Overview Formula One Testing in 2003

Impossible in today’s Formula One was possible in the past of Formula One. There was a time that any time could test on any time he liked. To improve their cars, to give youngsters their first taste of Formula One, or simply to cash. Because testing was all about talent and money back in the days. Most of the drivers that tested are long forgotten or never arrived in the Formula One. As there isn’t really a database around, just bits and pieces, I started these overviews. Here are the test-drivers of 2003.

Luckily, there are a lot of test times available from the late 1990s and early 2000s. AtlasF1 is one of those sites that kept the testing times and published them on a special page dedicated to testing.

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
In 2002 the Formula One saw a dominance of Ferrari that was never seen before. With Michael Schumacher, finishing every race on the podium the championship was sealed after a couple of race for the team. In 2003 the team appeared with the F2002B on the grid, before their new challenger the F2003-GA would made it’s debut. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were the drivers for the team.
Michael Schumacher (DE): Tested with the Ferrari F2002B and the F2003-GA.
Rubens Barrichello (BR): Tested with the Ferrari F2002B and the F2003-GA.
Felipe Massa (BR): Tested with the Ferrari F2002B and later with the F2003-GA mostly on Fiorano or Mugello.
Luciano Burti (BR): Did only a handful of testing with the Ferrari F2002B and with the F2003-GA.
Luca Badoer (IT): Tested with the Ferrari F2002B and with the F2003-GA.

BMW Williams F1 Team
It seemed that Williams was on its way back to the top. Defeating McLaren in the constructors’ championship all signs were on green for 2003. In 2003, Williams appeared with the FW25 on the grid powered by the BMW V10 engine. Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya were the drivers.
Ralf Schumacher (DE): Tested with the Williams FW25.
Juan Pablo Montoya (CO): Tested with the Williams FW25.
Marc Gené (ES): Tested with the Williams FW25.
Olivier Beretta (MC): Tested with the Williams FW25 the 14^th and 15^th of January on Barcelona with a best time of 1:19.160. He tested the FW25 also the 11^th of April on Paul Ricard with a best time of 1:09.762.
Marco Asmer (DE): Tested with the FW25 the 8^th of July on Barcelona with a best time of 1:24.082.
Antônio Pizzonia (BR): Tested with the FW25 the 3^rd of October on Jerez, completing 100 laps with a best time of 1:18.818.
Nico Rosberg (DE): Tested with the FW25 the third and fourth of December on Jerez, completing 72 laps. With a best time of 1:19.544.
Nelson Piquet Jr (BR): Tested with the FW25 the second and fourth of December on Jerez, completing 110 laps. With a best time of 1:20.453.
Ho-Ping Ting (CN/NL): Tested with the FW25 11 December on Jerez, completing 42 laps. With a best time of 1:22.082.
Jeff Gordon (US): Tested with the Williams FW24 on Indianapolis when he swapped cars with Pizzonia. Teams showed their interest in the NASCAR drivers.
Ricardo Sperafico: Tested with the Williams FW25.

West McLaren Mercedes
The team lost it’s momentum in 2002, still in the top the team was struggling with results. In an effort to gain more momentum, the team came with the McLaren MP4-18. The car was tested. Though never passed the crash test. This resulted in the evolved McLaren MP4-17D. The MP4-17D would be fitted with the Mercedes V10. While David Coulthard and Kimi Räikkönen were the drivers.
David Coulthard (GB-SCT): Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D and the MP4-18.
Kimi Räikkönen (FI): Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D and the MP4-18.
Darren Turner (GB): Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D the 30^th of September on Silverstone, completing 18 laps. With a best time of 1:24.336.
Alexander Wurz (AT): Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D and the MP4-18.
Pedro de la Rosa (ES): Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D.
Steve Kane (GB): Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D in September on Silverstone, completing 15 laps.
Gary Paffet (GB): Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D the 22^nd, 23^rd and 28^th of January on Valenica, completing 97 laps. With a best time of 1:12,890.

