichella gives team-mate Firman a hard time.

At the end of lap 24 da Matta is the first driver to make a second stop, it's not for fuel but a new nose, another driver to hit the bollards?

Halfway through lap 25 and the crowd erupts as Kimi's engine blows big time, his race is over and Ralf is delighted to take the lead.

Almost on cue, Michael ups his pace, the German had appeared to be easing off, but now he's clearly putting his foot down once again. Before Kimi's retirement Michael was 4.7s behind his brother, next time around it's 3.5s.

Ralf leads his brother by 3.4s at the end of lap 27 with Barrichello a further 5.2s behind followed by Montoya, Alonso, Trulli, Coulthard, Button, Panis and Webber.

The two Jordans stop on consecutive laps and return to the fray in fifteenth and sixteenth positions ahead of Wilson, Villeneuve and Verstappen.

The gap between the Schumacher siblings remains static at around 3.5s with Barrichello 6.5s behind and Montoya closing on the second Ferrari. Alonso is ahead of Trulli and Coulthard the three are covered by 1.9s.

Lap 32 and Ralf posts his fastest lap of the race as he extends his lead to 4.2s and Barrichello drops half-a-second on the leaders.

Ralf posts another personal best as does his brother, this could all hinge on the pit-stops and the 'balance' of the third set of tyres.

At the end of lap 36 Michael Schumacher makes his second stop, the German is out again in 10s, exiting behind Coulthard, which isn't the ideal situation.

Next time around it's Panis that pits along with Barrichello, the Brazilian stationary for 9.4s.

Ralf now leads Montoya with Alonso third ahead of Trulli, Coulthard, Schumacher, Barrichello and Button. That said Trulli pulls off with a terminal problems as Panis spins for the second time today, this time however he doesn't get going again.

39 laps completed and Ralf leads Montoya by 14.8s with Coulthard third and Schumacher right on his tail. Barrichello is fifth followed by Alonso, Webber, Pizzonia, da Matta and Button.

Another personal best for Ralf Schumacher as his team-mate pits then re-joins the race in fourth ahead of Barrichello.

At the end of lap 40 Ralf finally pits, he's stationary for 8.5s and re-joins still leading as Montoya sets the fastest times of the day in the second and third sectors.

Next time around Coulthard pits allowing Michael Schumacher to set off after his brother, however the German appears to be struggling with his final set of tyres.

Suddenly it's high drama as Michael Schumacher spins out following a 'near miss' with Montoya. The two are side by side and actually touch as they challenge for track position into the hairpin. The German is given a push start which surely must rule him out of the race, yet he continues.

Ralf now leads his team-mate by 16.1s surely on his way to a well-deserved victory. Barrichello is third 18.6 ahead of Alonso who is being shadowed by Coulthard, with Michael fifth ahead of Webber, Button, Frentzen and Heidfeld.

Coulthard is all over Alonso while Michael Schumacher attempts to play 'catch up' albeit from 15.6s behind. On lap 50 the Spaniard goes far too deep at the chicane and Coulthard almost has him, though the Renault driver keeps him at bay.

At the front Ralf is easing off, posting times in the 1:34s, team-mate Montoya is 18.9s down the road. Barrichello is 12s behind Montoya with Alonso a further 20s behind.

Coulthard continues to put tremendous pressure on Alonso, but can't make it stick.

Villeneuve's miserable race finally comes to an end on lap 52, the Canadian pulling off to the side of the track. Meanwhile another driver having a torrid time is Fisichella who makes his fourth stop of the day as a result of a shredded tyre while da Matta's engine blows up meaning that neither Toyota makes it to the flag.

As Coulthard prepares to make another challenge on Alonso, the McLaren driver gets it wrong and takes to the grass and spins out of the race allowing Schumacher up to fifth.

As a result of Coulthard off Webber is now sixth with Button seventh and Nick Heidfeld, who started from the pitlane, eighth!

Ralf takes his first victory since Malaysia 2002, and a well-deserved win it is. The WilliamsF1 revival continues, and since it was only on Friday that BMW and WilliamsF1 announced that their 'marriage' will continue until the end of 2009, this seems the perfect way of announcing that the good times are returning to the Grove outfit.

A superb second for Juan Pablo who put Michael well and truly in his place and in doing so helped confirm that WilliamsF1 is back.

Another 'quiet' afternoon for Rubens but he got the job done and added another six points to the Ferrari coffers.

A great, mature drive from Alonso who despite the shortcomings of his car held off Coulthard and Michael Schumacher like an old pro, a superb performance.

Fifth for Michael but various forums and message boards will be blowing fuses over the next few days as armchair lawyers 'discuss' the legality of his push start.

Three well deserved points for Mark Webber while Button have BAR a little comfort after a disappointing weekend.

Having started from the pitlane Nick Heidfeld drove a quiet but steady race and thoroughly deserves his point, a great drive from the local hero.

Another incident filled race with WilliamsF1 coming through the mayhem to take a well-deserved 1-2 while McLaren-Mercedes will be glad to put today's race well and truly behind them.

Post race, Ferrari's Ross Brawn was quick to blast Juan Pablo Montoya for his move on Michael Schumacher, saying that the move was typical of the Colombian and describing the WilliamsF1 star as not being a "classy driver".

Trouble is, overtaking in F1 is rare these days that when it does happen nobody is prepared, and that includes drivers, team bosses, technical directors and seemingly the rule makers.

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