Number of times held 6 Last held 1998 Circuit length 4.556 km (2.83 mi) | First held 1949 Most wins (drivers) No repeat winners | |
 | ||
Most wins (constructors) Cooper (2)
Ferrari (2) | ||
The Luxembourg Grand Prix (German: Großer Preis von Luxemburg) was the name given to two races of the FIA Formula One World Championship, held in 1997 and 1998. The FIA rulings for Formula One stipulate that no country be allowed more than one race. However, the FIA has got around this ruling in the past by running Grands Prix under another name; although the Imola circuit is not in San Marino, races held there have been run under the title of the San Marino Grand Prix as the circuit is nearby.
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In 1997, there were two Grands Prix in Spain and two in Germany. Barcelona hosted the Spanish Grand Prix whilst Jerez hosted the European Grand Prix; in Germany, Hockenheim hosted the German Grand Prix and a second race was planned for the Nürburgring. The FIA decided to name the race the Luxembourg Grand Prix as the circuit was located some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the Germany-Luxembourg border, thereby circumventing the ban on two races having the same name. The 1998 race was also known as the Luxembourg Grand Prix despite no European Grand Prix taking place; the rights to the European Grand Prix had been revoked from the organisers of the race after an incident on the podium in 1997, and they refused to allow the Nürburgring to use the title. From 1999 on, the Nürburgring hosted its race under the title of the European Grand Prix. From 2008–2012 it was no longer called "The European Grand Prix" as it was replaced by the race being held at the Valencia Street Circuit, returning to its main title "The German Grand Prix".
1997
As it was, the Luxembourg Grand Prix provided a moment in history, as Renault powered cars took the first four places at the finish with Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault) taking first place. The race was also Villeneuve's final F1 victory.
For a long time it looked as if Mika Häkkinen would take his first F1 win as he pulled away at the front from his McLaren team-mate David Coulthard. However in the space of one lap both McLarens had pulled out of the race with blown engines allowing Villeneuve to move close to an eventual World Championship. Michael Schumacher's race was over by the end of the first lap after brother Ralf Schumacher collided with his team-mate at the first corner causing suspension damage and retirement to the Ferrari.
1998
1998 saw Mika Häkkinen gain revenge for his engine failure at the previous race by taking victory at this one, with Michael Schumacher second despite qualifying on pole, and team-mate Coulthard third. Häkkinen went on to win the World Championship in the final race at Suzuka; interestingly, this means that every winner of the Luxembourg GP went on to win that year's World Championship.
Winners of the Luxembourg Grand Prix
Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.