1997 Monaco Grand Prix
The 1997 Monaco Grand Prix (formally the LV Grand Prix de Monaco) was a Formula One race held on 11 May 1997 at the Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo. It was the fifth race of the 1997 Formula One World Championship. The 62-lap race was won by Michael Schumacher, driving a Ferrari, after starting from second position. Rubens Barrichello finished second in a Stewart-Ford, with Eddie Irvine third in the other Ferrari.
| 1997 Monaco Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 5 of 17 in the 1997 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 11 May 1997 | ||||
| Official name | LV Grand Prix de Monaco | ||||
| Location |
Circuit de Monaco Monte Carlo, Monaco | ||||
| Course | Temporary street circuit | ||||
| Course length | 3.36 km (2.08 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 62 laps, 207.08 km (128.96 miles) | ||||
| Scheduled distance | 78 laps, 260.52 km (162.24 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Overcast, cold and rain, air temperature 11 °C (52 °F) | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Williams-Renault | ||||
| Time | 1:18.216 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | |||
| Time | 1:53.315 on lap 26 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Ferrari | ||||
| Second | Stewart-Ford | ||||
| Third | Ferrari | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
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.