David Coulthard won the 1997 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, marking McLaren's first F1 victory since 1993 and Bridgestone's debut as a competitor tyre supplier.
Key Facts
- Winner
- David Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
- Race length
- 58 laps
- Pole position
- Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault)
- MasterCard Lola qualifying deficit
- Over 11 seconds off pole time
- Pre-event entries
- 24
- UK broadcast
- First F1 race on ITV, commentary by Murray Walker
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1997 Formula One World Championship opened at Albert Park, Melbourne, with 24 entries including newcomers Bridgestone as a tyre supplier and several debutant drivers. Jacques Villeneuve claimed pole position for Williams-Renault, but both he and reigning champion Damon Hill were eliminated before the race could properly unfold.
David Coulthard, starting from fourth on the grid, drove his McLaren-Mercedes to victory over 58 laps on 9 March 1997. Michael Schumacher finished second in a Ferrari and Mika Häkkinen third, while Villeneuve retired following a first-lap collision and Hill failed to start due to throttle failure on the formation lap.
Coulthard's win ended a four-year victory drought for McLaren dating back to the 1993 Australian Grand Prix. The race also established Bridgestone as a credible rival to Goodyear in F1, introduced Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Shinji Nakano to the championship, and marked the first Formula One broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom.
Result
at Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne