1997 Formula One season
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The Formula 1 1997 season was the 48th FIA Formula 1 World Championship. She was discharged through 17 races in the period from March 9, 1997 to October 26, 1997.
Jacques Villeneuve won for the first and only time the drivers' world championship. Williams -Renault became the second consecutive winner of the Constructors' Championship. It was the ninth overall and so far last world title for the British team.
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Teams and Drivers
Race Calendar
Race Reports
Grand Prix of Australia
The Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne was held on 9 March 1997 on 58 laps instead of on total 307.516 km.
The Williams were clearly superior in training, but Jacques Villeneuve had his race after a collision with Irvine and Herbert stop right in the first curve. Frentzen then led the race at times superior to, to him three laps behind Coulthard in second place lying a brake disc exploded and he spun off the track.
Grand Prix of Brazil
The Brazilian Grand Prix on the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo took place on 30 March 1997, went over a distance of 72 laps with a total of 309.024 kilometers.
The race was marked by fierce duel against Villeneuve Berger, who was really only decided in the final laps. Frentzen in Brazil could not keep up and was only eight, but Olivier Panis showed for the first time, that is with the new Bridgestone tires to expect quite.
Grand Prix of Argentina
The Grand Prix of Argentina on the track Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez in Buenos Aires took place on 13 April 1997 and went over a distance of 72 laps with a total of 306.648 kilometers.
The big surprise was Olivier Panis, who chased his good third place from the beginning, and Villeneuve until his failure to the leader, stayed tuned. Ralf Schumacher managed in only his third race equal to the podium, but with the connotation that he had conveyed his teammate Fisichella out of the race.
Grand Prix of San Marino
The Grand Prix of San Marino at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola was held on 27 April 1997 and went over a distance of 62 laps with a total of 305.660 kilometers.
Frentzen's first and only victory for Williams, after he had asserted confidently after Villeneuve's failure against Michael Schumacher.
Grand Prix of Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo was held on 11 May 1997, went over a distance of 62 instead of the usual 78 laps in total 208.754 km.
Pouring rain did this race will be a significant victory for Michael Schumacher, but also the well-known also as a specialist in the rain Rubens Barrichello recorded an outstanding success here for the new Stewart team.
Grand Prix of Spain
The Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona took place on 25 May 1997 and went over a distance of 64 laps with a total of 302.592 kilometers.
As in Argentina, the Bridgestone tires were here very competitive, which Olivier Panis in turn gave way to a gloss idea. Although only launched from midfield, he did not bother to change tires and obsolete thereby except the winner Jacques Villeneuve all other drivers.
Grand Prix of Canada
The Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles -Villeneuve in Montreal took place on June 15 in 1997 and went over a distance of 54 laps with a total of 238.734 kilometers.
As is almost always offered Canada a race with numerous accidents with other cars, but was late in the race by the serious accident of Olivier Panis, the case broke both legs overshadowed itself. After a brief safety car phase, the race was then canceled.
Grand Prix of France
The French Grand Prix at the Circuit de Nevers Magny -Cours in Nevers took place on June 29 in 1997 and went over a distance of 72 laps ( 305.784 km ).
From a German perspective, the grid was a highlight because Michael Schumacher, Heinz -Harald Frentzen and Ralf Schumacher starting positions one to three guaranteed. In the race, there was a German double victory, Villeneuve could not keep up here.
Grand Prix of Great Britain
The Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone was held on July 13 in 1997 and went over a distance of 59 laps ( 303.260 km ).
Again, it initially looked for another Schumacher win from, but he had to retire due to a wheel bearing damage, which Villeneuve paved the way. Until a few laps to go, Villeneuve was still behind Mika Hakkinen in 2nd place, until it turned out by an engine failure. Berger Substitute Alexander Wurz showed a strong race here, even led a lap and made his team-mate Jean Alesi powerful pressure.
Grand Prix of Germany
The Grand Prix of Germany at the Hockenheim Ring in Hockenheim was held on July 27 in 1997 and went over a distance of 45 laps with a total of 307.035 kilometers.
After three races and break his father's tragic death returnees Gerhard Berger was here unattainable, he secured the first pole position and was then in the race also can not be beat. Only the young Giancarlo Fisichella offered him stand up until it burst a tire just before the end.
