The 1997 Japanese Grand Prix (officially known as the XXIII Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 12 October 1997 at the Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka. It was the 16th and penultimate race of the 1997 Formula One season. Schumacher's win put him in front of Villeneuve in the championship on 78 points, with Villeneuve on 77 points. This race was the last for Gianni Morbidelli. It was also the last time that two German Formula One drivers finished first and second until the 1999 Italian Grand Prix.
Report
Practice and qualifying
For each race in the 1997 Formula One season there were four practice sessions; two sessions on Friday and two sessions on Saturday morning. The practice sessions on Friday lasted an hour and the practice sessions on Saturday lasted 45 minutes.