Jacques Villeneuve Championship
Canadian Formula One World Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner.
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve (born 9 April 1971) is a Canadian former racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1997 with Williams, and won 11 Grands Prix across 11 seasons. In American open-wheel racing, he won the IndyCar World Series and the Indianapolis 500 in 1995 with Team Green.
Quick Facts
- Status
- Championship Winner (Disqualified from standings)
Lore & Background
Villeneuve moved to Williams in Formula One for the 1996 season, claiming four Grand Prix victories, and becoming the first rookie runner-up in the World Drivers' Championship after a season-long duel with teammate Damon Hill. His main title challenge for the following season came from Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, and Villeneuve beat the latter following a controversial collision at the season-ending race, becoming the first Canadian World Drivers' Champion, achieving seven Grand Prix victories.
Reader's Guide
Villeneuve's 1997 championship was not decided by a single point; he won by 39 points over Heinz-Harald Frentzen (81 to 42), with Michael Schumacher disqualified from the standings. Williams won the 1997 Constructors' Championship, which was their ninth.
Did You Know?
- He is the son of Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve.
- He was appointed Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 1998.
- Villeneuve won the 2008 1000 km of Spa driving for Peugeot.
More in Team History & Eras
Elsewhere in Williams Racing
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