Australian Grand Prix 1997 - Race Schedule and Countdown

David Coulthard secured a surprise victory in the 1997 season opener at Melbourne, as several favorites encountered problems in a chaotic race. Pole-sitter Jacques Villeneuve dominated from the front but retired with a mechanical failure while leading comfortably, handing the win to his McLaren-Mercedes teammate Coulthard. Michael Schumacher recovered from early problems to finish second for Ferrari, while Mika Häkkinen completed an unexpected McLaren one-three after a strong drive through the field.

The race was marred by a spectacular first-lap incident when Johnny Herbert's Sauber became airborne after contact with Eddie Irvine's Ferrari, underlining the dangers of the Albert Park circuit. Villeneuve's retirement was a bitter pill for Williams after dominating qualifying and the early race, suggesting the team would face reliability challenges despite their speed advantage. The result gave Coulthard and McLaren an early championship lead, though few expected them to maintain it against the Williams-Renault and Ferrari juggernauts.