Editing Jacques Villeneuve (section)

====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}}