1997 French Grand Prix

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Results from the 1997 Formula One French Grand Prix held at Magny-Cours on June 29, 1997.

Race Summary

At the start Michael Schumacher led away from pole with Frentzen in the Williams behind him all the way. It was a bad start for Damon Hill who lost his wing at the first corner after going off and didn't feature much after that.

Not to much happened in the race until towards the end rain hit causing some drivers to spin off, even Michael Schumacher had an off but managed to continue and maintained his big lead, but he did not pit for wet tyres.

In the end Michael crossed the line well ahead of Frentzen but on the last couple of laps a huge battle was going on between Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard and Jean Alesi. At the same time Jaques Villeneuve was reeling in Eddie Irvine for the final podium spot.

Ralf Schumacher spun seemingly throwing away 6th place but as mentioned in the notes, Michael Schumacher who had lapped him, allowed him back through at the final corner, at the time Murray Walker famously said it was a silly move, but really it was all part of Schumacher's brilliance.

On the last lap Alesi pushed Coulthard straight off costing David 5th place and thus giving Ralf Schumacher the final point.

Meanwhile at the last corner Villenuve had caught Irvine, in a desperate lunge at the final corner he spun off, rejoining somehow holding off Alesi at the flag.


[edit] Classification

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 5 Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari 72 1:38:50.492 1 10
2 4 Flag of Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen Williams-Renault 72 +23.537 2 6
3 6 Flag of the United Kingdom Eddie Irvine Ferrari 72 +1:14.801 5 4
4 3 Flag of Canada Jacques Villeneuve Williams-Renault 72 +1:21.784 4 3
5 7 Flag of France Jean Alesi Benetton-Renault 72 +1:22.735 8 2
6 11 Flag of Germany Ralf Schumacher Jordan-Peugeot 72 +1:29.871 3 1
7 10 Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes 71 Collision 9  
8 16 Flag of the United Kingdom Johnny Herbert Sauber-Petronas 71 +1 lap 14  
9 12 Flag of Italy Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Peugeot 71 +1 lap 11  
10 14 Flag of Italy Jarno Trulli Prost-Mugen-Honda 70 +2 laps 6  
11 20 Flag of Japan Ukyo Katayama Minardi-Hart 70 +2 laps 21  
12 1 Flag of the United Kingdom Damon Hill Arrows-Yamaha 69 +3 laps 17  
Ret 19 Flag of Finland Mika Salo Tyrrell-Ford 61 Electrical 19  
Ret 8 Flag of Austria Alexander Wurz Benetton-Renault 60 Spun off 7  
Ret 2 Flag of Brazil Pedro Diniz Arrows-Yamaha 58 Spun off 16  
Ret 17 Flag of Argentina Norberto Fontana Sauber-Petronas 40 Spun off 20  
Ret 22 Flag of Brazil Rubens Barrichello Stewart-Ford 36 Engine 13  
Ret 23 Flag of Denmark Jan Magnussen Stewart-Ford 33 Brakes 15  
Ret 9 Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes 18 Engine 10  
Ret 18 Flag of the Netherlands Jos Verstappen Tyrrell-Ford 15 Spun off 18  
Ret 15 Flag of Japan Shinji Nakano Prost-Mugen-Honda 7 Spun off 12  
Ret 21 Flag of Brazil Tarso Marques Minardi-Hart 5 Engine 22  

[edit] Notes

  • Pole position: Michael Schumacher
  • Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher 1m 17.910s
  • Michael allowed his brother Ralf to overtake him and unlap himself on the last corner, Ralf subsequently gained the last point of the day as a result rising from 7th to 6th after Jean Alesi ran David Coulthard off the road.
  • Jarno Trulli switched from Minardi to Prost replacing the injured Panis
  • Trulli's seat at Minardi went to Tarso Marques.
  • Norberto Fontana replaced Gianni Morbidelli at Sauber, Morbidelli was suffering from a broken arm.


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1997 Canadian Grand Prix		 FIA Formula One World Championship
1997 season		 Next race:
1997 British Grand Prix
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1996 French Grand Prix		 French Grand Prix Next race:
1998 French Grand Prix