1997 European Grand Prix

The 1997 European Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XLII Grand Prix of Europe, was the seventeenth and final round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, held at the Circuito de Jerez in Jerez, Spain, on the 26 October 1997.'European GP, 1997', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr614.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019) The race would see Jacques Villeneuve claim his only World Championship crown, after Championship leader Michael Schumacher tried and failed to take the Canadian racer out.
The weekend began with Villeneuve claiming pole position early on during qualifying, avoiding 's tactical rolling road-block named Eddie Irvine. Schumacher would, however, start alongside the Canadian and ahead of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, as all three set identical times of 1:21.072. FIA rules on the order of when the laps were set therefore dictated the grid, with Villeneuve the earliest to set his time, while Frentzen was the latest.
The start of the race saw Schumacher make a stronger start, surging ahead of Villeneuve to secure the lead into turn one. Frentzen also got the jump on Villeneuve and so eased ahead of the Canadian into the first corner, with the top three stalked by the two .
Once it became clear that Frentzen would be no threat to Schumacher the team ordered the German to swap with Villeneuve, which he duly did on lap eight. The order would then remain fairly static throughout the field through to the first stops, with Schumacher having established a small lead.
During the first round of tyre and fuel swaps David Coulthard would jump ahead of teammate Mika Häkkinen, while both emerged ahead of Frentzen. Villeneuve, meanwhile, would get slightly closer to Schumacher, before all but eliminating the gap between them ahead of the second stops.
The second round of stops produced a similar result, with Villeneuve making more ground on Schumacher, while the two McLarens made ground on the pair of them. Indeed, come lap 48 Villeneuve was in position to attack Schumacher for the lead, knowing that he had to finish ahead of the German in order to take the crown.
Villeneuve's bid for the lead was made on the brakes for Dry Sack, with the Canadian ace sending his Williams lunging inside the Ferrari at the hairpin. Schumacher saw the move late and acted rashly to "defend" his lead, turning right into the side of the Williams and hitting the Canadian's sidepod.
The collision demolished Schumacher's right front suspension, sending him sliding into the gravel and out of the race. Villeneuve, meanwhile, carried on with only a tyre mark on the side of his Williams, although internally the Williams was carrying damage to the battery mounts, which had reduced the stiffness of the chassis.
Villeneuve's pace deteriorated as the race wore on, although the Canadian racer only needed to finish in the points to beat Schumacher in the Championship. The two McLarens duly swept past the #3 Williams in the closing stages, while Gerhard Berger would close ominiously on the Canadian in the final laps.
Ultimately, however, Berger would run out of time to catch the Canadian, falling shy at the chequered flag by 0.116s. Ahead, meanwhile, Häkkinen claimed a popular maiden victory ahead of teammate Coulthard, while third for Villeneuve ensured that he won the title.
After the race, however, there would be a lot of discussions, with the FIA forced into launching several investigations after the race. The first, announced on 11 November 1997, resulted in Schumacher being thrown out of the Championship for deliberately crashing into another driver, although the German ace would retain his race wins. The second saw Williams and McLaren appear before a tribunal to discuss whether they had collaborated during the race, although this was ultimately thrown out by the FIA.
Regardless, Villeneuve was declared as the 1997 World Champion ahead of teammate Frentzen, while Williams-Renault were the Constructors Champions, in the last year of their partnership.
==Background==
Michael Schumacher moved back to the top of the Championship after Jacques Villeneuve's retroactive disqualification, leaving Japan with a one point lead. That meant that the German ace simply had to finish ahead of the Canadian in Jerez to claim the crown, while Villeneuve had to score a point or more regardless. Behind, Heinz-Harald Frentzen had enhanced his hold on third, leaving Japan five ahead of Jean Alesi.
In the Constructors Championship the fight for the crown was over, with leaving Japan with 118 points to their name. That left the Anglo-French squad eighteen clear of , and with only sixteen points available at each race, Williams-Renault were hence declared as Champions with a race to spare. Ferrari were hence declared in second, while were safe in third ahead of .
