1997 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1997 Belgian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the LV Grand Prix de Belgique, was the twelfth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium, on the 24 August 1997.'Belgian GP, 1997', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr609.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher claim a stunning victory in incredibly wet conditions, with the Grand Prix started behind the Safety Car for the first time in F1 history.
Qualifying had seen Schumacher completely outclassed by title rival Jacques Villeneuve, who swept to pole position by three tenths of a second. Jean Alesi grabbed second for , while Schumacher managed to secure third ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella of .
Raceday dawned hot and dry, with Schumacher showing no signs of pace, ending the warm-up down in fifteenth. However, as the field assembled on the grid for the start a cloud burst swept across the Ardens, resulting in monsoon-like conditions and the start to be delayed.
The rain eventually passed and the race officially started behind the safety car, by which time the Spa circuit was bathed in 28°C heat. Villeneuve and Alesi had led the field away on full wets, while Schumacher, ever the gambler, opted for intermediates.
An eventful three laps behind the safety car saw Mika Häkkinen run off circuit and lose two places, only to overtake both his passers and reclaim fifth. The Finn later received a reprimand and suspended one-race ban for overtaking behind the safety car, with everyone unclear on the rules.
Regardless, the race finally got underway at the start of lap four, with Villeneuve initially able to break clear with Alesi. However, it quickly became clear that the circuit was significantly less damp than it had been when the field first left the grid, allowing Schumacher to come to the fore.
A dive past Alesi into La Source and then a slither around the outside of Villeneuve at Rivage and the #5 was away, with Schumacher instantly building a huge lead. Indeed, come the end of lap nine the German racer was a full minute ahead, and duly pitted for slick tyres on lap 14 without losing the lead.
Villeneuve, meanwhile, would destroy his slim hopes by locking up so badly at the Busstop that he slid into the pitlane on lap six, prompting to put him on intermediates. However, the Canadian's pace proved no better and so they quickly brought him back in, deliberately, for slicks, although by that stage Villeneuve had slumped to sixteenth.
Villeneuve's demise allowed Fisichella to secure second, with the Italian copying Schumacher's sprint clear. Those two would run unopposed for the rest of the afternoon, while Häkkinen emerged from the early chaos in third.
With that the race was effectively over, turning into a procession as the circuit dried. Schumacher duly won at a canter ahead of Fisichella and Häkkinen, while Villeneuve battled his way back up to sixth behind Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Johnny Herbert.
After the race, however, there would be an investigation into the two , which were accused of using illegal fuel during practice/qualifying. The fuel samples submitted were duly declared illegal and Häkkinen disqualified, promoting Frentzen into third and Villeneuve into fifth.
==Background==
Jacques Villeneuve used his fifth win of the season to close the gap to Michael Schumacher at the head of the Championship, leaving Hungary just three behind the German racer. Those two were now the only real contenders for the title, with Jean Alesi now 31 points behind Villeneuve, the equivalent to three race wins. The Frenchman was therefore in a fight to retain third, with six drivers covered by seven points in that particular squabble.
In the Constructors Championship it had been a positive day for , who were able to carve into 's lead. Indeed, Williams ended the afternoon just two points behind the Scuderia, with those two, like their lead drivers, set to duel for the crown amongst themselves. Behind, were in an increasingly lonely third, with a fair gap back to in fourth.
