Category Formula One Designer(s) Gabriele Tredozi Successor M198 | Constructor Minardi Predecessor M195B Chassis carbon-fibre monocoque | |
The Minardi M197 was the car with which the Minardi Formula One team competed in the 1997 Formula One season. It was initially driven by Ukyo Katayama, who moved from Tyrrell, and Jarno Trulli, the reigning German Formula Three champion. However, Trulli would be called up to Prost Grand Prix following Olivier Panis' serious accident in Montréal, and the team would select part-time 1996 driver Tarso Marques to take over his vacated seat.
The year saw investment from Fondmetal, ensuring the team's budget. The car was a neat chassis but had an underpowered (albeit well-prepared) V8 engine from Brian Hart, which left the team at the bottom of the grid, although the newly acquired Bridgestone tyres did allow them to occasionally challenge Tyrrell. Minardi also had the satisfaction of comfortably beating debutants MasterCard Lola, despite the British team's experience in motor racing.
The team were unclassified in the Constructors' Championship, with no points.
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)