The 1997 Formula 1 World Championship was the 51st season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors, which were contested concurrently over a seventeen-race series. Jacques Villeneuve won the Drivers' Championship driving for Williams, while Williams won the Constructors' Championship.
The season opened with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. David Coulthard won the race for McLaren, marking his first victory since 1995.
Michael Schumacher won the Monaco Grand Prix for Ferrari, taking the lead of the championship after a dominant performance around the streets of Monte Carlo.
Jacques Villeneuve originally finished second at the British Grand Prix but was disqualified for ignoring yellow flags during practice, handing the win to Mika Häkkinen.
Mika Häkkinen took his first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix victory at the European Grand Prix held at Jerez, Spain, after a thrilling three-way battle with Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher.
Michael Schumacher was stripped of his second-place finish in the Drivers' Championship by the FIA for his collision with Jacques Villeneuve at the European Grand Prix.
The European Grand Prix at Jerez became the title decider. Jacques Villeneuve won the race, but Michael Schumacher was disqualified from the entire championship for colliding with Villeneuve.
Jacques Villeneuve secured the 1997 Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship with a third-place finish at the European Grand Prix, becoming the first Canadian to win the title.