===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 	Norberto Fontana 	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:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)	Source:'Japan 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)
==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 	 	1:21.072 	— 	196.625 km/h
2 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:21.072 	+0.000s 	196.625 km/h
3 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:21.072 	+0.000s 	196.625 km/h
4 	1 	Damon Hill 	 	1:21.130 	+0.058s 	196.485 km/h
5 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:21.369 	+0.297s 	195.908 km/h
6 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	1:21.476 	+0.404s 	195.650 km/h
7 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:21.610 	+0.538s 	195.329 km/h
8 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:21.656 	+0.584s 	195.219 km/h
9 	14 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:21.735 	+0.663s 	195.030 km/h
10 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:22.011 	+0.939s 	194.374 km/h
11 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	1:22.167 	+1.095s 	194.005 km/h
12 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:22.222 	+1.150s 	193.875 km/h
13 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:22.234 	+1.162s 	193.847 km/h
14 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:22.263 	+1.191s 	193.778 km/h
15 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	1:22.351 	+1.279s 	193.571 km/h
16 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:22.740 	+1.668s 	192.661 km/h
17 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:22.804 	+1.732s 	192.512 km/h
18 	17 	Norberto Fontana 	 	1:23.281 	+2.209s 	191.410 km/h
19 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:23.409 	+2.337s 	191.116 km/h
20 	21 	Tarso Marques 	 	1:23.854 	+2.782s 	190.102 km/h
21 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:24.222 	+3.150s 	189.271 km/h
22 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:24.301 	+3.229s 	189.094 km/h
107% Time: 1:26.747 	107% Time: 1:26.747 	107% Time: 1:26.747 	107% Time: 1:26.747 	107% Time: 1:26.747 	107% Time: 1:26.747 	107% Time: 1:26.747
Source:'1997 Grand Prix of Europe - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/670/europe/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019)'Europe 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Grand Prix of Europe - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/670/europe/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019)'Europe 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Grand Prix of Europe - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/670/europe/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019)'Europe 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Grand Prix of Europe - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/670/europe/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019)'Europe 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Grand Prix of Europe - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/670/europe/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019)'Europe 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Grand Prix of Europe - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/670/europe/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019)'Europe 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'1997 Grand Prix of Europe - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/670/europe/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 25/08/2019)'Europe 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)
*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===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	69 	1:38:57.771 	5 	10
2 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	69 	+1.654s 	6 	6
3 	3 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	69 	+1.803s 	1 	4
4 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	69 	+1.919s 	8 	3
5 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	69 	+3.789s 	7 	2
6 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	69 	+4.537s 	3 	1
7 	14 	Olivier Panis 	 	69 	+1:07.145 	9 	
8 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	69 	+1:12.961 	14 	
9 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	69 	+1:17.487 	11 	
10 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	69 	+1:18.215 	15 	
11 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	68 	+1 Lap 	17 	
12 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	68 	+1 Lap 	21 	
13 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	68 	+1 Lap 	10 	
14 	17 	Norberto Fontana 	 	68 	+1 Lap 	18 	
15 	21 	Tarso Marques 	 	68 	+1 Lap 	20 	
16 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	68 	+1 Lap 	22 	
17 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	68 	+1 Lap 	19 	
Ret 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	47 	Collision 	2 	
Ret 	1 	Damon Hill 	 	47 	Gearbox 	4 	
Ret 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	44 	Water leak 	16 	
Ret 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	30 	Gearbox 	12 	
Ret 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	11 	Spin 	13 	
Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)	Source:'Europe 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe/classement.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* Jacques Villeneuve declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion.
* 450th Grand Prix to feature a car using a engine.'17. Europe 1997', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/europe.aspx, (Accessed 25/08/2019)
* 210th and final race for Gerhard Berger.
* Pedro Diniz started his 50th Grand Prix.
* Giancarlo Fisichella entered his 25th Grand Prix.'1997 European GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1997&gp=European%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 25/08/2019)
* Villeneuve claimed his thirteenth and final pole position.
* Maiden victory for Mika Häkkinen.
* secured their 107th win as a constructor.
** registered their twelfth win as an engine supplier.
* Villeneuve claimed the 250th podium finish for a engine.
* Sixth and final fastest lap recorded by Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
** This was also the 110th fastest lap set by a chassis.
* Final race for Renault as a registered engine supplier until the 2001 Australian Grand Prix.
==Standings==
With that the FIA Formula One World Championship was over, with the final Championship standings published on the 11 November 1997, two weeks after the final round. Jacques Villeneuve was declared as the Champion on 81 points, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen secured second on 42 points. David Coulthard would complete the top three ahead of Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, while Michael Schumacher was thrown out of the Championship altogether having originally finished second.
In the Constructors Championship rounded out their partnership with 123 points and eight wins. secured second, having been allowed to keep the 78 points scored by Schumacher across the campaign, and hence concluded the season on 102 points. , meanwhile, were classified in third, four ahead of , while completed the final top five.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Jacques Villeneuve 	81 	1
2 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	42 	1
3 	David Coulthard 	36 	2
4 	Jean Alesi 	36 	
5 	Gerhard Berger 	27 	1
6 	Mika Häkkinen 	27 	3
7 	Eddie Irvine 	22 	
8 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	20 	
9 	Olivier Panis 	16 	1
10 	Johnny Herbert 	15 	1
11 	Ralf Schumacher 	13 	1
12 	Damon Hill 	7 	1
13 	Rubens Barrichello 	6 	1
14 	Alexander Wurz 	4 	1
15 	Jarno Trulli 	3 	1
16 	Pedro Diniz 	2 	1
17 	Mika Salo 	2 	1
18 	Shinji Nakano 	2 	1
19 	Nicola Larini 	1 	1
DSQ 	Michael Schumacher 	78 	18
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	123 	
2 	 	102 	
3 	 	67 	
4 	 	63 	
5 	 	33 	
6 	 	21 	
7 	 	16 	
8 	 	9 	
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:European Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Spain
Category:1997 Grands Prix