Grand Prix of Hungary
The Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring in Budapest took place on August 10 in 1997 and went over a distance of 77 laps on a total of 305.536 kilometers.
At high temperatures, the tires were in Hungary again decisive, and again showed how good the new Bridgestone tires. Had world champion Damon Hill in the season so far almost only bad luck, he managed here thanks to the tires already in training a good 3rd place and then led the race superior, while pole sitter Michael Schumacher after three tire changes could not fight for the victory. Hill led until the last lap, but then suffered a gearbox failure, so he was only able to drive slowly around the course and was not intercepted by Jacques Villeneuve.
Grand Prix of Belgium
The Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps race track near spa was held on 24 August 1997, went over a distance of 44 laps over 306.592 km.
In the pouring rain at Spa you went the first 3 laps behind the safety car and gave only the race -free. But as the track dried very quickly, the first third of the race developed into a tire lottery. Who went too long on rain tires, dropped far back as the two Williams. Michael Schumacher overtook within a few curves that lie ahead of him and Villeneuve, Alesi, and then went up and away. Although Mika Häkkinen came in third place, but was disqualified after the race.
Grand Prix of Italy
The Grand Prix of Italy at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza was held on 7 September 1997 and went over a distance of 53 laps ( 305.810 km ).
The two World Cup favorites Schumacher and Villeneuve announced this weekend not to set the pace. Rather surprised Benetton driver Jean Alesi with the second pole position of his career. In the race he was overtaken by David Coulthard right at the start, the order at the top no longer changed. The pitch overtook Mika Häkkinen, who had to make an extra pit stop due to a puncture and so missed a possible fourth. In his comeback in ninth place Häkkinen drove the fastest lap.
Grand Prix of Austria
The Grand Prix of Austria at the A1- Ring in Spielberg took place on 21 September 1997 and went over a distance of 71 laps ( 306.933 km ).
Grand Prix of Luxembourg
The Grand Prix of Luxembourg at the Nürburgring was held on 28 September 1997 and went over a distance of 67 laps with a total of 305.252 kilometers.
From the outset, McLaren dominated the race over two-thirds of the distance to both Hakkinen and Coulthard short precipitated successively with technical defects. Jacques Villeneuve inherited a comfortable victory and made a big step towards World Cup since Michael Schumacher already at the start by a collision with both Jordan far back fell and gave up shortly thereafter.
Grand Prix of Japan
The Grand Prix of Japan at the Suzuka International Racing Course near Suzuka took place on 12 October 1997 and went over a distance of 53 laps on a total of 310.580 kilometers.
After Villeneuve got a penalty in training, even though he already drove on probation anyway, he was allowed to participate only with reservations at all in the race. For several laps he blocked the field and drove three to four seconds per lap slower than normal. Ferrari, however, had worked out a perfect team strategy, Irvine brought in front and this helped contribute in a well -arranged maneuvers against Villeneuve that Schumacher was able to overtake them both and thus win. Villeneuve then lost the desire and was only fifth, later, the sentence was confirmed and he had taken completely out of the rankings.
Grand Prix of Europe
The Grand Prix of Europe at the Circuito de Jerez in Jerez de la Frontera took place on 26 October 1997 and went through 69 rounds to a total of 305.532 kilometers.
Already in the qualification itself a curiosity, at the same time represented a novelty in Formula 1 history occurred: The first three winners Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and Heinz -Harald Frentzen was a thousandth of a second on the exact same time ( 1:21,072 minutes) stopped. About the order now decided who had the time to go first.
In the race Schumacher led initially and broke away from his pursuers, but got after his second pit stop tire problems, so that Villeneuve was able to catch up within two rounds. In round 48, the Canadians tried before the Curva Dry Sac an out-brake, in which both drivers collided. Schumacher retired then, while Villeneuve was able to continue. In the last round he had a fight the two McLaren drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard happen as a third place was enough for him to world title. Schumacher was penalized after the race for his purpose as classified maneuvers against Villeneuve by the FIA and deleted from the championship.
World Cup ratings
World Champion will be the one driver or designer who has accumulated up to the end of the season the most points in the World Cup. The distribution of points, the placings in the overall result of the competition in all races are considered. The six top-ranked riders in each race will receive points according to the following scheme:
Drivers' championship
1 Taken from the FIA as a result of the foul on Jacques Villeneuve in the final race of the rating