World Drivers' Championship

1997

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Cumulative championship points for each driver after every round.

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Season guide

1997 Formula One World Championship

Jacques Villeneuve won the 1997 World Drivers' Championship for Williams with 81 points, 39 ahead of Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Williams).

Villeneuve won 7 of the 17 races. Williams won the most races (8 of 17). Six different drivers won a race.

Final standings

PosDriverWinsPodiumsPts
1Jacques VilleneuveWilliams7881
2Heinz-Harald FrentzenWilliams1742
3David CoulthardMcLaren2436
4Jean AlesiBenetton0536
5Gerhard BergerBenetton1227
6Mika HäkkinenMcLaren1327
7Eddie IrvineFerrari0524
8Giancarlo FisichellaJordan0220
9Olivier PanisProst0216
10Johnny HerbertSauber0115
11Ralf SchumacherJordan0113
12Damon HillArrows017
13Rubens BarrichelloStewart016
14Alexander WurzBenetton014
15Jarno TrulliProst / Minardi003
16Pedro DinizArrows002
17Mika SaloTyrrell002
18Shinji NakanoProst002
19Nicola LariniSauber001
21Jan MagnussenStewart000
22Jos VerstappenTyrrell000
23Gianni MorbidelliSauber000
24Norberto FontanaSauber000
25Ukyo KatayamaMinardi000
26Tarso MarquesMinardi000
DMichael SchumacherFerrari5878

Races

RdGrand PrixDateWinnerPoleFastest lap
1Australian Grand Prix9 Mar 1997David CoulthardMcLarenJacques VilleneuveHeinz-Harald Frentzen
2Brazilian Grand Prix30 Mar 1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliamsJacques VilleneuveJacques Villeneuve
3Argentine Grand Prix13 Apr 1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliamsJacques VilleneuveGerhard Berger
4San Marino Grand Prix27 Apr 1997Heinz-Harald FrentzenWilliamsJacques VilleneuveHeinz-Harald Frentzen
5Monaco Grand Prix11 May 1997Michael SchumacherFerrariHeinz-Harald FrentzenMichael Schumacher
6Spanish Grand Prix25 May 1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliamsJacques VilleneuveGiancarlo Fisichella
7Canadian Grand Prix15 Jun 1997Michael SchumacherFerrariMichael SchumacherDavid Coulthard
8French Grand Prix29 Jun 1997Michael SchumacherFerrariMichael SchumacherMichael Schumacher
9British Grand Prix13 Jul 1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliamsJacques VilleneuveMichael Schumacher
10German Grand Prix27 Jul 1997Gerhard BergerBenettonGerhard BergerGerhard Berger
11Hungarian Grand Prix10 Aug 1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliamsMichael SchumacherHeinz-Harald Frentzen
12Belgian Grand Prix24 Aug 1997Michael SchumacherFerrariJacques VilleneuveJacques Villeneuve
13Italian Grand Prix7 Sep 1997David CoulthardMcLarenJean AlesiMika Häkkinen
14Austrian Grand Prix21 Sep 1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliamsJacques VilleneuveJacques Villeneuve
15Luxembourg Grand Prix28 Sep 1997Jacques VilleneuveWilliamsMika HäkkinenHeinz-Harald Frentzen
16Japanese Grand Prix12 Oct 1997Michael SchumacherFerrariJacques VilleneuveHeinz-Harald Frentzen
17European Grand Prix26 Oct 1997Mika HäkkinenMcLarenJacques VilleneuveHeinz-Harald Frentzen

Race by race

Round 1

Australian Grand Prix

9 Mar 1997 · Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia

  • David Coulthard won for McLaren from P4, 20.046s ahead of Michael Schumacher.
  • Polesitter Jacques Villeneuve retired (collision).
  • David Coulthard leads the championship by 4 points from Michael Schumacher with 16 rounds to go.
Round 2

Brazilian Grand Prix

30 Mar 1997 · Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil

  • Jacques Villeneuve won for Williams from pole, 4.190s ahead of Gerhard Berger.
  • A hat-trick for Jacques Villeneuve: pole, victory and fastest lap.
  • David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve are level on points at the top with 15 rounds to go.
Round 3

Argentine Grand Prix

13 Apr 1997 · Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Jacques Villeneuve won for Williams from pole, 0.979s ahead of Eddie Irvine.
  • Jacques Villeneuve took the championship lead from David Coulthard.
  • Championship leader David Coulthard retired (collision).
  • First career podium for Ralf Schumacher.
  • Jacques Villeneuve's 2nd win of 1997.
Round 4

San Marino Grand Prix

27 Apr 1997 · Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy

  • Heinz-Harald Frentzen won for Williams from P2, 1.237s ahead of Michael Schumacher.
  • First career win for Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
  • Championship leader Jacques Villeneuve retired (gearbox).
  • Polesitter Jacques Villeneuve retired (gearbox).
  • Jacques Villeneuve leads the championship by 6 points from Michael Schumacher with 13 rounds to go.
Round 5