Mild Seven Renault F1 Team
The team made their big comeback a year before. They already showed what they were capable of. With Briatore on front with behind him, a great technical staff the team managed to score the needed points on 2002. For 2003, the team appeared with the Renault R23 on the grid. Powered by their own Renault V10 engine. Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso were the drivers.
Jarno Trulli (IT): Tested with the Renault R23.
Fernando Alonso (ES): Tested with the Renault R23.
Franck Montagy (F): Tested with the Renault R23 the 16^th and 17^th of September on Barcelona, completing 227 laps. With a best time of 1:17.309. Tested the R23 as well on Valencia the 25^th, 26^th and 27^th of November.
Allan McNish (GB-SCT): Tested with the Renault R23.
Olivier Gavin (F): Tested with the Renault R23.
José María López (AR): Tested with the Renault R23 the 2nd and 3^rd of December at Barcelona, completing 73 laps. With a best time of 1:18.892.
Satoshi Motoyama (JP): Tested with the Renault R23 the 10^th of December on Jerez, completing 49 laps. With a best time of 1:19,992.
Heikki Kovalainen (FI): Tested with the Renault R23 the 3^rd and 4^th of December at Barcelona, completing 66 laps. With a best time of 1:17.823.

Sauber Petronas
The Swiss team did in 2002 what it had done since their debut in the Formula One scoring on a regular base points. For 2003, the team appeared with the Sauber C22 on the grid powered by the Petronas engines (rebadged Ferrari V10 engines). Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were the driver for the team.
Nick Heidfeld (DE): Tested with the Sauber C22.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen (DE): Tested with the Sauber C22.
Neel Jani (CH): Tested with the Sauber C22 the 20^th of May at Valencia, completing 60 laps. With a best time of 1:16.410. He tested the C22 as well the 11^th of July at Barcelona, completing 49 laps. With a best time of 1:21.757.
Giancarlo Fisichella (IT): Tested with the Sauber C22 the 25^th, 26^th and 27^th of November at Barcelona, completing 245 laps. With a best time of 1:17.745.

Benson & Hedges Jordan Ford
It was only four years ago when the Irish team was chasing the world title as the underdog. In 2002, everything changed the team only scored a couple of points. Would 2003 be their revival season? Or would they sink deeper? In 2003, the team came with the EJ13 on the grid with Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman as their drivers. While the Hungarian driver Zsolt Baumgartner replaced Firman for two races.
Giancarlo Fisichella (IT): Tested with the Jordan EJ13.
Ralph Firman (IE): Tested with the Jordan EJ13.
Zsolt Baumgartner: Tested with the Jordan EJ13.
Björn Wirdheim (DE): Tested with the Jordan EJ13 the 4^th of September at Monza, completing 46 laps. With a best time of 1:23.633.
Jaroslav Janis (CZ): Tested with the Jordan EJ13 the 3^rd and 4^th of December at Jerez, completing 96 laps. With a bet time of 1:21.980.
Satoshi Motoyama (JP): Tested with the Jordan EJ13 during the free practice on Friday for the Japanese Grand Prix.

HSBC Jaguar Racing
Since their debut the team only impressed in the wrong way. With a lot of mismanagement and a waste of money, they only scored a few podium finishes and some points. For 2003, the team came with the Jaguar R4 powered by the Cosworth V10 engine. Mark Webber and Antônio Pizzonia were the drivers for the team. While Pizzonia would be replaced during the season by Justin Wilson, who came from Minardi.
Mark Webber (AU): Tested with the Jaguar R4.
Antônio Pizzonia (BR): Tested with the Jaguar R4.
Justin Wilson (GB): Tested with the Jaguar R4.
Christian Klien (AT): Tested with the Jaguar R4 25^th and 26^th of November at Valencia, completing 170 laps. With a best time of 1:11.934.
Townsend Bell (GB): Tested with the Jaguar R4 the 25^th of November at Valencia, completing 63 laps. With a best time of 1:12.330.

Lucky Strike BAR Honda
The similar story as Jaguar racing an unlimited budget in the Formula One, mostly known for the mismanagement at this point of the teams history. While the team was finding the way up, there was still a long way to go. In 2003, the team appeared with the BAR 005 on the grid. With Jacques Villenueve and Jenson Button as their drivers. Takuma Sato would replace Villeneuve for the last race of the season.
Jacques Villeneuve (CAN): Tested with the BAR 005.
Jenson Button (GB): Tested with the BAR 005.
Takuma Sato (JP): Tested with the BAR 005.
Anthony Davidson (GB): Tested with the BAR 005.
Björn Wirdheim (DE): Tested with the BAR 005 the 2^nd of October at Mugello, completing 5 laps. With a best time of 1:26,728. He also tested the 005 the 10^th of December on Jerez, completing 79 laps. With a best time of 1:21.312.

