Michael Schumacher picked up a single point for coming home eighth in the Hungarian Grand Prix and that is exactly his slender lead in the Drivers’ championship over Juan Pablo Montoya who finished third for BMW-Williams. Kimi Raikkonen finished second in his McLaren-Mercedes which means he is third in the series on 70 points. The championship will now be decided over the final trio of races. Rubens Barrichello failed to finish, retiring on lap 20 after a spectacular crash. The result means that Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has lost the lead in the Constructors’ classification and is now second on 121 points, eight behind the leading BMW-Williams team. 

The race was won by Fernando Alonso in a Renault. He becomes the youngest ever grand prix winner and the first Spaniard to ever win in Formula 1. It was a convincing performance as the twenty two year old led from lights to flag. 

At the start, with the advantage of the clean side of the track, Barrichello moved from fifth to third, while Schumacher made up one place to go seventh. His brother Ralf spun the BMW-Williams and dropped down the order. On lap 3, Rubens tried to pass Webber, but cut the chicane and fell behind Raikkonen and Trulli. 

The front runners were all on a three stop strategy, with the exception of Coulthard. Alonso and Webber led the first run of refuelling on lap 13. Barrichello came in on lap 16, with his team-mate following one lap later. On lap 20, Rubens lost the left rear wheel of his F2003-GA – the cause is still under investigation – and crashed into the barriers at the first corner. Fortunately, the Brazilian was unhurt. 

By lap 22, Alonso had a 24 second lead over Raikkonen and Webber. Behind the Jaguar, Montoya and Michael were being slowed by Trulli. The second run of pit stops began with Alonso again on lap 30, as Ralf Schumacher passed his brother to take sixth place. Michael made his second stop on lap 39. It was a bit longer than expected as the car had used all its fuel coming into pit lane. Coulthard therefore managed to get ahead of the Ferrari man, who made his third and final stop just eleven laps later. 

From this point on, the order at the front did not change: Alonso, Raikkonen, Montoya, Ralf, Coulthard, Webber. Behind the Jaguar came Trulli, whose slow pace yet again delayed Michael, who had to settle for eighth place.