1997 San Marino Grand Prix

The 1997 San Marino Grand Prix, otherwise known as the 17° Gran Premio di San Marino, was the fourth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, on the 27 April 1997.'San Marino GP, 1997', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr601.html, (Accessed 19/08/2019) The race would see Heinz-Harald Frentzen secure a maiden victory at the wheel of his , fending off a late challenge from compatriot Michael Schumacher.
Frentzen had impressed during qualifying, daring the challenge Championship leading teammate Jacques Villeneuve for pole position, although it would be a battle won by the Canadian. Third would go to Schumacher as usual, ahead of Olivier Panis, with the two s of Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella sharing the third row.
Rain would make the warm-up a wash-out on race day, although as the start time approached the clouds drifted away and the circuit dried. There would also be some late changes to the grid, with Jarno Trulli suffering a gearbox failure on the formation lap, while Damon Hill had to start from the pitlane.
Incredibly the start at Imola would be the first of the season not to feature a major collision, with Villeneuve sprinting clear of Frentzen. Indeed, Frentzen's start was not among the best, and hence left him vulnerable to an aggressive lunge by Schumacher into Tosa.
With Schumacher up into second Villeneuve was left to blast clear at the head of the field, with the German racer simply unable to match his pace. The only man who looked likely to challenge the Canadian was his teammate, although Frentzen simply could not find a way past the #5 .
Indeed, it was only when Schumacher made a rare mistake that Frentzen finally got a chance to attack, the German racer sliding wide at Variante Alta. Frentzen, however, contrived to get on the wrong side of the Ferrari and slide onto the grass, hence allowing Schumacher to retain second.
That seemed to awaken Schumacher, who was able to match Villeneuve's pace from that moment on, although the Canadian's pace was being hampered by lapped traffic. However, Schumacher's hopes of victory essentially disappeared after his stop on lap 24, with Frentzen setting a stunning series of fastest laps to try and overcut his compatriot.
The plan worked, just, for a quicker stop for Schumacher had ensured that Frentzen had to battle the Ferrari as he rejoined. Regardless, Frentzen duly seized the advantage and began to ease away, while Villeneuve had slipped down behind the pair of them, almost unnoticed.
Villeneuve's race was to end completely soon after, a gearbox failure dumping him out of the race having tried his best to get ahead of Schumacher. With that the race for the win was over, with Frentzen able to keep Schumacher at arm's length through to the chequered flag.
Behind them to complete the podium would be Eddie Irvine, who picked his way up the order as others hit trouble ahead of him. Giancarlo Fisichella was next, having battled Irvine throughout and scoring the first points of his Formula One career, with Jean Alesi and Mika Häkkinen claiming the remaining points after quiet afternoons of their own. 
==Background==
Jacques Villeneuve established a ten point lead atop the Championship after his second win of the season, leaving Argentina with twenty points to his name. David Coulthard therefore slipped to second, level with Gerhard Berger, although the Scot was ahead of the Austrian courtesy of his win in Australia. Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher completed the top five, with eleven scorers after the opening three rounds.
 moved to the top of the Constructors Championship after Villeneuve's second win of the campaign, establishing a one point lead over . A five point gap then followed before appeared in third, with ending the day down in fourth. , and were the only other scorers.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Damon Hill 	Danka Arrows Yamaha 	 	A18 	 	OX11A 3.0 V10 	
2 	Pedro Diniz 	Danka Arrows Yamaha 	 	A18 	 	OX11A 3.0 V10 	
3 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Rothmans Williams Renault 	 	FW19 	 	RS9 3.0 V10 	
4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Rothmans Williams Renault 	 	FW19 	 	RS9 3.0 V10 	
5 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F310B 	 	046/2 3.0 V10 	
6 	Eddie Irvine 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F310B 	 	046/2 3.0 V10 	
7 	Jean Alesi 	Mild Seven Benetton Renault 	 	B197 	 	RS9 3.0 V10 	
8 	Gerhard Berger 	Mild Seven Benetton Renault 	 	B197 	 	RS9 3.0 V10 	
9 	Mika Häkkinen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/12 	 	FO 110E 3.0 V10 	
10 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/12 	 	FO 110E 3.0 V10 	
11 	Ralf Schumacher 	B&H Total Jordan Peugeot 	 	197 	 	A14 3.0 V10 	
12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	B&H Total Jordan Peugeot 	 	197 	 	A14 3.0 V10 	
14 	Olivier Panis 	Prost Gauloises Blondes 	 	JS45 	 	MF-301HB 3.0 V10 	
15 	Shinji Nakano 	Prost Gauloises Blondes 	 	JS45 	 	MF-301HB 3.0 V10 	
16 	Johnny Herbert 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C16 	 	SPE-01 3.0 V10 	
17 	Nicola Larini 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C16 	 	SPE-01 3.0 V10 	
18 	Jos Verstappen 	PIAA Tyrrell 	 	025 	 	ED4 3.0 V10 	
19 	Mika Salo 	PIAA Tyrrell 	 	025 	 	ED4 3.0 V10 	
20 	Ukyo Katayama 	Minardi Team 	 	M197 	 	830 AV7 3.0 V10 	
21 	Jarno Trulli 	Minardi Team 	 	M197 	 	830 AV7 3.0 V10 	
22 	Rubens Barrichello 	HSBC Malaysia Stewart Ford 	 	SF01 	 	VJ Zetec-R 3.0 V10 	
23 	Jan Magnussen 	HSBC Malaysia Stewart Ford 	 	SF01 	 	VJ Zetec-R 3.0 V10 	
Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Qualifying Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	3 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:23.303 	— 	213.054 km/h
2 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:23.646 	+0.343s 	212.180 km/h
3 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:23.955 	+0.652s 	211.399 km/h
4 	14 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:24.075 	+0.772s 	211.097 km/h
5 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:24.081 	+0.778s 	211.082 km/h
6 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:24.596 	+1.293s 	209.797 km/h
7 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:24.723 	+1.420s 	209.483 km/h
8 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:24.812 	+1.509s 	209.263 km/h
9 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:24.861 	+1.558s 	209.142 km/h
10 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	1:25.077 	+1.774s 	208.611 km/h
