JV, nine years ago

Nine years ago today, at Jerez, the dramatic events of the European Grand Prix were unfolding. The fight for the drivers’ title was at its peak: Michael Schumacher, on 78 points, was leading Jacques Villeneuve by a single point. Everything was still to play for in the final round.

As if to notch up the pressure a little more, the Canadian was on pole position… ahead of his rival. At the start, Schumacher shot into the lead ahead of Frentzen and Villeneuve. The championship rivals made their first stops on laps 22 and 23, with the Ferrari emerging in the lead – and the Canadian’s Williams moving up to second. The second round of stops came and went, on laps 43 and 44, and the order remained unchanged. However, Villeneuve was closing in on his target… As he closed on the Ferrari, he attempted to overtake at the end of the back straight. Schumacher didn’t budge, and even appeared to try and cause a collision. The cars touched, and the Ferrari retired – while the damaged Williams continued.

From that point on, Villeneuve no longer needed a victory to win. He backed off in the final part of the race, letting the McLarens of Hakkinen and Coulthard pass – indeed, that race was Hakkinen’s first Grand Prix win. Villeneuve became champion, while Schumacher was ultimately disqualified from the championship for his actions.

Nine years ago, Renault won its fifth drivers’ title and sixth constructors’. Today, it is celebrating its seventh drivers’ crown and eighth constructors’ after last weekend’s dramatic win in Brazil.