Villeneuve vs Schumacher
The Disqualification
The Story
The 1997 season is remembered for one of the most controversial moments in F1 history. Jacques Villeneuve's Williams and Michael Schumacher's Ferrari traded victories throughout the year, with the championship coming down to the final race at Jerez. When Villeneuve attempted to pass Schumacher for the lead, Schumacher turned into the Williams in a deliberate attempt to take his rival out. But the move backfired — Schumacher beached his own car in the gravel while Villeneuve continued, finishing third to clinch the title. The FIA subsequently disqualified Schumacher from the entire championship standings, stripping his second-place finish, though his race results stood. It was a dark echo of 1994 and severely damaged Schumacher's reputation.
Points Progression
| Race | Villeneuve | Schumacher | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian GP | 0 | 6 | Schumacher +6 |
| Brazilian GP | 10 | 8 | Villeneuve +2 |
| Argentine GP | 20 | 8 | Villeneuve +12 |
| San Marino GP | 20 | 14 | Villeneuve +6 |
| Monaco GP | 20 | 24 | Schumacher +4 |
Final Standings
| Pos | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacques Villeneuve | Williams | 7 | 81 |
| 2 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Williams | 1 | 42 |
| 3 | David Coulthard | McLaren | 2 | 36 |
| 4 | Jean Alesi | Benetton | 0 | 36 |
| 5 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | 1 | 27 |
| 6 | Mika Häkkinen | McLaren | 1 | 27 |
| 7 | Eddie Irvine | Ferrari | 0 | 24 |
| 8 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Jordan | 0 | 20 |
| 9 | Olivier Panis | Prost | 0 | 16 |
| 10 | Johnny Herbert | Sauber | 0 | 15 |