2003 United States Grand Prix

Championship standings

Michael Schumacher leads with 82 points, three ahead of Montoya in second and four ahead of Räikkönen in third. Williams lead the Constructors’ on 141 points, four more than Ferrari in second. McLaren are third with 120 championship points.

Previous race

At Monza, Michael Schumacher won from pole and led home Montoya and Barrichello. Marc Gené, standing in at Williams for the absent Ralf Schumacher, ran long into the second stint and briefly led, prompting the Ferrari pit wall to mistakenly believe Schumacher had surrendered the lead before realising it was Gené still to pit. Schumacher’s first win since Canada extended his championship lead to three points over Montoya. Ralf Schumacher, Barrichello and Alonso were all mathematically eliminated from the championship fight. The race was completed at an average speed of 247.585 km/h, setting a new record as the fastest Formula One race in history.

Between-race developments

Ralf Schumacher returns to Williams this weekend, having missed Monza following a headache sustained during a test session at the circuit. Ralph Firman also returns to Jordan after missing the previous two rounds (Italy and Hungary) due to an inner ear imbalance from his practice crash in Hungary; he was replaced by Zsolt Baumgartner.

Jenson Button was cleared to compete after a high-speed testing crash at Jerez that required a visit to a London hospital for a check-up.

All three championship-contending teams — Ferrari, Williams and McLaren — bring enhanced engines and aerodynamic changes. BMW and Ferrari also introduce engine upgrades; BAR and Honda present an upgraded power unit and new gearbox.

Championship permutations

Michael Schumacher can clinch his record sixth world title this weekend if he wins, Räikkönen finishes third, and Montoya finishes sixth. Even if Montoya wins the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix, Schumacher would still be champion if he scores no more points from this race onward, as he holds the tiebreaker on wins over Montoya.

Practice

Rain falls steadily through the first practice session and intensifies halfway through, with the FIA permitting teams to run extreme rain tyres. Trulli leads ahead of Ralf Schumacher. Fisichella’s engine fails at turn 12 and spills oil onto the banked turn 13, stopping the session for nearly 20 minutes.

The second session runs on a damp circuit in cool, overcast conditions before the sun breaks through and the track dries. Trulli leads again, ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Montoya. Michael Schumacher stops on his installation lap with a fuel pressure issue; Ralf Schumacher runs off at turn eight and hits the tyre wall, damaged the car’s right side; Da Matta’s engine fails through turn 12, spreading oil across the corner and pit lane entry.

In the third session, Barrichello sets the fastest time, 0.012 seconds ahead of Trulli. Ralf Schumacher outbrakes himself into turn eight, sliding through wet grass and hitting the tyre wall.