11 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:25.371 	+2.068s 	207.893 km/h
12 	17 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:25.544 	+2.241s 	207.472 km/h
13 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:25.579 	+2.276s 	207.387 km/h
14 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:25.729 	+2.426s 	207.024 km/h
15 	1 	Damon Hill 	 	1:25.743 	+2.440s 	206.991 km/h
16 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	1:26.192 	+2.889s 	205.912 km/h
17 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:26.253 	+2.950s 	205.767 km/h
18 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	1:26.712 	+3.409s 	204.678 km/h
19 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:26.852 	+3.549s 	204.348 km/h
20 	21 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:26.960 	+3.657s 	204.094 km/h
21 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:27.428 	+4.125s 	203.001 km/h
22 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:28.727 	+5.424s 	200.029 km/h
107% Time: 1:29.134 	107% Time: 1:29.134 	107% Time: 1:29.134 	107% Time: 1:29.134 	107% Time: 1:29.134 	107% Time: 1:29.134 	107% Time: 1:29.134
Source:'Gran Premio di San Marino 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/657/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 18/08/2019)'San Marino 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio di San Marino 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/657/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 18/08/2019)'San Marino 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio di San Marino 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/657/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 18/08/2019)'San Marino 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio di San Marino 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/657/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 18/08/2019)'San Marino 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio di San Marino 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/657/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 18/08/2019)'San Marino 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio di San Marino 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/657/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 18/08/2019)'San Marino 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio di San Marino 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/657/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 18/08/2019)'San Marino 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
===Grid===
** Hill would start from the pitlane after switching to his spare car.
*† Trulli was unable to start the race due to a gearbox failure on the formation lap.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	62 	1:31:00.673 	2 	10
2 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	62 	+1.237s 	3 	6
3 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	62 	+1:18.343 	9 	4
4 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	62 	+1:23.388 	6 	3
5 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	14 	2
6 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	8 	1
7 	17 	Nicola Larini 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	12 	
8 	14 	Olivier Panis 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	4 	
9 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	60 	+2 Laps 	19 	
10 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	60 	+2 Laps 	21 	
11 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	59 	+3 Laps 	22 	
Ret 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	53 	Gearbox 	17 	
Ret 	3 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	40 	Gearbox 	1 	
Ret 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	38 	Engine 	10 	
Ret 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	32 	Engine 	13 	
Ret 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	18 	Electrical 	7 	
Ret 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	17 	Transmission 	5 	
Ret 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	11 	Collision 	18 	
Ret 	1T 	Damon Hill 	 	11 	Collision 	15 	
Ret 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	4 	Spin 	11 	
Ret 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	2 	Spin 	16 	
DNS* 	21 	Jarno Trulli 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Trulli was unable to start the race due to a gearbox failure on the formation lap.
==Milestones==
* 200th Grand Prix start for Gerhard Berger.'4. San Marino 1997', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/saint-marin.aspx, (Accessed 19/08/2019)
* Johnny Herbert started his 100th Grand Prix.
* Twentieth entry for Jacques Villeneuve.'1997 San Marino GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1997&gp=San%20Marino%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 19/08/2019)
* Heinz-Harald Frentzen claimed his maiden victory.
* scored their 98th win as a constructor.
** This was also Williams' 230th podium finish.
** secured their 89th win as an engine supplier.
==Standings==
Heinz-Harald Frentzen shot into the top three after his maiden victory, leaving San Marino four behind compatriot Michael Schumacher, who had himself moved into second. However, both were still a fair way shy of early Championship leader Jacques Villeneuve, with the Canadian ace holding a six point lead over Schumacher with a quarter of the season gone. Behind, David Coulthard was level with Frentzen on ten points and a win, while Eddie Irvine, Gerhard Berger and Mika Häkkinen also having claimed ten points.
In the Constructors Championship it was who once again ended a race weekend on top, moving onto 30 points with three race wins. had moved into second, six behind the Anglo-French alliance, while slipped to third, ten off the lead. were next ahead of , while and completing the score sheet.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Jacques Villeneuve 	20 	
2 	Michael Schumacher 	14 	3
3 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	10 	10
4 	David Coulthard 	10 	2
5 	Eddie Irvine 	10 	2
6 	Gerhard Berger 	10 	3
7 	Mika Häkkinen 	10 	3
8 	Olivier Panis 	6 	2
9 	Ralf Schumacher 	4 	1
10 	Johnny Herbert 	3 	1
11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	3 	3
12 	Jean Alesi 	3 	1
13 	Nicola Larini 	1 	3
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	30 	
2 	 	24 	1
3 	 	20 	1
4 	 	13 	
5 	 	7 	1
6 	 	6 	1
7 	 	4 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:San Marino Grand Prix
Category:1997 Grands Prix
Category:Formula One races in Italy