Kimi Räikkönen claimed his maiden Formula One victory, and Fernando Alonso became the youngest pole sitter in Formula One history.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren)
- Starting position of winner
- 7th on the grid
- Race distance
- 56 laps
- Attendance
- 101,485 spectators
- Youngest F1 pole sitter
- Fernando Alonso (Renault)
- Margin of victory
- 39.2 seconds over Barrichello
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Heading into the race, McLaren's David Coulthard led the World Drivers' Championship after the opening round. Fernando Alonso qualified on pole position, setting the fastest time in the second qualifying session and becoming the youngest Formula One pole sitter. Räikkönen started seventh on the grid.
Alonso led from the start but surrendered the lead at his lap-14 pit stop, promoting Räikkönen to first. Coulthard retired on lap three with electrical problems. Räikkönen held the lead for the remainder of the 56-lap race at Sepang International Circuit, with Barrichello finishing 39.2 seconds behind in second and Alonso third, his first podium.
Räikkönen took over the World Drivers' Championship lead with 16 points, while Coulthard fell to second and Montoya third. McLaren extended their Constructors' Championship lead to ten points over Ferrari, who moved from fourth to second. Alonso's podium confirmed Renault's competitive standing with 14 races still to run.