Benetton B197
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The Benetton B197 is a Formula One racing car with which the Benetton team competed in the 1997 Formula One World Championship. There it was driven by Frenchman Jean Alesi and Austrian Gerhard Berger, who were both in their second season with the team. However, Berger was forced to sit out three races in the middle of the season due to sinus problems, and compatriot Alexander Wurz made his F1 début by deputising for him, starting at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Jean Alesi driving the B197 at the 1997 Italian Grand Prix
Ulf Ehninger driving the B197 at the Red Bull Ring
The 1997 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 51st season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1997 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1997 Formula One World Championship for Constructors, which were contested concurrently over a seventeen-race series that commenced on 9 March and ended on 26 October.
Villeneuve's teammate, Heinz-Harald Frentzen (pictured in 2006), was runner-up with 42 points following Michael Schumacher's disqualification from the standings at the end of the year. He had moved from Sauber to Williams for 1997.
David Coulthard (pictured in 1995), finished the season ranked third for McLaren.
Michael Schumacher (pictured in 1998) was disqualified from the championship after colliding with Villeneuve during the last race.