European Minardi Cosworth / Trust Minardi Cosworth
The start of the 2002 season looked promising. The team scored two points in Australia and the package of the PS02 looked fine. However, as all Minardi’s looked fine, the team lacked the financial backing resulting in a backdrop of the team on the grid. For 2003, the signs were more on red then orange. The team failed to sign a contract with Bridgestone. Which resulted in the poor test of Verstappen and Wilson in the PS01B on Avon tyres in pre-season testing at Mugello. Eventually, the team appeared with the PS03 on the grid.
Jos Verstappen (NL): Tested with the PS03 for the first time the 26^th of February on Imola. Best time 1:27,300s.
Justin Wilson (GB): Tested with the PS03 for the first time the 26^th of February on Imola. Best Time 1:27,500s.
Matteo Bobbi (IT): Tested with the PS03.
Nicolas Kiesa (DK): Tested with the PS03 the 25^th of July on Fiorano. Best time 1:02,601s. He tested also on Monza the 4^th of July with a best time of 1:25,033s.
GianMaria Bruni (IT): Tested with the PS03 the 4^th of July on Monza. Best time 1:24,720s. Bruni tested as well in December. This was more or less a shootout for who would race in 2004 for the team.
Narain Karthikeyan (IN): Tested with the PS03 the 13^th of December on Vallelunga. This was a youngster test.
Norbert Siedler (AT): Tested with the PS03 the 13^th of December on Vallelunga. This was a youngster test.
Fabrizio del Monte (IT): Tested with the PS03 the 13^th of December on Vallelunga. This was a youngster test. Best time over 22 laps 1:15,120s.
Heikki Kovalainen (FI): Tested with the PS03 the 11^th of December on Vallelunga. This was a youngster test.
José María López (AR): Tested with the PS03 the 13^th of December on Vallelunga. This was a youngster test. Best time over 61 laps 1:11,782s.

Minardi-Cosworth PS01B
As the Minardi team did not have a tyre supplier after Michelin left Minardi the team was forced to test with the PS01B again. The PS01B was fitted with F3000 Avon tyres, which made the scene a bit sober and unrealistic.
Jos Verstappen (NL): Tested with the PS01B on Avon Tyres, the 30^th of January on Valencia he drove 47 laps with a best time 1:15,190s.
Justin Wilson (GB): Tested with the PS01B on Avon Tyres, the 29^th of January on Valencia he drove 45 lap with a best time 1:17,066s.

Minardi-European PS01
Paul Stoddart (AU): Drove/Tested with the PS01 the 12th of May during the Super Day for Superfund in Vienna.
Paul Stoddart (AU): Drove/Tested with the PS01Thunder at the Rock on Rockingham in the weekend of 29 august.

Minardi-Cosworth PS04 (Arrows A23)
After Arrows went into bankruptcy in 2002 Paul Stoddart eventually purchased most of the assets of the Arrows team. With it were the Arrows A23 cars, which proven very good in 2002. The plan was to compare the Arrows A23, which became now the PS04, with the PS03.
Jos Verstappen (NL): Tested with the PS04 the 16^th of September 2003 on Mugello. Best time 1:25,622s.
Nicolas Kiesa (AT): Tested with the PS04 the 16^th of September 2003 on Mugello. Best time 1:28,148s.

Panasonic Toyota Racing
Another team that entered the Formula One with a lot of money, and with zero results on the track. For 2003, Toyota hoped for better times. The team appeared with the TF103 on the grid while Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta were the drivers.
Olivier Panis (F): Tested with the Toyota TF103.
Cristiano da Matta (BR): Tested with the Toyota TF103.
Ricardo Zonta (BR): Tested with the Toyota TF103.
Ryan Briscoe (AU): Tested with the Toyota TF103.