1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix

The 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the V Großer Preis von Luxemburg, was the fifteenth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Nürburgring near Nürburg, Germany, on the 28 September 1997.'Luxembourg GP, 1997', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr612.html, (Accessed 24/08/2019) The race would see Jacques Villeneuve secure victory to claim the lead in the Championship, as former leader Michael Schumacher was taken out at the first corner.
Qualifying had seen the engined of Mika Häkkinen secure pole position, the first for a Mercedes engine since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix. Villeneuve was a close second ahead of his teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen, while Schumacher found himself down in fifth behind Giancarlo Fisichella.
The warm-up saw the two McLaren-Mercedes dominate, with Häkkinen almost a second clear of teammate David Coulthard at the head of the field. Home hero Schumacher, meanwhile, was still off the pace of title rival Villeneuve, meaning it was advantage Canada ahead of the race.
The start saw Häkkinen leap into an early lead, while poor starts for Villenueve and Fisichella compressed the field enough that Coulthard was able to streak into second from sixth. Significantly, Schumacher would end up alongside Fisichella as they charged into turn one, with his brother Ralf Schumacher appearing alongside the sister .
What resulted was a bizarre collision, with Ralf Schumacher squeezing teammate Fisichella, only for contact between the two to flick the #12 car into the air. Ralf's car duly came slamming down on the front of brother Michael's , destroying his suspension and his race. Fisichella, meanwhile, would join them in retirement after an unsighted Ukyo Katayama ploughed into his car amid the smoke.
As the two brothers collided the two Williams-Renaults also made contact, with Villeneuve miraculously escaping unharmed while Frentzen knocked his ignition switch. That destroyed his momentum and dumped him back down the field, with the German finally getting back up to speed having dropped to thirteenth.
Out front, meanwhile, Häkkinen would ease clear at the head of the field, dropping teammate Coulthard by almost a second a lap during the early stages. Indeed, Coulthard was instead having to look in his mirrors to track Villeneuve, who had been told of Schumacher's strife and knew he would have to make the best of the German's absence.
Ultimately, however, the order remained static through to the pitstops, with Häkkinen and Villeneuve, on two-stops, sweeping in on the same lap, albeit some ten seconds apart. Coulthard, meanwhile, stayed out for an extra three laps, and a stellar pitstop ensured that the Scot remained ahead of Villeneuve when he rejoined.
With that the race looked to be over, with Häkkinen and Coulthard now easing clear of Villeneuve, who had settled for third. However, on lap 42 the race would be completely turned on its head by two engine failures, the first befalling Coulthard, before Häkkinen's blew apart a few moments later.
That left Villeneuve at the head of the field with a comfortable lead, with the Canadian racer duly cruising across the line to claim victory. Behind, Jean Alesi was surprised to claim second ahead of Frentzen, while Gerhard Berger secured fourth to make it a engined 1-2-3-4.
Incredibly, this would be Villeneuve's final F1 victory, as well as the last for Renault until the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix.
==Background==
Another difficult weekend for Michael Schumacher had seen his Championship lead all but eliminated with three rounds to go, leaving Austria with just a point in hand. Jacques Villeneuve had been the man to do the damage, his sixth win of the season moving him onto 67 points, with those two now mathematically the only title pretenders. Behind, Heinz-Harald Frentzen had moved back into third, a point ahead of David Coulthard.
In the Constructors Championship it had been a positive day for once again, with the Anglo-French alliance moving to the top of the standings. They left Austria with a twelve point lead over former leaders , with those two, like their lead drivers, set to duel for the crown among themselves. Behind, had lost out to in the fight for third, although the Italian registered squad still held a nine point advantage over their Anglo-German rivals.
===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 	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:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/autriche/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 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:16.602 	— 	214.068 km/h
2 	3 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:16.691 	+0.089s 	213.819 km/h
3 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:16.741 	+0.139s 	213.680 km/h
4 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:17.289 	+0.687s 	212.165 km/h
5 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:17.385 	+0.783s 	211.902 km/h
6 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	1:17.387 	+0.785s 	211.896 km/h
7 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:17.587 	+0.985s 	211.350 km/h
8 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:17.595 	+0.993s 	211.328 km/h
9 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:17.614 	+1.012s 	211.276 km/h
10 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:17.620 	+1.018s 	211.260 km/h
11 	14 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:17.650 	+1.048s 	211.178 km/h
12 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	1:17.722 	+1.120s 	210.983 km/h
13 	1 	Damon Hill 	 	1:17.795 	+1.193s 	210.785 km/h
14 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:17.855 	+1.253s 	210.622 km/h
15 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:18.128 	+1.526s 	209.886 km/h
16 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:18.303 	+1.701s 	209.417 km/h
17 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	1:18.699 	+2.097s 	208.364 km/h
18 	21 	Tarso Marques 	 	1:19.347 	+2.745s 	206.662 km/h
19 	17 	Gianni Morbidelli 	 	1:19.490 	+2.888s 	206.290 km/h
20 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:19.526 	+2.924s 	206.197 km/h
