Sunny skies and temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius greeted the 20 drivers as they lined up on the grid for the start of this afternoon's Spanish grand Prix. Michael Schumacher leads his colleagues around the Catalunya track on the formation lap and they make their way back to the grid to await the start of the race. And it's GO in Spain!

Fernando Alonso takes P2 from Barrichello but the Brazilian takes it back. Jarno Trulli collides with the McLaren of David Coulthard... and at the back of the grid we have contact between the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen and the Jaguar of Antonio Pizzonia, the Brazilian's R4 failing to get away from the grid. "We had a problem with the launch control system again," said a dispirited Pizzonia. "The team had worked hard to solve the problem, so it's a real shame."

The safety car comes out and several drivers take the opportunity to come in for a pit stop, including David Coulthard, who manages to stay in this race. Trulli, Raikkonen and Pizzonia have all retired, while Michael Schumacher continues to lead his teammate Rubens Barrichello and Fernando Alonso. Brother Ralf is now up to fourth place with Jenson Button fifth and Juan Pablo Montoya sixth.

Justin Wilson is up into ninth place while the second Minardi of Jos Verstappen is in 11th. Nick Heidfeld pits before the safety car comes in and rejoins at the pack of the field. Lap five and we are underway again. Juan Pablo Montoya pulls out a good move on Jenson Button and takes P5 at the end of the start/finish straight. Fastest lap for Barrichello as the two F2003-GA's begin to etch out an early lead. Coulthard is up to 14th place behind the sole remaining Jaguar of Mark Webber.

Lap seven and Michael Schumacher is already two seconds ahead of Fernando Alonso, but the Renault driver fights back and begins to close the gap to second placed Barrichello. Mark Webber gets past Jos Verstappen as does Coulthard soon afterwards, the McLaren driver now 13th.

Lap 12 and Jacques Villeneuve brings his BAR in for a stop and the two Toyotas are up into sixth and seventh. Villeneuve is furious as his Honda powered contender is forced to retire. Meanwhile, teammate Jenson Button and Verstappen both pit on lap 15 and Fernando Alonso continues to hound Rubens Barrichello. David Coulthard is now 11th, the Scot still unable to get past Mark Webber's Jaguar.

Lap 17 and Alonso pits, as does da Matta. The sole remaining McLaren of David Coulthard is out of the race, the Scot colliding with the BAR of Jenson Button and spinning off into the gravel. McLaren's Spanish GP is now officially over. Button comes back into the pits as does race leader, Michael Schumacher. Rubens Barrichello inherits the lead, but not for long as the following lap he too comes in for a stop, leaving Giancarlo Fisichella as the only man yet to come in for service.

Michael Schumacher is back in the lead but Fernando Alonso is now up into second place, the Spaniard going through before Barrichello managed to rejoin after his stop. Ralf Schumacher is fourth with teammate Juan Pablo Montoya fifth. Giancarlo Fisichella is sixth, however the Jordan is yet to stop.

Lap 22 and Fisi is in but there are problems with the fuel hose and the Italian is there for 24 seconds! Meanwhile, teammate Ralph Firman loses his seventh place to the Toyota of Olivier Panis, however the young rookie soon cokes in for his second stop of the day. Up the front Michael Schumacher is slowly extending his lead of Fernando Alonso, the Ferrari driver determined to stop the Spaniard from securing his maiden win.

Fernando Alonso is lapping back markers and in the midst of it all, Firman makes a move on his teammate! Da Matta and Verstappen pit for the second time. Frentzen is in on the next lap to complete his second stop as Alonso begins to slice into Michael Schumacher's lead. Lap 35 and Michael is in for his second stop, handing the lead to Alonso! The Spaniard leads in front of his home fans, even if only for a few laps before he needs to pit also. Barrichello pits and hands second place to Ralf Schumacher, who is battling his brother for position. Michael gets through and Alonso pits in. It's a quick one, but will he get back out in front?? No, he rejoins behind Ralf in third place. The Renault is attacking the BMW powered Williams, desperate to get past and back in the hunt of the lead, but he just can't seem to get past.

Frentzen pits in and retires his Sauber from the race. Alonso is still on Ralf's gearbox and finally gets past after Ralf has an off track excursion. The Williams is into the pits next time past, the Toyota of Olivier Panis also in for service, but retires just after rejoining the track. Montoya is next in for his second stop while Ralph Firman brings his Jordan in for stop three.

Juan Pablo Montoya is battling with his teammate for P5 and the Colombian takes it! Giancarlo Fisichella retires with a smoking Jordan, leaving just 12 runners. The top three drivers all pit for a third time and Michael rejoins in the lead with Alonso six seconds behind. Barrichello records the fastest lap of the race.

Lap 55 and Nick Heidfeld enters the pits for a drive through penalty for ignoring blue flags and Michael Schumacher extends his lead as Alonso laps traffic. The laps are ticking down here this afternoon and it certainly looks as if the new Ferrari will be winning its debut race as Schumacher had hoped. All he needs to do is keep going and win two of 2003 is his for the taking.

Fernando Alonso is ten seconds behind the Ferrari in second place, however Barrichello is another 13 seconds down the road. Juan Montoya is fourth but Ralf Schumacher now finds himself fending off P5 to the Toyota of Cristiano da Matta. Meanwhile, Michael is almost upon this battle, the Ferrari driver already lapping seventh placed Mark Webber. Alonso brings the gap to Michael down by a few seconds, but laps are running out. Final lap and Michael and the new F2003-GA are totally in control. Schumacher wins in Spain! Alonso takes a well deserved and well fought second place with Rubens Barrichello crossing the line in third. Montoya and Ralf claim fourth and fifth for Williams while Toyota scores their first points of the year with da Matta's sixth place. Jaguar take two to open their scorecard with Mark Webber crossing in seventh while Ralph Firman scores his first point with an eighth place for Jordan.