1997 Formula One season Facts for Kids

The 1997 Formula One season was the 48th time this exciting racing championship took place. It was a very close race for the top spot! Jacques Villeneuve became the champion after a tough fight. His team, Williams, also won the award for the best car builders, called the constructor's championship.

What is Formula One?
The 1997 Season Highlights
Key Drivers and Their Results
Images for kids
See also

What is Formula One?

Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater cars. It is a very popular sport around the world. Drivers compete in many races, called Grand Prix, throughout the year. The driver with the most points at the end of the season wins the championship. Teams also compete for the Constructors' Championship.

The 1997 Season Highlights

The 1997 Formula One season was full of action and drama. Many teams and drivers competed for the championship. The season had 17 races, starting in Australia and ending in Spain. Each race was a chance for drivers to earn points.

Jacques Villeneuve's Big Win

Jacques Villeneuve (pictured in 2008) was a Canadian driver for the Williams team. He was in only his second year of F1 racing. He showed amazing skill and speed throughout the season. Villeneuve won seven races during the year. This helped him earn enough points to become the world champion. It was a very exciting victory for him and his team.

The Championship Battle

The fight for the championship was very close between Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher (pictured in 1998). Schumacher was a German driver for the Ferrari team. They both pushed hard in every race. The championship was decided in the very last race of the season. During this final race, there was an incident between Villeneuve and Schumacher. After the season ended, Schumacher was removed from the final standings. This meant Villeneuve was officially the champion.

Williams Wins for the Team

The Williams team had a fantastic year. They used the FW19 car, which was powered by a Renault engine. Their strong performance helped them win the Constructors' Championship. This award goes to the team that builds the best cars and scores the most points. Williams showed they had a very fast and reliable car.

Other Top Teams

Ferrari finished second in the Constructors' Championship. They used the F310B car. Benetton came in third place with their B197 car. These teams also had strong drivers and competitive cars.

Key Drivers and Their Results

Besides Villeneuve, other drivers also had good seasons.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen (pictured in 2006) was Villeneuve's teammate at Williams. He finished second in the championship after Michael Schumacher's removal from the standings.
David Coulthard (pictured in 1995) was a Scottish driver for the McLaren team. He finished the season ranked third overall.

Images for kids

Jacques Villeneuve (pictured in 2008), won the championship in only his second year of F1 participation.
Villeneuve's teammate, Heinz-Harald Frentzen (pictured in 2006), was runner-up following Michael Schumacher's disqualification from the standings at the end of the year. He moved from Sauber to Williams.
David Coulthard (pictured in 1995), finished the season ranked third.
Michael Schumacher (pictured in 1998) was disqualified from the championship after colliding with Villeneuve during the last race.
Lola-Ford failed to qualify for their only Grand Prix appearance.
Williams won the Constructors' Championship with the Renault-powered FW19.
Ferrari finished second in the Constructors' Championship with the F310B.
Benetton finished third with the B197.