By pitpass.com (04/05/2003)
May 4 2003

Absolutely glorious conditions at Barcelona for the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix, however does this mean that we're in for a dull afternoon? Due to the phenomenal amount of testing that is carried out here, the drivers could probably navigate the circuit with their eyes shut. Setting up is a mere formality with just the fine tuning still needing to be done. As a result Barcelona rarely produces an enthralling race, especially when conditions are this perfect. In addition the Ferraris and the Renaults look to be a class of their own.

That said, the F2003-GA is still an unknown quality, while Kimi Raikkonen - starting from the pitlane - is sure to be on a charge, while team-mate David Coulthard and WilliamsF1 duo Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya have much to prove.

Finally let's not forget Antonio Pizzonia who is really under pressure at Jaguar, let's hope the Brazilian youngster can raise his game and prove his Milton Keynes critics wrong.

We can expect a great start from both the Renaults, the French outfit having one of the best launch control systems on the grid. The fight going into the first corner should be awesome. That said it could all come down to pit stop strategy, although most teams are opting for the usual two-stop strategy it's thought that some might opt for three stops.

On the grid both Minardis appear to have problems however they both get away for the formation lap.

Into the first corner and Alonso and Barrichello are neck and neck, the Renault pulls ahead but Barrichello is having none of it. The two Ferraris go into the first corner side by side and appear to touch.

Further back however there's mayhem with several cars colliding including as Raikkonen goes straight into the back of the hapless Pizzonia. There is debris on the track but the race continues rather than being red-flagged. The safety car comes out and the field forms up behind. In a separate incident Trulli and Coulthard have collided, the Italian is out on the spot but the Scot is able to continue.

The field continues behind the pace car with Schumacher leading Barrichello, Alonso, Ralf, Montoya and Button.

The pace car pulls of and Schumacher starts to pull away as Alonso climbs all over the back of Barrichello. Coulthard, Frentzen, Firman and Heidfeld are all early stoppers, Coulthard to have his car checked out following the incident, the others take advantage of the safety car period.

Lap 9 and Barrichello makes a slight mistake allowing Alonso to close up, Michael meanwhile has extended his lead to 2.1s.

Behind Alonso, Ralf is pulling away from Montoya with Button, Villeneuve, da Matta and Wilson - yes Wilson - hard on his heels.

Coulthard is running in thirteenth the Scot hard on the heels of Webber who lost several places at the beginning.

Alonso continues to hound Barrichello while Schumacher is taking advantage and continuing to pull away, the German now leads by 3.2s.

At the end of lap 12 Villeneuve pits, the Canadian dropping to seventeenth., clearly he has a problem as he remains stationary for some time. Finally he gets out, the 1997 World Champion's race is over and judging by his body language he very, very unhappy.

At the end of lap 14 Button pits elevating Wilson to eighth, the English driver having a great race.

Webber (tenth) is all over the back of Fisichella whilst holding off Coulthard, this is a nightmare for the Scot who needs to be up front battling with the Renaults and McLarens.

Lap 16 and Schumacher leads Barrichello by 3.6s, followed by Alonso, Ralf, Montoya, da Matta, Panis, Fisichella and Webber.

At the end of lap 17 Alonso pits elevating Ralf Schumacher to third. The Spaniard's out in 7.2s, rejoining the race in fifth as da Matta also pits. Coulthard's nightmare continues as he goes off following a minor touch with Button, a dreadful day for Ron Dennis and his team.

Next time around and Ralf pits as the Ferrari crew get ready for Michael. The German is stationary for 7.6s as Button comes into the pits to have his car checked following the clash with Coulthard.

With 19 laps completed everyone has stopped barring Fisichella, as Barrichello makes his stop. The Brazilian is out in 7s, but will rejoin the race ahead of Alonso, no!. It's Schumacher, Alonso, Barrichello, Ralf, Montoya, Fisichella, da Matta, Firman, Frentzen and Panis.

At the end of lap 22 Fisichella finally pits and all his previous good work is undone as the pit crew encounter problems with the fuel rig, he remains stationary for 24s.

The Toyotas are having a great race with da Matta sixth ahead of Firman and Panis in eighth. A mistake by the Jordan driver causes him to run wide allowing the Frenchman to nip through for seventh.

Twenty-four laps completed and Schumacher leads Alonso by 4.2s, followed by Barrichello, Ralf, Montoya, da Matta, Panis, Firman, Frentzen and Heidfeld.

Button is now running last as a result of his 'damage check', the Englishman running a lap down on Schumacher. Fisichella is next up the road having lost precious time due to his refuelling problem.

Firman makes his second stop of the afternoon and consequently drops to fourteenth, behind his team-mate, it's hard to see the Irish team scoring points this afternoon.

Schumacher slices through the back-markers with ease but Alonso seems to be finding it a little more difficult. First he fights with the two Jordans then the two Minardis, Barrichello too tries to get through the pack losing as little time as possible.

The big scrap at present is between Heidfeld (ninth) and Webber (tenth), while the Minardis and Jordans are having a terrific scrap fro twelfth.

Thirty laps completed and Michael leads by 7.1s, it's not a lot, but it's enough. The Spaniard is clearly keeping pace with the Ferrari, but is Schumacher merely taking it easy mindful of the question mark over the F2003-GA's reliability?

