1997 British Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = United Kingdom
Grand Prix = British
Date = July 13
Year = 1997

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Race_No = 9
Season_No = 17
Location = Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, England
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 3.194
Course_km = 5.141
Distance_laps = 59
Distance_mi = 191.603
Distance_km = 308.355
Weather = Sunny, Dry Track
Pole_Driver = flagicon|Canada Jacques Villeneuve
Pole_Team = Williams-Renault
Pole_Time = 1:21.598
Fast_Driver = flagicon|Germany Michael Schumacher
Fast_Team = Ferrari
Fast_Time = 1:24.480
Fast_L

First_Driver = flagicon|Canada Jacques Villeneuve
First_Team = Williams-Renault
Second_Driver = flagicon|France Jean Alesi
Second_Team = Benetton-Renault
Third_Driver = flagicon|Austria Alexander Wurz
Third_Team = Benetton-RenaultThe 1997 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Silverstone on 13 July 1997. It was the ninth round of the 1997 Formula One season. Jacques Villeneuve won the race despite being stuck in the pitlane for half a minute during his first pitstop, after a wheelnut problem.

Two previous leaders retired from the race due to mechanical failures. Michael Schumacher led by over 40 seconds before a wheel bearing failure caused retirement. Mika Häkkinen seemed set for his first win but his engine blew while he was holding off Villeneuve, having made one stop to the French-Canadian's two (a strategy ITV's Martin Brundle had earlier commented was unlikely to be a race-winner). The Finn threw his race gloves into the crowd and lapped their applause.

Further back, Alexander Wurz scored his first podium finish in only his 3rd Grand Prix, also briefly leading the race during the pitstops. David Coulthard ran 3rd early on, but faded with braking problems. Schumacher's team-mate Eddie Irvine was close behind Villeneuve when both made their second pitstop, but his car failed as he exited the pits. The race was a disaster for Heinz-Harald Frentzen - he stalled on the grid as the race was about to begin, forcing the start to be aborted and Frentzen to start from the back of the grid. He then crashed on the first lap.

Damon Hill finally scored his first points for the Arrows team after a late retirement for Shinji Nakano.

Classification

Qualifying

Race Results

Notes

*Fastest L

References

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title=1997 British GP
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accessdate= 2007-07-31
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title=1997 British GP Qualifying
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accessdate= 2007-08-01
cite web
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title=1997 British GP
work=Formula One Database
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url=http://www.f1db.com/exec/section/grandprix/action/result/id/19970713#race_startgrid
format=
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accessdate= 2007-08-01
F1 race report
Name_of_race = British Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1997
Previous_race_in_season = 1997 French Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1997 German Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1996 British Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1998 British Grand Prix