Editing Jacques Villeneuve (section)

===Williams (1996–1998)===
In early 1995, the [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]] F1 team and engine supplier [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] became interested in Villeneuve replacing the outgoing [[David Coulthard]]. [[Bernie Ecclestone]], F1's commercial rights holder, saw this as an opportunity to lure Villeneuve from CART even though Team Green wanted him to remain in America.<ref name=StatsF195>{{Cite web|title=Jacques Villeneuve Chez Williams|trans-title=Jacques Villeneuve at Williams|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/1995/villeneuve-williams.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=3 June 2021|publisher=StatsF1|language=fr|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603144901/https://www.statsf1.com/en/1995/villeneuve-williams.aspx}}</ref> Technical director [[Patrick Head]] and team principal [[Frank Williams (Formula One)|Frank Williams]] gave Villeneuve a test in a [[Williams FW17|FW17]] car at Britain's [[Silverstone Circuit]] in August 1995. He lapped two seconds slower than driver [[Damon Hill]].{{efn|Williams issued press releases incorrectly saying Villeneuve was eight-tenths of a second slower than Hill.<ref name=StatsF195/>}}{{Sfn|Newey|2017|p=236}} Negotiations between Villeneuve's representatives in mid-1995 led to Villeneuve signing a contract for [[1996 Formula One World Championship|1996]] and [[1997 Formula One World Championship|1997]] with the option for the [[1998 Formula One World Championship|1998 season]].<ref name=StatsF195/>{{Sfn|Collings|Edworthy|2011|pp=268–277}} He was sent by Frank Williams to cover {{Convert|6000|mi|km|abbr=on}} in testing during the six-month pre-season period testing on permanent European racing circuits,{{sfn|Collings|1997|pp=154–163, 167–189}}{{sfn|Camus|2007|p=187}} and he also prepared by learning the circuits on a simulation computer game.{{Sfn|Sparling|1999|pp=44–48}}

====1996====
[[File:Jacques Villeneuve 1996.jpg|thumb|Villeneuve driving for Williams at the {{F1GP||1996 Canadian}}]]

Villeneuve drove the docile [[Williams FW18|FW18]] car equipped with a powerful, reliable Renault engine and a better [[Transmission (mechanics)|gearbox]].{{sfn|Camus|2007|p=187}}<ref name="Sportsworld" /> Villeneuve built up a rapport with his race engineer [[Jock Clear]] and learnt from his teammate Hill.<ref name="F1R2014Interview" /><ref name="JV2017Interview" /> Although not considered a title favourite by the media,{{sfn|Lecours|1998|p=251}} he contended for the [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|World Drivers' Championship]] with Hill but never led the standings. Villeneuve's debut at the season-opening {{F1GP|1996|Australian}} saw him become the third driver ever to claim pole position on his first start,{{Sfn|Sparling|1999|pp=44–48}} and despite an [[Oil spill|oil leak]], he finished second.<ref name="Sportsworld">{{cite journal|last=Jacob|first=K. O.|title=Born to Drive |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.11836/page/n1037/|journal=[[Sportsworld (magazine)|Sportsworld]]|volume=17|issue=17|date=5–18 June 1996|access-date=31 May 2021|pages=33–36|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> He beat Ferrari's [[Michael Schumacher]] in the {{F1GP|1996|European}} three races later for his maiden F1 victory.{{Sfn|Sparling|1999|pp=44–48}} Villeneuve scored [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|points]] in eight of the next eleven events and won the {{F1GP|1996|British}}, the {{F1GP|1996|Hungarian}} and the {{F1GP|1996|Portuguese}}.{{sfn|Collings|1997|pp=154–163, 167–189}} Entering the season-ending {{F1GP|1996|Japanese}}, he had nine fewer points than Hill, requiring him to win the event and for Hill to score no points to claim the title;{{sfn|Collings|1997|pp=154–163, 167–189}}{{Sfn|Walker|Arron|p=133|1996}} however, Villeneuve's right-rear tyre came off his car, forcing him to retire from the race. He finished runner-up to Hill in the drivers' standings with 78 points in his maiden season.{{sfn|Collings|1997|pp=154–163, 167–189}}{{Sfn|Collings|Edworthy|2011|pp=268–277}} Villeneuve was the first rookie to achieve four Grand Prix victories in his debut year and the first to finish runner-up overall.{{efn|[[Lewis Hamilton]] equalled each of these records driving for [[McLaren]] in the [[2007 Formula One World Championship|2007 season]].{{Sfn|Jones|2015|pp=18, 22}}}}{{Sfn|Jones|2015|pp=18, 22}}

====1997====

[[File:Williams FW19 Great-Britain 1997-edit.jpg|thumb|left|Jacques Villeneuve racing the [[Williams FW19]] car at the {{F1GP||1997 British}}.]]