Alonso continues to take chunks out of Schumacher's lead, perhaps the problem could lie with the Ferrari's tyres.

33 laps completes and Michael leads Alonso by 6.7s, followed by Barrichello, Ralf, Montoya, Panis, da Matta, Webber and Frentzen, as Heidfeld pits.

The Ferrari crew comes out at the end of lap 35 and Schumacher makes his second (and final?) stop. He's out again in 6.9s, his old Bridgestones worn down almost to slicks.

Alonso leads his home Grand Prix and the crowd is loving it.

Exiting the pits Michael comes out behind his brother Ralf who isn't making it easy for his big brother. Meanwhile Barrichello pits, the Brazilian making his second stop of the afternoon.

The Schumachers repeat their Imola duel but a mistake by the WilliamsF1 driver allows the Ferrari through.

Alonso stops, the Spaniard stationary for 5.4s.

Schumacher leads from his brother followed Alonso, Montoya, Barrichello, Panis, da Matta, Webber, Frentzen and Firman.

Schumacher posts the fastest lap of the race 1:20.324, as Alonso battles Ralf who refuses to capitulate to the Renault driver. As the Spaniard struggles to find a way past the WilliamsF1, the other Schumacher is continuing to pull away. Meanwhile Heinz-Harald Frentzen becomes the sixth retirement of the day.

Again Ralf makes a mistake and Alonso doesn't hesitate, he's through and in hot pursuit of the leading Ferrari. Ralf meanwhile goes very, very wide just missing the barriers, he pits next time around.

Alonso is now running 8.4s behind Schumacher, with Barrichello third followed by Montoya, da Matta, Ralf, Panis and Webber, these are the only drivers on the same lap.

Further back Firman is still running a fine eighth, followed by Button and Heidfeld. The two Minardis are still running at the back of the field but only a lap down on the leader.

Panis' race is over, after a superb performance all weekend the Frenchman stops at the end of the pitlane exit. Two laps later and Giancarlo Fisichella suffers yet another engine failure, the Italian driving straight back into his garage.

The two WilliamsF1 drivers are enjoying a terrific scrap for fifth, but it's the Colombian that appears to have the upper hand.

Lap 47 and Schumacher leads by 5.1s as Alonso continues to take large bites out of his lead. Barrichello is third ahead of Cristiano da Matta who is having a stupendous afternoon. Fourth is Montoya followed by Ralf with Webber in seventh, albeit one lap down, ahead of Firman, Heidfeld, Button, Wilson and Verstappen.

Schumacher stops at the end of lap 49, he's out again in 6.9s, meanwhile da Matta has also made his final stop of the afternoon.

Next time around Alonso comes in for his final stop as Schumacher sets a blistering pace. 6.6s and the Spaniard is back out again as Barrichello makes his final stop.

Another fastest lap from Schumacher who posts a 1:20.307. The German, leading Alonso by 6.1s, is setting a punishing pace but how will his tyres stand up to his demands?

Meanwhile Barrichello sets a new fastest lap, the Brazilian, over 12s behind Alonso, lapping the circuit in 1:20.143s.

At the end of lap 53 Schumacher leads Alonso by 6.6s followed by Barrichello, Montoya, Ralf, da Matta, Webber, Firman, Heidfeld and Button.

Fireman looks to be good for a point but Heidfeld is a mere 1.6s behind with Button right behind the German. The pressure on the Anglo-Irishman eases a little as Heidfeld makes his fourth stop of the day, though the Jordan star is still under pressure from Button. It appears that Heidfeld's last stop was a frive-thru penalty for ignoring blue flags earlier in the race.

da Matta meanwhile is all over Ralf, the Brazilian giving his best performance of the season.

Out front Schumacher is now leading by 9.5s while Barrichello is failing to make any impression on the Spaniard.

da Matta is all over Ralf and the German is clearly under enormous pressure making a number of minor mistakes. Meanwhile Button is exerting similar pressure on Firman, can the rookies keep up the pace?

Into various corners Ralf is locking up as Michael Schumacher tries to work his way past the battling Button and Firman. As the German gets tangled up with the traffic Alonso ups his pace and closes to within 8.1s.

Having dealt with Button and Firman, Michael now has to get past da Matta and Ralf, the Ferrari star makes short work of it.

62 laps completed and Schumacher leads Alonso by 5.8, however the Spaniard now has to deal with the traffic. Barrichello is third followed by Montoya, Ralf, da Matta, Webber, Firman, Button, Heidfeld, Wilson and Verstappen.

Alonso gets past da Matta and sets off after Ralf, who isn't as obliging as the Brazilian. Finally Ralf allows Alonso through as da Matta is all over the back of the WilliamsF1.

Schumacher takes the chequered flag giving the F2003-GA the perfect 'baptism', and though this has been a fantastic day for Ferrari, all credit must go to young Fernando Alonso for an absolutely stunning performance.

Sadly the shenanigans at the start robbed us of what might have been a storming drive by Kimi Raikkonen, however at least this narrows down the title race.

We said at the start that Barcelona is not known for producing great races, and though this might not have been a contender for a future 'Classic GP' it certainly provided some good entertainment.

Furthermore as Michael sets himself up for a serious assault on the title, a record sixth - Fernando Alonso once again served notice that the future of F1 is in very good hands.


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