The 1997 San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Italy on 27 April 1997. It was the fourth race of the 1997 Formula One season. The 62-lap race was won by Williams driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen after he started from second position. Michael Schumacher finished second for the Ferrari team with his teammate Eddie Irvine third.
Summary
Pre-race
In the early practice sessions the Ferrari and Benetton teams dominated, with a large majority of the field experiencing some sort of problem with their car, or going off. One of the drivers was David Coulthard, who had a major off in the Saturday morning session, destroying the car. However, the Williams soon regained the top spot in the later sessions.
Qualifying
Jacques Villeneuve made it four pole positions in a row after once again taking pole. His teammate joined him on the front row, followed by Michael Schumacher, another strong performance by Olivier Panis, and in fifth Michael's younger brother Ralf.
Race
thumb|250px|right|[[Jacques Villeneuve driving in the San Marino Grand Prix]]
Heinz-Harald Frentzen took his maiden Formula One win driving for Williams after he held off a late charge from Michael Schumacher.[http://atlasf1.autosport.com/99/san/preview/schot.html] Jacques Villeneuve retired from third place with a gearbox failure.
Gerhard Berger started his 200th grand prix, however it ended in disappointment when he spun off early on.
Classification
Qualifying
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos !! No !! Driver !! Constructor !! Time !! Gap
|-
! 1
| 3
| Jacques Villeneuve
| Williams-Renault
| 1:23.303
|
|-
! 2
| 4
| Heinz-Harald Frentzen
| Williams-Renault
| 1:23.646
| +0.343
|-
! 3
| 5
| Michael Schumacher
| Ferrari
| 1:23.955
| +0.652
|-
! 4
| 14
| Olivier Panis
| Prost-Mugen-Honda
| 1:24.075
| +0.772
|-
! 5
| 11
| Ralf Schumacher
| Jordan-Peugeot
| 1:24.081
| +0.778
|-
! 6
| 12
| Giancarlo Fisichella
| Jordan-Peugeot
| 1:24.596
| +1.293
|-
! 7
| 16
| Johnny Herbert
| Sauber-Petronas
| 1:24.723
| +1.420
|-
! 8
| 9
| Mika Häkkinen
| McLaren-Mercedes
| 1:24.812
| +1.509
|-
! 9
| 6
| Eddie Irvine
| Ferrari
| 1:24.862
| +1.558
|-
! 10
| 10
| David Coulthard
| McLaren-Mercedes
| 1:25.077
| +1.774
|-
! 11
| 8
| Gerhard Berger
| Benetton-Renault
| 1:25.371
| +2.068
|-
! 12
| 17
| Nicola Larini
| Sauber-Petronas
| 1:25.554
| +2.241
|-
! 13
| 22
| Rubens Barrichello
| Stewart-Ford
| 1:25.579
| +2.276
|-
! 14
| 7
| Jean Alesi
| Benetton-Renault
| 1:25.729
| +2.426
|-
! 15
| 1
| Damon Hill
| Arrows-Yamaha
| 1:25.743
| +2.440
|-
! 16
| 23
| Jan Magnussen
| Stewart-Ford
| 1:26.192
| +2.889
|-
! 17
| 2
| Pedro Diniz
| Arrows-Yamaha
| 1:26.253
| +2.950
|-
! 18
| 15
| Shinji Nakano
| Prost-Mugen-Honda
| 1:26.712
| +3.409
|-
! 19
| 19
| Mika Salo
| Tyrrell-Ford
| 1:26.852
| +3.549
|-
! 20
| 21
| Jarno Trulli
| Minardi-Hart
| 1:26.960
| +3.657
|-
! 21
| 18
| Jos Verstappen
| Tyrrell-Ford
| 1:27.428
| +4.125
|-
! 22
| 20
| Ukyo Katayama
| Minardi-Hart
| 1:28.727
| +5.424
|-
! colspan="6" |107% time : 1:29.134
|-
!colspan="7"|
|}
Race
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos !! No !! Driver !! Constructor !! Laps !! Time/Retired !! Grid !! Points
|-
! 1
| 4
| Heinz-Harald Frentzen
| Williams-Renault
| 62
| 1:31:00.673
| 2
| 10
|-
! 2
| 5
| Michael Schumacher
| Ferrari
| 62
| +1.237
| 3
| 6
|-
! 3
| 6
| Eddie Irvine
| Ferrari
| 62
| +1:18.343
| 9
| 4
|-
! 4
| 12
| Giancarlo Fisichella
| Jordan-Peugeot
| 62
| +1:23.388
| 6
| 3
|-
! 5
| 7
| Jean Alesi
| Benetton-Renault
| 61
| +1 lap
| 14
| 2
|-
! 6
| 9
| Mika Häkkinen
| McLaren-Mercedes
| 61
| +1 lap
| 8
| 1
|-
! 7
| 17
| Nicola Larini
| Sauber-Petronas
| 61
| +1 lap
| 12
|
|-
! 8
| 14
| Olivier Panis
| Prost-Mugen-Honda
| 61
| +1 lap
| 4
|
|-
! 9
| 19
| Mika Salo
| Tyrrell-Ford
| 60
| +2 laps
| 19
|
|-
! 10
| 18
| Jos Verstappen
| Tyrrell-Ford
| 60
| +2 laps
| 21
|
|-
! 11
| 20
| Ukyo Katayama
| Minardi-Hart
| 59
| +3 laps
| 22
|
|-
!
| 2
| Pedro Diniz
| Arrows-Yamaha
| 53
| Gearbox
| 17
|
|-
!
| 3
| Jacques Villeneuve
| Williams-Renault
| 40
| Gearbox
| 1
|
|-
!
| 10
| David Coulthard
| McLaren-Mercedes
| 38
| Engine
| 10
|
|-
!
| 22
| Rubens Barrichello
| Stewart-Ford
| 32
| Engine
| 13
|
|-
!
| 16
| Johnny Herbert
| Sauber-Petronas
| 18
| Electrical
| 7
|
|-
!
| 11
| Ralf Schumacher
| Jordan-Peugeot
| 17
| Transmission
| 5
|
|-
!
| 15
| Shinji Nakano
| Prost-Mugen-Honda
| 11
| Collision
| 18
|
|-
!
| 1
| Damon Hill
| Arrows-Yamaha
| 11
| Collision
| 15
|
|-
!
| 8
| Gerhard Berger
| Benetton-Renault
| 4
| Spun off
| 11
|
|-
!
| 23
| Jan Magnussen
| Stewart-Ford
| 2
| Spun off
| 16
|
|-
!
| 21
| Jarno Trulli
| Minardi-Hart
| 0
| Gearbox
| 20
|
|-
!colspan="8"|
|}
Championship standings after the race
;Drivers' Championship standings
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos
! Driver
! Points
|-
| 1
| Jacques Villeneuve
|align="right"| 20
|-
| 2
| Michael Schumacher
|align="right"| 14
|-
| 3
| Heinz-Harald Frentzen
|align="right"| 10
|-
| 4
| David Coulthard
|align="right"| 10
|-
| 5
| Eddie Irvine
|align="right"| 10
|-
!colspan=4|Source:
|}
;Constructors' Championship standings
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos
! Constructor
! Points
|-
| 1
| Williams-Renault
|align="right"| 30
|-
| 2
| Ferrari
|align="right"| 24
|-
| 3
| McLaren-Mercedes
|align="right"| 20
|-
| 4
| Benetton-Renault
|align="right"| 13
|-
| 5
| Jordan-Peugeot
|align="right"| 7
|-
!colspan=4|Source: