1997 Spanish Grand Prix

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{{Infobox Grand Prix race report
|Type = F1
|Country = Spain
|Grand Prix = Spanish
|Date = 25 May
|Year = 1997
|Image = Circuit Catalunya 1995-2003.svg
|Official name = 
|Race_No = 6
|Season_No = 17
|Location = [[Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya|Circuit de Catalunya]], [[Montmeló]], [[Catalonia]], [[Spain]]<ref>{{cite web|title=1997 Spanish Grand Prix|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1997-spanish-grand-prix/|work=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref>
|Course = Permanent racing facility
|Course_mi = 2.938
|Course_km = 4.728
|Distance_laps = 64
|Distance_km = 302.469
|Distance_mi = 187.946
|Scheduled_laps= 65
|Scheduled_km = 307.196
|Scheduled_mi = 190.883
|Weather = Clear
|Attendance = 64,000
|Pole_Driver = [[Jacques Villeneuve]]
|Pole_Team = [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
|Pole_Time = 1:16.525
|Pole_Country = Canada
|Fast_Driver = [[Giancarlo Fisichella]]
|Fast_Team = [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]]-[[Peugeot]]
|Fast_Time = 1:22.242
|Fast_Lap = 20
|Fast_Country = Italy
|First_Driver = [[Jacques Villeneuve]]
|First_Team = [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
|First_Country = Canada
|Second_Driver = [[Olivier Panis]]
|Second_Team = [[Prost Grand Prix|Prost]]-[[Mugen-Honda]]
|Second_Country= France
|Third_Driver = [[Jean Alesi]]
|Third_Team = [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
|Third_Country = France
|Lapchart = {{F1Laps1997|ESP}}
|official name=XXXIX Gran Premio Marlboro de España
|Previous_round=1997 Monaco Grand Prix|Next_round=1997 Canadian Grand Prix}}
The '''1997 Spanish Grand Prix''' (formally the '''XXXIX Gran Premio Marlboro de España''') was a [[Formula One]] motor race held on 25 May 1997 at the [[Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya|Circuit de Catalunya]] in [[Montmeló]], Spain. It was the sixth race of the [[1997 Formula One World Championship]].

The 64-lap race was won from [[pole position]] by Canadian [[Jacques Villeneuve]], driving a [[Williams FW19|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]. Frenchman [[Olivier Panis]] finished second in a [[Prost JS45|Prost]]-[[Mugen-Honda]], six seconds behind Villeneuve, having only started 12th.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2009/04/classic_spanish_grands_prix.html |title=Classic Spanish GP |author=BBC |access-date=7 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508000427/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2009/04/classic_spanish_grands_prix.html |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another Frenchman, [[Jean Alesi]], finished third in a [[Benetton B197|Benetton]]-Renault.

The win, Villeneuve's third of the season, put him back into the lead of the Drivers' Championship by three points from German [[Michael Schumacher]], who finished fourth in his [[Ferrari F310|Ferrari]].

== Race summary ==
[[Michael Schumacher]], having started 7th, ended the first lap in 2nd position, and was challenging [[Jacques Villeneuve|Villeneuve]] in the [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] for the lead. However, Schumacher, in the spare [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]], was unable to stay with the leader and was starting to slow the cars behind him. By lap 13, the gap between him and Villeneuve was approximately 20 seconds, and a train of cars consisting to [[David Coulthard]], [[Jean Alesi]], [[Mika Häkkinen]], [[Heinz-Harald Frentzen]], and [[Johnny Herbert]] was behind him. His lap times were approximately 1:26 while Villeneuve's was 1:22.

In this high tyre wearing race, especially for the [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] tyres,<ref name="ITV"/> the first [[pit stop]]s started at approximately lap 14, with the final one being on lap 25, which was [[Olivier Panis]], in his finely balanced [[Prost (racing team)|Prost]] with [[Bridgestone]] tyres. Soon after, beginning from lap 29, three stop runners were starting to pit for the 2nd time. This enabled Panis to gain positions, and by lap 34, he was 4th, and closing on Alesi and Coulthard who were 2nd and 3rd respectively. Soon after, Panis overtook Coulthard, who was on inferior Goodyear tyres, in a fine move on the approach to turn 1. Panis managed to jump to 2nd place ahead of Alesi in the pits.

