2003 Malaysian Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 2 of 16 in the 2003 Formula One season | |||
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| Date | 23 March 2003 | ||
| Official name | V Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix | ||
| Location |
Sepang International Circuit Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia |
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| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.543 km (3.444 mi) | ||
| Distance | 56 laps, 310.408 km (192.879 mi) | ||
| Weather | Fine | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Renault | ||
| Time | 1:37.044 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Michael Schumacher
|
Ferrari | |
| Time | 1:36.412 on lap 45 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Second | Ferrari | ||
| Third | Renault | ||
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The 2003 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 23 March 2003 at the Sepang International Circuit. It was the second race of the 2003 Formula One season, and it was won by Kimi Räikkönen driving the MP4-17 for McLaren-Mercedes. This was Räikkönen's first Formula One Grand Prix victory. As well, Fernando Alonso scored his first pole position and podium finish.
Before the race, McLaren's David Coulthard was leading the championship however the Scot retired on lap three handing the championship lead to his teammate, Kimi Räikkönen who finished third in the previous race.
David Coulthard was leading the championship after winning the first race of the season. Montoya was second. Kimi Räikkönen, Michael Schumacher and Jarno Trulli were in Third, Fourth and Fifth respectively.
Before the race rain was predicted with the likelihood of heavy showers at 60 per cent. High humidity was also predicted by some people however, causing the teams to be split in terms of tactics.
The first Friday practice session saw Fernando Alonso fastest with a time of 1:37.693 and his teammate, Jarno Trulli, two tenths of a second slower putting him in third. Giancarlo Fisichella separated the Renault's with second fastest in the Jordan EJ13.
The second session saw Ferrari take over with Michael Schumacher completely eclipsing the efforts of Alonso in the previous session. He went fastest with a 1:34.980. His teammate, Rubens Barrichello, managed second with a 1:35.681 lap at the end of the session.
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