1997 Monaco Grand Prix

Lore & Background

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, driving a Williams-Renault, started from pole position ahead of Schumacher. Frentzen and teammate Jacques Villeneuve made poor starts, and both retired from the race in separate accidents. Schumacher won by some 53 seconds from Barrichello, who scored the first podium for the Stewart team in only their fifth Grand Prix. The race had been scheduled for 78 laps, but rainy conditions meant that only 62 laps were run before the two-hour time limit was reached. The win enabled Schumacher to take over the lead of the Drivers' Championship from Villeneuve, and Ferrari to move ahead of Williams in the Constructors' Championship.

Reader's Guide

The race was held in rainy conditions. Both Williams drivers started on dry tyres but had to pit to change them and later retired: Villeneuve hit a wall on lap 17, Frentzen hit a barrier at the chicane on lap 39. Schumacher built a large lead, made an error on lap 53 at Sainte Devote but did not lose the lead. Only 62 of 78 scheduled laps were run due to the two-hour time limit. This was the first win for a Ferrari driver at Monaco since 1981.

Did You Know?

• This was the final F1 race for Sauber driver Nicola Larini.
• On the podium, the flag displayed for Eddie Irvine was that of the Republic of Ireland instead of the Union Jack, due to his Superlicence being issued in Dublin.
• Mika Salo finished fifth despite denting his front wing on debris and making no pit stops, scoring Tyrrell's last points.