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The 1997 European Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 26 October 1997 at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez, Spain. Originally scheduled as the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Estoril circuit, it was moved when Estoril's management had financial difficulties. It was the 17th and final race of the 1997 FIA Formula One World Championship.

The race was won by Mika Häkkinen in a McLaren, his first Formula One race victory. His teammate David Coulthard finished second and Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve took third, which was sufficient for him to win the World Championship.

Michael Schumacher, driving for Ferrari, had led the championship by a single point ahead of Villeneuve going into the race. During the race, Villeneuve and Schumacher collided while battling for the lead and the resulting damage to Schumacher's car forced him to retire. The blame for the incident was later attributed to Schumacher by the sport's governing body, the FIA, and he was stripped of his second-place finish in the championship. Schumacher's tactics were widely criticised by the media, including publications based in his home country of Germany, and in Ferrari's home country of Italy.

Following the race, Williams and McLaren were accused of colluding to decide the finishing order. Villeneuve stated that "it was better to let them through and win the World Championship". The FIA determined there was no evidence to support the claims, and dismissed the accusations.


Offical Name
XLII European Grand Prix
Date
1997-10-26
Circuit
Course Length
km \ miles
Distance
69 laps, km \ miles

Timetable (GMT+2)
1997-10-24 Friday
1st Free Practice 11:00 - 12:00
1st Free Practice 13:00 - 14:00
1997-10-25 Saturday
2nd Free Practice 09:00 - 09:45
2nd Free Practice 10:15 - 11:00
Qualifying 13:00 - 14:00
1997-10-26 Sunday (GMT+1)
Warm-up 09:30 - 10:00
Race 14:00 - 16:00

Podium
Pos. Driver Constructor

Pole Position
Driver Consturctor Time

Fastest Lap
Driver Constructor Fastest Lap

This race saw...
  • Driver
    • World Drivers' Champion:
    • 1st win for 
    • 13th and last pole position for 
    • 6th and last fastest lap for 
    • 50th Grand Prix for 
    • 210th and last Grand Prix for 
  • Team
    • 107th win for 
    • 110th fastest lap for 
  • Engine
    • 12th win for Mercedes
    • 250th podium for Renault
    • 450th Grand Prix for Ford Cosworth
Data
  • Weather: Sunny
  • Attendance:
  • Entries: 22
  • Qualified: 22
  • Classified: 17
Post-race Drivers' Standings
Pos. Driver Points
1 81
2 42
3 36
4 36
5 27
6 27
7 24
8 20
9 16
10 15
11 13
12 7
13 6
14 4
15 3
16 2
16 2
18 2
19 1
- 78
Post-race Constructors' Standings
Pos. Constructor Points
1 123
2 102
3 67
4 63
5 33
6 21
7 16
8 9
9 6
10 2


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