Panis was gaining on the leader, Villeneuve, by approximately 1.5 seconds per lap. By the end of lap 49, the gap was 10.8 seconds, from 13 seconds at the end of lap 47. However, during lap 50, Panis was held up by traffic, firstly [[Ralf Schumacher]]'s [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]] and then the Ferrari of [[Eddie Irvine]]. With marshals not waving the [[Racing flags|blue flags]],<ref name="ITV">{{cite video | people = [[Murray Walker]], [[Martin Brundle]] (Commentators) |date=1997 |title=ITV F1 - Spanish Grand Prix | medium = Television |location=Barcelona, Spain |publisher=ITV}}</ref> Irvine failed to let Panis through, and thus allowing Jean Alesi and Michael Schumacher to catch him up. When Irvine finally yielded on lap 57, the gap between Panis and Villeneuve was back up to 16.1 seconds. Irvine later received a [[Formula One regulations#Penalties|stop-go penalty]] for his actions. After Panis cleared the traffic, he was lapping 1.5 to 2 seconds faster than the leader and managed to close the gap to less than 6 seconds by the end of the race, but it was too late and Villeneuve took his 3rd victory of the season. This was Panis's final podium finish in Formula One.

== Classification ==

===Qualifying===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos !! No !! Driver !! Constructor !! Time !! Gap
|-
! 1
| 3
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Jacques Villeneuve]]
| [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
| 1:16.525
|
|-
! 2
| 4
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Heinz-Harald Frentzen]]
| [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
| 1:16.791
| +0.266
|-
! 3
| 10
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[David Coulthard]]
| [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]
| 1:17.521
| +0.996
|-
! 4
| 7
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Jean Alesi]]
| [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
| 1:17.717
| +1.192
|-
! 5
| 9
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Mika Häkkinen]]
| [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]
| 1:17.737
| +1.212
|-
! 6
| 8
| {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Gerhard Berger]]
| [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
| 1:18.041
| +1.516
|-
! 7
| 5
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Michael Schumacher]]
| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
| 1:18.313
| +1.788
|-
! 8
| 12
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]]
| [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]]-[[Peugeot]]
| 1:18.385
| +1.860
|-
! 9
| 11
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Ralf Schumacher]]
| [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]]-[[Peugeot]]
| 1:18.423
| +1.898
|-
! 10
| 16
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Johnny Herbert]]
| [[Sauber]]-[[Sauber Petronas Engineering|Petronas]]
| 1:18.494
| +1.969
|-
! 11
| 6
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Eddie Irvine]]
| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
| 1:18.873
| +2.348
|-
! 12
| 14
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Olivier Panis]]
| [[Prost Grand Prix|Prost]]-[[Mugen-Honda]]
| 1:19.157
| +2.632
|-
! 13
| 17
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Gianni Morbidelli]]
| [[Sauber]]-[[Sauber Petronas Engineering|Petronas]]
| 1:19.323
| +2.798
|-
! 14
| 19
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Mika Salo]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:20.079
| +3.554
|-
! 15
| 1
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Damon Hill]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| 1:20.089
| +3.564
|-
! 16
| 15
| {{flagicon|Japan|1947}} [[Shinji Nakano]]
| [[Prost Grand Prix|Prost]]-[[Mugen-Honda]]
| 1:20.103
| +3.578
|-
! 17
| 22
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rubens Barrichello]]
| [[Stewart Grand Prix|Stewart]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:20.255
| +3.730
|-
! 18
| 21
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Jarno Trulli]]
| [[Minardi]]-[[Hart Racing Engines|Hart]]
| 1:20.452
| +3.927
|-
! 19
| 18
| {{flagicon|the Netherlands}} [[Jos Verstappen]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:20.582
| +4.057
|-
! 20
| 20
| {{flagicon|Japan|1947}} [[Ukyo Katayama]]
| [[Minardi]]-[[Hart Racing Engines|Hart]]
| 1:20.672
| +4.147
|-
! 21
| 2
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Pedro Diniz]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| 1:21.029
| +4.504
|-
! 22
| 23
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Jan Magnussen]]
| [[Stewart Grand Prix|Stewart]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:21.060
| +4.535
|-
! colspan="6" |[[107% time]]: 1:21.882
|-
! colspan="6" |Source: <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/espagne/qualification.aspx |title=Spain 1997 - Qualifications • STATS F1 |website=www.statsf1.com |language=en |access-date=13 October 2018}}</ref>
|}