21 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:19.531 	+2.929s 	206.184 km/h
22 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:20.615 	+4.013s 	203.411 km/h
107% Time: 1:21.964 	107% Time: 1:21.964 	107% Time: 1:21.964 	107% Time: 1:21.964 	107% Time: 1:21.964 	107% Time: 1:21.964 	107% Time: 1:21.964
Source:'Grosser Preis von Luxemburg 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/668/luxembourg/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Luxembourg 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Grosser Preis von Luxemburg 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/668/luxembourg/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Luxembourg 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Grosser Preis von Luxemburg 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/668/luxembourg/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Luxembourg 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Grosser Preis von Luxemburg 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/668/luxembourg/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Luxembourg 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Grosser Preis von Luxemburg 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/668/luxembourg/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Luxembourg 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Grosser Preis von Luxemburg 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/668/luxembourg/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Luxembourg 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Grosser Preis von Luxemburg 1997 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1997/races/668/luxembourg/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 23/08/2019)'Luxembourg 1997: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/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===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	3 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	67 	1:31:27.843 	2 	10
2 	7 	Jean Alesi 	 	67 	+11.770s 	10 	6
3 	4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	67 	+13.480s 	10 	4
4 	8 	Gerhard Berger 	 	67 	+16.416s 	7 	3
5 	2 	Pedro Diniz 	 	67 	+43.147s 	15 	2
6 	14 	Olivier Panis 	 	67 	+43.750s 	11 	1
7 	16 	Johnny Herbert 	 	67 	+44.354s 	16 	
8 	1 	Damon Hill 	 	67 	+44.777s 	13 	
9 	17 	Gianni Morbidelli 	 	66 	+1 Lap 	19 	
10 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	66 	+1 Lap 	20 	
Ret 	18 	Jos Verstappen 	 	50 	Spin 	21 	
Ret 	9 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	43 	Engine 	1 	
Ret 	22 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	43 	Gearbox 	9 	
Ret 	10 	David Coulthard 	 	42 	Engine 	6 	
Ret 	23 	Jan Magnussen 	 	40 	Halfshaft 	12 	
Ret 	6 	Eddie Irvine 	 	22 	Engine 	14 	
Ret 	15 	Shinji Nakano 	 	16 	Engine 	17 	
Ret 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	2 	Damage 	5 	
Ret 	21 	Tarso Marques 	 	1 	Engine 	18 	
Ret 	20 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1 	Collision 	22 	
Ret 	12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	0 	Collision 	4 	
Ret 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	0 	Collision 	8 	
Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)	Source:'Luxembourg 1997: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg/classement.aspx, (Accessed 23/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* First Luxembourg Grand Prix to be staged as part of the FIA Formula One World Championship.'15. Luxembourg 1997', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/luxembourg.aspx, (Accessed 24/08/2019)
** Also the fifth Luxembourg Grand Prix to be held in total.'1997 Luxembourg GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1997&gp=Luxembourg%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 24/08/2019)
* Fiftieth Grand Prix start for Mika Salo.
* Michael Schumacher entered his 100th Grand Prix.
* Maiden pole position for Mika Häkkinen.
** This was also the 80th pole position for as a constructor.
** First pole for a engine since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix.
* Eleventh and final victory for Jacques Villeneuve.
* secured their 103rd win as a constructor.
** scored their 95th win as an engine supplier.
* Heinz-Harald Frentzen secured the 240th podium finish for a Williams chassis.
*This Grand Prix was the last of several things:
**Last victory for the Williams F1 Team until the 2001 San Marino Grand Prix.
**Last victory for Renault as an engine supplier until Fernando Alonso wins the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix.
**Last Grand Prix win by a non-European driver until Rubens Barrichello won the 2000 German Grand Prix.
==Standings==
Victory for Jacques Villeneuve ensured that the Canadian ace left Luxembourg at the head of the Championship hunt, establishing a nine point lead. Michael Schumacher had made way for the Canadian racer, and would likely have to outscore the Canadian racer in Japan to keep his title hopes alive. Behind, Heinz-Harald Frentzen had retained third, although Jean Alesi had closed to within a point of the German racer.
In the Constructors Championship it was advantage , who needed just a handful of points in Japan to retain their crown. Indeed, had slipped 26 points behind at the Nürburgring, meaning they would have to outscore Williams by eleven points in Suzuka if they were to challenge for the title at the season finale. Behind had delivered a significant blow in the fight for third, moving eighteen clear of with two rounds to go.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Jacques Villeneuve 	77 	1
2 	Michael Schumacher 	68 	1
3 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	35 	
4 	Jean Alesi 	34 	1
5 	David Coulthard 	30 	1
6 	Gerhard Berger 	24 	
7 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	20 	
8 	Eddie Irvine 	18 	
9 	Olivier Panis 	16 	
10 	Mika Häkkinen 	14 	
11 	Johnny Herbert 	14 	
12 	Ralf Schumacher 	13 	
13 	Damon Hill 	7 	
14 	Rubens Barrichello 	6 	
15 	Alexander Wurz 	4 	
16 	Jarno Trulli 	3 	
17 	Pedro Diniz 	2 	3
18 	Mika Salo 	2 	1
19 	Shinji Nakano 	2 	1
20 	Nicola Larini 	1 	1
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	112 	
2 	 	86 	
3 	 	62 	
4 	 	44 	
5 	 	33 	
6 	 	21 	
7 	 	15 	
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:1997 Grands Prix
Category:Luxembourg Grand Prix