McLaren’s David Coulthard gasped a sigh of relief after his victory at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix on 9 March, as the Scot broke a long winless drought of his own. The opening race of the 1997 season in Melbourne was led by a Williams front-row lockout, as Jacques Villeneuve headed new teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen. There was early drama when reigning world champion Damon Hill, who was replaced by Frentzen at Williams, suffered a throttle jam during the formation lap in his new Arrows colours. Hill was surprisingly left to defend his title in 1997 with Arrows after being dropped by Williams. Villeneuve also had an early end to his afternoon, sideswiped by Eddie Irvine in his...
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