2003 Hungarian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Michael Schumacher leads with 71 points, six ahead of Montoya in second and nine ahead of Räikkönen in third. Williams lead the Constructors’ on 129 points, Ferrari second on 121, McLaren third on 115.

Previous race

At Hockenheim, Montoya won from pole — a race marked by a first-lap pile-up. Ralf Schumacher squeezed Räikkönen and Barrichello as the field accelerated; the pair collided and crashed out, before Ralf retired a lap later with sidepod damage. Coulthard took second from tenth on the grid. Trulli finished third, but was treated by doctors for heat stroke. Michael Schumacher’s left-rear tyre burst four laps from the end, dropping him to fifth and reducing his championship lead to six points.

Between-race developments

Ralf Schumacher was charged with a ten-place grid penalty for his first-lap contact at Hockenheim. He successfully appealed the penalty, which was reversed.

Track changes

The Hungaroring has been revamped for this race. The main straight is lengthened, the first hairpin tightened, and further changes made near the end of the lap — all aimed at creating more overtaking opportunities.

Entrants

Jordan driver Ralph Firman suffered a horrendous crash during practice when his rear wing failed, causing his car to swap ends and hit the barriers backwards hard enough to knock him unconscious. He will sit out this race. Local driver Zsolt Baumgartner replaces him, making his Formula One debut at his home Grand Prix — the first Hungarian to race in Formula One.