The 1997 season saw several team changes. Stewart Grand Prix entered Formula One with factory backing from Ford. Lola also debuted, but withdrew after the Brazilian Grand Prix following sponsor departures after both drivers failed to qualify for the first race. Ligier was sold to Alain Prost and rebranded as Prost Grand Prix. Arrows reverted to its original name after a buy-out and switched to Yamaha engines, while Tyrrell also changed engines, moving to Ford. Sauber formed a partnership with Petronas and used Ferrari-licensed engines branded as Petronas.
Damon Hill moved to Arrows after being dropped by Williams, giving the team its first number 1 car in history. Jordan signed Ralf Schumacher, the younger brother of Michael Schumacher, and Giancarlo Fisichella. Stewart Grand Prix welcomed Rubens Barrichello and Jan Magnussen. Several drivers also changed teams, including Nicola Larini moving to Sauber and Shinji Nakano joining Prost.
The season began with the Australian Grand Prix, won by David Coulthard, with Michael Schumacher finishing second. Villeneuve won in Brazil and Argentina, establishing an early lead in the championship. At the San Marino Grand Prix, Heinz-Harald Frentzen secured his only Grand Prix victory for Williams. Schumacher then won in Monaco, Spain, and Canada, closing the gap to Villeneuve. Villeneuve responded with wins in Britain and Germany. In Hungary, Damon Hill, driving for Arrows, led for much of the race, but Villeneuve ultimately won, marking Williams’ 100th Grand Prix victory. David Coulthard won in Italy, and Jacques Villeneuve won in Austria, with Coulthard finishing second and Frentzen third.
The European Grand Prix at Jerez saw a controversial incident between Villeneuve and Schumacher. Schumacher, attempting to defend his lead, deliberately collided with Villeneuve, resulting in his retirement. Villeneuve finished third, securing the Drivers’ Championship. Schumacher was later disqualified from the championship by the FIA for causing an avoidable accident, though his race results were upheld. The Japanese Grand Prix saw Villeneuve disqualified after qualifying, and Schumacher won the race, briefly regaining the championship lead before the disqualification was confirmed.
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