Monaco Grand Prix

11 May 1997 · Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco

  • Michael Schumacher won for Ferrari from P2, 53.306s ahead of Rubens Barrichello.
  • Michael Schumacher took the championship lead from Jacques Villeneuve.
  • Championship leader Jacques Villeneuve retired (spun off).
  • Polesitter Heinz-Harald Frentzen retired (spun off).
Round 6

Spanish Grand Prix

25 May 1997 · Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

  • Jacques Villeneuve won for Williams from pole, 5.804s ahead of Olivier Panis.
  • Jacques Villeneuve took the championship lead from Michael Schumacher.
  • Jacques Villeneuve's 3rd win of 1997.
Round 7

Canadian Grand Prix

15 Jun 1997 · Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada

  • Michael Schumacher won for Ferrari from pole, 2.565s ahead of Jean Alesi.
  • Michael Schumacher took the championship lead from Jacques Villeneuve.
  • Championship leader Jacques Villeneuve retired (accident).
  • First career podium for Giancarlo Fisichella.
  • Michael Schumacher's 2nd win of 1997.
Round 8

French Grand Prix

29 Jun 1997 · Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny Cours, France

  • Michael Schumacher won for Ferrari from pole, 23.537s ahead of Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
  • Michael Schumacher's 25th career win.
  • A hat-trick for Michael Schumacher: pole, victory and fastest lap.
  • Michael Schumacher's 3rd win of 1997.
  • Michael Schumacher leads the championship by 14 points from Jacques Villeneuve with 9 rounds to go.
Round 9

British Grand Prix

13 Jul 1997 · Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, UK

  • Jacques Villeneuve won for Williams from pole, 10.205s ahead of Jean Alesi.
  • Championship leader Michael Schumacher retired (wheel).
  • The 100th Grand Prix win for Williams.
  • First career podium for Alexander Wurz.
  • Jacques Villeneuve's 4th win of 1997.
  • Michael Schumacher leads the championship by 4 points from Jacques Villeneuve with 8 rounds to go.
Round 10

German Grand Prix

27 Jul 1997 · Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany

  • Gerhard Berger won for Benetton from pole, 17.527s ahead of Michael Schumacher.
  • The last of Gerhard Berger's 10 Grand Prix wins.
  • A hat-trick for Gerhard Berger: pole, victory and fastest lap.
  • Michael Schumacher leads the championship by 10 points from Jacques Villeneuve with 7 rounds to go.
Round 11

Hungarian Grand Prix

10 Aug 1997 · Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary

  • Jacques Villeneuve won for Williams from P2, 9.079s ahead of Damon Hill.
  • Jacques Villeneuve's 5th win of 1997.
  • Michael Schumacher leads the championship by 3 points from Jacques Villeneuve with 6 rounds to go.
Round 12

Belgian Grand Prix

24 Aug 1997 · Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium

  • Michael Schumacher won for Ferrari from P3, 26.753s ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella.
  • Michael Schumacher's 4th win of 1997.
  • Michael Schumacher leads the championship by 11 points from Jacques Villeneuve with 5 rounds to go.
Round 13

Italian Grand Prix

7 Sep 1997 · Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy

  • David Coulthard won for McLaren from P6, 1.937s ahead of Jean Alesi.
  • David Coulthard's 2nd win of 1997.
  • Michael Schumacher leads the championship by 10 points from Jacques Villeneuve with 4 rounds to go.
Round 14

Austrian Grand Prix

21 Sep 1997 · Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria

  • Jacques Villeneuve won for Williams from pole, 2.909s ahead of David Coulthard.
  • Jacques Villeneuve's 10th career win.
  • A hat-trick for Jacques Villeneuve: pole, victory and fastest lap.
  • Jacques Villeneuve's 6th win of 1997.
  • Michael Schumacher leads the championship by 1 point from Jacques Villeneuve with 3 rounds to go.
Round 15

Luxembourg Grand Prix

28 Sep 1997 · Nürburgring, Nürburg, Germany

  • Jacques Villeneuve won for Williams from P2, 11.770s ahead of Jean Alesi.
  • The last of Jacques Villeneuve's 11 Grand Prix wins.
  • Jacques Villeneuve took the championship lead from Michael Schumacher.
  • Championship leader Michael Schumacher retired (suspension).
  • Polesitter Mika Häkkinen retired (engine).
  • Jacques Villeneuve's 7th win of 1997.
Round 16

Japanese Grand Prix

12 Oct 1997 · Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan

  • Michael Schumacher won for Ferrari from P2, 1.378s ahead of Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
  • Michael Schumacher took the championship lead from Jacques Villeneuve.
  • Championship leader Jacques Villeneuve was disqualified.
  • Polesitter Jacques Villeneuve was disqualified.
  • Michael Schumacher's 5th win of 1997.
Round 17

European Grand Prix

26 Oct 1997 · Circuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

  • Mika Häkkinen won for McLaren from P5, 1.654s ahead of David Coulthard.
  • Jacques Villeneuve clinched the 1997 title at the final round.
  • First career win for Mika Häkkinen.
  • Championship leader Michael Schumacher retired (collision).
  • Mika Häkkinen became the 6th different winner of 1997.
  • A one-two finish for McLaren.