===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 	Jarno Trulli 	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 	Gianni Morbidelli 	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 	Tarso Marques 	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: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source: 'Belgium 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)
==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 	 	1:49.450 	— 	229.157 km/h
2 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:49.759 	+ 0.309s 	228.512 km/h
3 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:50.293 	+ 0.843s 	227.405 km/h
4 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:50.470 	+ 1.020s 	227.041 km/h
5 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:50.503 	+1.053s 	226.973 km/h
6 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:50.520 	+1.070s 	226.938 km/h
7 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:50.656 	+1.206s 	226.659 km/h
8 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:50.853 	+1.403s 	226.256 km/h
9 	1 	Damon Hill 	 	1:50.970 	+1.520s 	226.018 km/h
10 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	1:51.410 	+1.960s 	225.125 km/h
11 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:51.725 	+2.275s 	224.490 km/h
12 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:51.916 	+2.466s 	224.107 km/h
13 	17 	Gianni Morbidelli 	 	1:52.094 	+2.644s 	223.751 km/h
14 	14 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:52.274 	+2.824s 	223.393 km/h
15 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:52.391 	+2.941s 	223.160 km/h
16 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	1:52.749 	+3.299s 	222.452 km/h
17 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:52.793 	+3.343s 	222.365 km/h
18 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	1:52.886 	+3.436s 	222.182 km/h
19 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:52.897 	+3.447s 	222.160 km/h
20 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:53.544 	+4.094s 	220.894 km/h
21 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:53.725 	+4.275s 	220.543 km/h
22 	21 	Tarso Marques 	 	1:54.505 	+5.055s 	219.040 km/h
107% Time: 1:57.112 	107% Time: 1:57.112 	107% Time: 1:57.112 	107% Time: 1:57.112 	107% Time: 1:57.112 	107% Time: 1:57.112 	107% Time: 1:57.112
Source:'1997 Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/665/belgium/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Belgium 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/665/belgium/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Belgium 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/665/belgium/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Belgium 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/665/belgium/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Belgium 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/665/belgium/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Belgium 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/665/belgium/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Belgium 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/665/belgium/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Belgium 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)
*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===
** Ralf Schumacher and Trulli would start from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	44 	1:33:46.717 	3 	10
2 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	44 	+26.753s 	4 	6
3 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	44 	+32.147s 	7 	4
4 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	44 	+39.025s 	11 	3
5 	3 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	44 	+42.103s 	1 	2
6 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	44 	+1:03.741 	15 	1
7 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	44 	+1:25.931 	8 	
8 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	44 	+1:42.008 	2 	
9 	17 	Gianni Morbidelli 	 	44 	+1:42.582 	13 	
10* 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	43 	Collision 	17 	
11 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	19 	
12 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	18 	
13* 	1 	Damon Hill 	 	42 	Wheel nut 	9 	
14* 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	42 	Engine 	20 	
15 	14 	Jarno Trulli 	 	42 	+2 Laps 	14 	
DSQ† 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	44 	Disqualified 	5 	
Ret 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	25 	Spin 	21 	
Ret 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	21 	Spin 	6 	
Ret 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	19 	Spin 	10 	
Ret 	21 	Tarso Marques 	 	18 	Spin 	22 	
Ret 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	8 	Steering 	12 	
Ret 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	5 	Electrical 	16 	
Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Irvine, Hill and Katayama were all still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
*† Häkkinen was disqualified due to submitting an illegal fuel sample.
==Milestones==
* 200th Grand Prix for as a constructor.'12. Belgium 1997', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/belgique.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)
* Twentieth entry for Giancarlo Fisichella.'1997 Belgian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1997&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 23/08/2019)
* First Grand Prix to be started behind the Safety Car.
* Tenth pole position for Jacques Villeneuve.
* Michael Schumacher scored his 26th career victory.
* claimed their 112th win as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Villeneuve claimed the twentieth fastest lap to be recorded by a car using #3 as its race number.
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher moved eleven points clear atop the Championship after his fourth win of the campaign, leaving Belgium with 66 points. Jacques Villeneuve had therefore lost ground, and was now more than a win behind, with the Canadian ace remaining the only major pretender to Schumacher with five rounds to go. Heinz-Harald Frentzen, meanwhile, had moved into third, with just two points covering the German, Jean Alesi and fifth placed Gerhard Berger.
In the Constructors Championship it was who had won the day, eking out their lead to six points at the head of the hunt. had, however, effectively kept pace wit their Italian rivals, with having lost ground to both in third. They were, however, in a now secure third place, nineteen ahead of in fourth.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	66 	
2 	Jacques Villeneuve 	55 	
3 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	23 	2
4 	Jean Alesi 	22 	1
5 	Gerhard Berger 	21 	1
6 	Eddie Irvine 	18 	
7 	Olivier Panis 	15 	
8 	David Coulthard 	14 	
9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	14 	3
10 	Mika Häkkinen 	14 	1
11 	Johnny Herbert 	14 	1
12 	Ralf Schumacher 	11 	1
13 	Damon Hill 	7 	
14 	Rubens Barrichello 	6 	
15 	Alexander Wurz 	4 	
16 	Jarno Trulli 	3 	
17 	Mika Salo 	2 	
18 	Shinji Nakano 	2 	
19 	Nicola Larini 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	84 	
2 	 	78 	
3 	 	47 	
4 	 	28 	
5 	 	25 	1
6 	 	20 	1
7 	 	15 	
8 	 	7 	
9 	 	6 	
10 	 	2 	
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:Belgian Grand Prix
Category:1997 Grands Prix
Category:Formula One races in Belgium