ATLAS F1 - THE JOURNAL OF FORMULA ONE MOTORSPORT
2003 SuperStats: Japanese GP

By David Wright, Australia
Atlas F1 Magazine Writer



Advice: With each table, click on a column's header (title) to sort the table by that column; click again to change the sorting order.

The SuperGrid compares the average Saturday qualifying position and times of all drivers over all rounds of the Formula One season. Each driver's time is also compared against the best overall Saturday qualifier (by average Saturday qualifying position) as well as the average of the season's pole position times, SuperPole. After being on the SuperPole for most of the year, it literally rained on Michael Schumacher's parade in Japan, as he fell from the top of the standings to third, behind Juan Pablo Montoya and Schumacher's teammate and 2003 SuperGrid pole man, Rubens Barrichello. Next are two Williams drivers, Marc Gene and Ralf Schumacher, followed by the two McLaren drivers of Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard, split by the two Renaults of Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso. Mark Webber is the standout performer of those drivers not driving for the top four teams, while Jenson Button just beat his BAR teammate Jacques Villeneuve. Compared to 2002, this year's SuperGrid is closer.

Some drivers did not compete in every qualifying session - those drivers were Zsolt Baumgartner, Jenson Button, Ralph Firman, Marc Gene, Nicolas Kiesa, Antonio Pizzonia, Takuma Sato, Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.

The SuperPole time for 2003 is 1m20.438, which sees the 107% cutoff at 1m26.068.

By default, the table is sorted in by average qualifying position in ascending order, then by best qualifying position/positions achieved throughout the season in a similar manner to that that the FIA uses to rank the championship standings in ascending order.


The SuperRace compares the average finishing position, and total time and distance completed by all drivers over all rounds of the Formula One season. As in 2002, Michael Schumacher wins the SuperRace, though he is much closer to the rest of the field this year. Marc Gene is second ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, followed by Takuma Sato and the Williams teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher. Gene and Sato are somewhat interlopers, only competing once in 2003. Notably Olivier Panis and Jacques Villeneuve are placed much lower than their teammates Cristiano da Matta and Jenson Button respectively, Mark Webber also well clear of his teammates.

Some drivers did not compete in every race - those drivers were Zsolt Baumgartner, Jenson Button, Ralph Firman, Marc Gene, Nicolas Kiesa, Antonio Pizzonia, Takuma Sato, Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.

By default, the table is sorted by average finishing position in ascending order, then total distance covered in descending order.


The driver totals compare the total laps completed, total distance completed, laps led and distance led by each driver throughout the season. As in 2002, Michael Schumacher is on top with most laps completed, and most laps led. He is followed by the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya, Renault's Fernando Alonso, Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Toyota's Cristiano da Matta. Barrichello again finished well behind his teammate, just like in 2002, as apart from McLaren, most teammates remained separated from each other.

Michael Schumacher was also the clear leader in the leading department, his nearest challengers being a closely bunched Ralf Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya.

The 2003 season consisted of 16 races, during which a total of 1018 laps of racing and 4787.089 km were covered.

By default, the table is sorted by total distance in descending order, then total laps in descending order, then distance led in descending order.

For the final Superstats of the year, we will also look at things in a slightly different way, looking at each drivers' results as a percentage of the total. By default, the table is sorted by percentage of total distance in descending order, then percentage of total laps in descending order, then percentage of distance led in descending order.


The team totals compare the total laps completed, total distance completed, laps led and distance led by each team throughout the season. As in 2002, Williams finished in top spot with Ferrari in second place, McLaren and Renault clearly next, the top four teams clearly the most reliable. Minardi finish best of the rest, an impressive achievement considering their budget, just beating Toyota, as the remaining teams of Sauber, BAR, Jaguar and Jordan were evenly spaced behind them. Although Williams went the furthest in the races, leading of races was headed by Ferrari with Williams a clear second, McLaren and Renault also spending their share of time in the lead.

By default, the table is sorted by total distance in descending order, then total laps in descending order, then distance led in descending order.

For the final Superstats of the year, we will also look at things in a slightly different way, looking at each teams' results as a percentage of the total. By default, the table is sorted by percentage of total distance in descending order, then percentage of total laps in descending order, then percentage of distance led in descending order.


The average times table consists of seven columns: the first five are the average of the fastest time recorded by each driver in each respective pre-race session over all rounds of the season; the sixth is the average of the fastest lap recorded in the race over all rounds of the season; and the seventh is the average lap time recorded during the race over all rounds of the season, calculated by dividing the total time a driver has raced during the season by the total laps the driver has completed in races. This table is listed in alphabetical order.


The average positions table consists of seven columns: the first five are the average of the positions recorded by each driver in each pre-race session over all rounds of the season; the sixth is the average of the positions of the fastest lap over all rounds of the season; and the seventh is the average of the race finishing positions over all rounds of the season. This table is listed in alphabetical order.


The drivers table consists of six columns: race wins, finishes on the podium, finishes in the top six, finishes in the top eight, pole positions and fastest race laps. This table is listed in alphabetical order.

The team table also consists of six columns: race wins, finishes on the podium, finishes in the top six, finishes in the top eight, pole positions and fastest race laps. This table is listed in alphabetical order.


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Volume 9, Issue 42
October 15th 2003

Atlas F1 Exclusive

A Touch of Greatness
by Timothy Collings

Interview with Kimi Raikkonen
by David Cameron

Interview with Jock Clear
by Will Gray

Ann Bradshaw: View from the Paddock
by Ann Bradshaw

2003 Japanese GP Review

2003 Japanese GP Review
by Pablo Elizalde

The Boardroom View
by Karl Ludvigsen

The Pressure Game
by Richard Barnes

Stats Center

SuperStats
by David Wright

Charts Center
by Michele Lostia

Columns

Season Strokes
by Bruce Thomson

On the Road
by Garry Martin

Elsewhere in Racing
by David Wright & Mark Alan Jones

The Weekly Grapevine
by Tom Keeble



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