Category Formula One Designer(s) Pat Symonds
Nick Wirth Successor B198 | Constructor Benetton Predecessor B196 | |
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Chassis carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure | ||
The Benetton B197 was the car with which the Benetton Formula One team competed in the 1997 Formula One season. It was driven by Jean Alesi and 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 1997 Canadian Grand Prix.
The car was a development of the B196, from which both drivers had found difficult to extract maximum performance in 1996. The B197 proved competitive at nearly every race, but only scored one win when Berger made his faultless return to the cockpit at Hockenheim. The main problem with the car was its inability to bring its tyres up to temperature on low-grip circuits, particularly in qualifying. However, Berger and Alesi did secure one pole position each during the course of the season. By the end of the season, it was clear that Benetton would adopt a new driver line-up for 1998, with Berger retiring and Alesi moving to Sauber.
The team eventually finished third in the Constructors' Championship, with 67 points. The Benetton B197 can still be seen competing in the EuroBoss series.
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)