Michael Schumacher seems to have got away ...

Published on 11 November 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

Michael Schumacher seems to have got away with a reasonably good result from the F.I.A. hearing this morning. The Ferrari driver saw all his points of the 1997 season being taken away but no punishment for 1998 was given. Effectively he lost his second place in the World Championship. As only his points are taken away, Schumacher keeps the results he scored. This way other drivers will not benifit from Schumacher's exclusion. The new vice-champion is called Heinz Harald Frentzen.

The McLaren and Williams teams are released from any accusations of staging the Jerez results. Williams explained that Villeneuve should not take any risks in trying to keep the lead in the European Grand Prix as he only needed a points-finish to take the championship. Williams did admit that several teams had been approached not to interfere in the Villeneuve-Schumacher battle.