The 66-lap race was won by local driver Michael Schumacher, driving a Ferrari. Schumacher took his eleventh victory of the season, equalling his record from 2002, after starting from pole position. Englishman Jenson Button finished second in a BAR-Honda despite a ten-place grid penalty for an engine change in practice, and a loose helmet strap during the race, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso third in a Renault. Kimi Räikkönen of McLaren-Mercedes set the fastest lap of the race but retired on lap 14 after his rear wing gave way at Turn 1, sending his car into the barriers at high speed. The first start was aborted after Olivier Panis indicated a problem with his Toyota. This led to a second formation lap, and the shortening of the race by one lap.
This was the final Grand Prix for Brazilian driver Cristiano da Matta, and the final time Williams used the "Walrus" front wing. Marc Gené was replaced at Williams by Antônio Pizzonia, returning to Formula One after being sacked by Jaguar following the 2003 British Grand Prix. Pizzonia scored his first points by finishing seventh.
Friday drivers
The bottom 6 teams in the 2003 Constructors' Championship were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race.
^Although Michael Schumacher set a lap time of 1:13.306 in qualifying, Kimi Räikkönen's time of 1:13.780 is recognised as the lap record as it was set under race conditions.
