German Grand Prix 1997 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Gerhard Berger claimed victory at his home German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, converting pole position into a dominant win for Benetton-Renault. The Austrian driver, in his final season before retirement, delivered a masterful performance in front of passionate German fans near the Austrian border. Michael Schumacher finished second for Ferrari, extending his championship challenge despite not winning, while Mika Häkkinen secured third place for McLaren-Mercedes with another solid points finish.

The result was emotional for Berger, proving he could still win races at age 37 despite being in the twilight of his career. Jacques Villeneuve could only finish fifth after struggling with his Williams' handling, allowing Schumacher to close the championship gap to just nine points with seven races remaining. The title fight was intensifying with both drivers trading victories and neither able to break away decisively.