===Race===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos !! No !! Driver !! Constructor !! Laps !! Time/Retired !! Grid !! Points
|-
! 1
| 3
| {{flagicon|Canada}} '''[[Jacques Villeneuve]]'''
| '''[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]'''
| 64
| 1:30:35.896
| 1
| '''10'''
|-
! 2
| 14
| {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Olivier Panis]]'''
| '''[[Prost Grand Prix|Prost]]-[[Mugen-Honda]]'''
| 64
| +5.804
| 12
| '''6'''
|-
! 3
| 7
| {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Jean Alesi]]'''
| '''[[Benetton Formula|Benetton]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]'''
| 64
| +12.534
| 4
| '''4'''
|-
! 4
| 5
| {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Michael Schumacher]]'''
| '''[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]'''
| 64
| +17.979
| 7
| '''3'''
|-
! 5
| 16
| {{flagicon|UK}} '''[[Johnny Herbert]]'''
| '''[[Sauber]]-[[Sauber Petronas Engineering|Petronas]]'''
| 64
| +27.986
| 10
| '''2'''
|-
! 6
| 10
| {{flagicon|UK}} '''[[David Coulthard]]'''
| '''[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]'''
| 64
| +29.744
| 3
| '''1'''
|-
! 7
| 9
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Mika Häkkinen]]
| [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]
| 64
| +48.785
| 5
|  
|-
! 8
| 4
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Heinz-Harald Frentzen]]
| [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
| 64
| +1:04.139
| 2
|  
|-
! 9
| 12
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]]
| [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]]-[[Peugeot]]
| 64
| +1:04.767
| 8
|  
|-
! 10
| 8
| {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Gerhard Berger]]
| [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
| 64
| +1:05.670
| 6
|  
|-
! 11
| 18
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Jos Verstappen]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 63
| +1 lap
| 19
|  
|-
! 12
| 6
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Eddie Irvine]]
| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
| 63
| +1 lap
| 11
|  
|-
! 13
| 23
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Jan Magnussen]]
| [[Stewart Grand Prix|Stewart]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 63
| +1 lap
| 22
|  
|-
! 14
| 17
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Gianni Morbidelli]]
| [[Sauber]]-[[Sauber Petronas Engineering|Petronas]]
| 62
| +2 laps
| 13
|  
|-
! 15
| 21
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Jarno Trulli]]
| [[Minardi]]-[[Hart Racing Engines|Hart]]
| 62
| +2 laps
| 18
|  
|-
! Ret
| 2
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Pedro Diniz]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| 53
| Engine
| 21
|  
|-
! Ret
| 11
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Ralf Schumacher]]
| [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]]-[[Peugeot]]
| 50
| Engine
| 9
|  
|-
! Ret
| 22
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rubens Barrichello]]
| [[Stewart Grand Prix|Stewart]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 37
| Engine
| 17
|  
|-
! Ret
| 19
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Mika Salo]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 35
| Puncture
| 14
|  
|-
! Ret
| 15
| {{flagicon|Japan|1947}} [[Shinji Nakano]]
| [[Prost Grand Prix|Prost]]-[[Mugen-Honda]]
| 34
| Gearbox
| 16
|  
|-
! Ret
| 1
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Damon Hill]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]
| 17
| Engine
| 15
|  
|-
! Ret
| 20
| {{flagicon|Japan|1947}} [[Ukyo Katayama]]
| [[Minardi]]-[[Hart Racing Engines|Hart]]
| 11
| Gearbox
| 20
|  
|-
!colspan="8"|{{center|Source:<ref name="formula1.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1997/152/ |title=1997 Spanish Grand Prix |publisher=formula1.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029040306/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1997/152/ |archive-date=29 October 2014 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>}}
|}

==Championship standings after the race==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos
! Driver
! Points
|-
| 1
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Jacques Villeneuve]]
|align="right"| 30
|-
| 2
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Michael Schumacher]]
|align="right"| 27
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Olivier Panis]]
|align="right"| 15
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Eddie Irvine]]
|align="right"| 14
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[David Coulthard]]
|align="right"| 11
|-
!colspan=4|Source: <ref name="Championship">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/1997/espagne/championnat.aspx|title=Spain 1997 - Championship • STATS F1|website=www.statsf1.com|access-date=20 March 2019}}</ref>
|}
{{col-2}}
;Constructors' Championship standings
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos
! Constructor
! Points
|-
| 1
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
|align="right"| 41
|-
| 2
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
|align="right"| 40
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]
|align="right"| 21
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]
|align="right"| 17
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Prost Grand Prix|Prost]]-[[Mugen-Honda]]
|align="right"| 15
|-
!colspan=4|Source: <ref name="Championship"/>
|}
{{col-end}}

*{{small|'''Note''': Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{F1 race report
| Name_of_race = [[Spanish Grand Prix]] |
Year_of_race = 1997
| Previous_race_in_season = [[1997 Monaco Grand Prix]]
| Next_race_in_season = [[1997 Canadian Grand Prix]]
| Previous_year's_race = [[1996 Spanish Grand Prix]]
| Next_year's_race = [[1998 Spanish Grand Prix]]
}}
{{F1GP 90-99}}

[[Category:1997 Formula One races|Spanish Grand Prix]]
[[Category:Spanish Grand Prix]]
[[Category:1997 in Spanish motorsport|Grand Prix]]
[[Category:May 1997 sports events in Europe|Spanish Grand Prix]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

1997 Spanish Grand Prix