Before the 1997 season, Williams did not re-sign Hill who moved to the [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]] team, resulting in Villeneuve's promotion to lead driver. He was paired with [[Heinz-Harald Frentzen]].{{Sfn|Collings|Edworthy|2011|pp=268–277, 316, 320}}<ref name=USA1997>{{Cite news|last=Winner|first=Christopher|date=8 May 1997|title=Villeneuve explores limits '95 Indy champ, Formula One driver embraces speed and risk|page=C8|work=USA Today|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/408736641|url-access=subscription|access-date=9 June 2021|id={{ProQuest|408736641}}|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625054043/https://www.proquest.com/docview/408736641|url-status=live}}</ref> He and Schumacher vied for that year's World Drivers' Championship and variously shared the title lead.{{Sfn|Collings|Edworthy|2011|pp=268–277, 316, 320}} Villeneuve trained extensively and drove an aerodynamically efficient and powerful [[Williams FW19|FW19]] car designed around him.<ref name="JV2017Interview" />{{sfn|Camus|2007|p=207}} He won seven {{Not a typo|Grands Prix}} and qualified on pole position eight times in the first 14 races. At the season's penultimate race, the {{F1GP|1997|Japanese}}, he had a chance to win the championship but was banned for overtaking under [[Racing flags#Yellow flag|yellow flag]] conditions twice during practice. He was allowed to race under appeal but was disqualified from fifth when the appeal was rejected.{{Sfn|Collings|Edworthy|2011|pp=268–277, 316, 320}}{{Sfn|Sparling|1999|pp=57–59, 65–71}} Before the season-ending {{F1GP|1997|European}}, Villeneuve had 77 points, one fewer than Schumacher, requiring him to finish in the top six and ahead of Schumacher to win the championship.<ref>{{cite news|title=Schumacher, Villeneuve race to the final wire|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/353061826|work=[[The Kingston Whig-Standard]]|page=30|date=25 October 1997|access-date=3 June 2021|id={{ProQuest|353061826}}|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607135301/https://www.proquest.com/docview/353061826|url-status=live}}</ref> During qualifying, Villeneuve, Schumacher and Frentzen all set the exact same lap time, but Villeneuve started from pole position per F1 regulations because he was the first driver to set the time. Villeneuve and Schumacher were involved in a collision that saw Schumacher careen into a [[Run-off area|gravel trap]], giving the title to Villeneuve.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-10-27 |title=Villeneuve fouled, but takes F-1 title |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1997/oct/27/villeneuve-fouled-but-takes-f-1-title/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Las Vegas Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McMullen |first=Jeremy |date=2014-04-08 |title=1997 European Grand Prix: A Page from a Father's Book |url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/a6959/1997-european-grand-prix-a-page-from-a-fathers-book.aspx |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Conceptcarz.com |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208044733/https://www.conceptcarz.com/a6959/1997-european-grand-prix-a-page-from-a-fathers-book.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Villeneuve became the second driver (after [[Mario Andretti]]) to win the F1 World Championship, the CART title, and the Indianapolis 500. He was also Canada's first F1 World Champion.{{Sfn|Sparling|1999|pp=57–59, 65–71}}

====1998====
Villeneuve threatened to leave F1 and return to CART if F1 introduced grooved tyres and narrower cars for the 1998 season.<ref name="McLean1997Profile" /><ref name=USA1997/> Though these changes were adopted, he remained at Williams with Frentzen. Villeneuve's [[Williams FW20|FW20]] car had one-year old [[Mecachrome]]-branded engines after Renault's withdrawal from F1 after the 1997 season, which transpired to be noncompetitive.<ref name="JV2017Interview" />{{Sfn|Downey|1998|pp=7, 20, 126}} He scored points at nine {{Not a typo|Grands Prix}} with season-high third place finishes at the {{F1GP|1998|German}} and the {{F1GP|1998|Hungarian}}. During practice for the {{F1GP|1998|Belgian}}, he lost control of his car in Eau Rouge corner and crashed backwards into the barrier at approximately {{Convert|170|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Villeneuve was unhurt.{{Sfn|Sparling|1999|pp=74–77}} With 21 points, he finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship.{{Sfn|Downey|1998|pp=7, 20, 126}}