SILVERSTONE, England, 20 July 2003 — Rubens Barrichello took pole position for today’s British Grand Prix after a dramatic qualifying session which saw the world championship contenders suffer a nightmare afternoon.
Jarno Trulli, in a Renault, was second with Kimi Raikkonen, in a McLaren in third but the day belonged to Barrichello who recorded his second pole of the season and eighth of his career. Michael Schumacher, made a crucial error and could only take fifth place in the second Ferrari behind brother Ralf in the Williams with Juan Pablo Montoya also struggling home in seventh spot behind the surprising Cristiano da Matta in a Toyota.
In front of a sea of empty seats in the finishing straight, Barrichello, second out on the track having failed to record a time in Friday’s first session, clocked 1:21.209 in his Ferrari to set the target for the later runners.
After the Minardis of Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen, the Jordans of Giancarlo Fisichella as well as Sauber drivers Heinx-Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld had merely confirmed their position as backmarkers, it was left to BAR-Honda’s Jacques Villeneuve to mount the first serious challenge. The Canadian, a winner here in 1996 and 1997, went second with 1:22.591 before Kimi Raikkonen, second to Michael Schumacher in the championship, nipped in 0.486secs behind Barrichello in 1:21.695 in his McLaren. Jaguar’s Antonio Pizzonia then moved into fourth with 1:22.634.
Cristiano da Matta, in a Toyota, then snatched third place in 1:22.081 before Jenson Button disappointed his home fans when he lost power and had to park his BAR-Honda without setting a time which will relegate him to the back of the grid today.
Button had already broke down in morning practice. Mark Webber, in the second Jaguar, clocked 1:22.647 which put him into sixth place at that stage. Double British Grand Prix winner David Coulthard, in the second McLaren again found the one-lap qualifying system a trial as he crossed the line in 1:22.811 — good enough for seventh spot at that time but 1.602secs behind Barrichello.
