Schumacher vs Raikkonen vs Montoya
The Three-Way Thriller
The Story
After two years of total Ferrari domination, the 2003 season delivered a much-needed breath of fresh air. New rules including single-lap qualifying and race-fuel qualifying shook up the order, and both McLaren (with Kimi Raikkonen) and Williams (with Juan Pablo Montoya) mounted serious challenges to Michael Schumacher. Raikkonen won the opening race in Australia and kept the pressure on all season with his relentless pace, while Montoya's explosive speed made him a threat at every circuit. The championship went to the penultimate round in Japan, where Schumacher finished eighth — just enough to clinch his sixth title by two points over Raikkonen. It was the closest Schumacher came to losing during his dominant Ferrari years.
Points Progression
| Race | Schumacher | Räikkönen | Montoya | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian GP | 5 | 6 | 8 | Montoya +2 |
| Malaysian GP | 8 | 16 | 8 | Räikkönen +8 |
| Brazilian GP | 8 | 24 | 8 | Räikkönen +16 |
| San Marino GP | 18 | 32 | 10 | Räikkönen +14 |
| Spanish GP | 28 | 32 | 15 | Räikkönen +4 |
Final Standings
| Pos | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 6 | 93 |
| 2 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren | 1 | 91 |
| 3 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Williams | 2 | 82 |
| 4 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | 2 | 65 |
| 5 | Ralf Schumacher | Williams | 2 | 58 |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1 | 55 |
| 7 | David Coulthard | McLaren | 1 | 51 |
| 8 | Jarno Trulli | Renault | 0 | 33 |
| 9 | Jenson Button | BAR | 0 | 17 |
| 10 | Mark Webber | Jaguar | 0 | 17 |