Luxembourg Grand Prix

Luxembourg Grand Prix

Nürburgring (Germany)
Race information
Laps	67
Circuit length	4.556 km (2.83 mi)
Race length	305.252 km (189.66 mi)
Number of times held	6
First held	1949
Last held	1998
Most wins (drivers)	no repeat winners
Most wins (constructors)	Cooper (2) Ferrari (2)
Last race (1998):
Pole position	Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:18.561
Podium	1. Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes 1:32:14.789 2. Michael Schumacher Ferrari +2.211s 3. David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes +34.163s
Fastest lap	Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.450

The Luxembourg Grand Prix (Großer Preis von Luxemburg) was the name given to two races of the FIA Formula One World Championship, held in 1997 and 1998. The FIA rulings for Formula One stipulate that no country be allowed more than one race. However, the FIA has got around this ruling in the past by running Grands Prix under another name; although the Imola circuit is not in San Marino, races held there have been run under the title of the San Marino Grand Prix as the circuit is nearby.

In 1997, there were two Grands Prix in Spain and two in Germany. Barcelona hosted the Spanish Grand Prix whilst Jerez hosted the European Grand Prix; in Germany, Hockenheim hosted the German Grand Prix and a second race was planned for the Nürburgring. The FIA decided to name the race the Luxembourg Grand Prix as the circuit was located some fifty miles from the Germany-Luxembourg border, thereby circumventing the ban on two races having the same name. The 1998 race was also known as the Luxembourg Grand Prix despite no European Grand Prix taking place; the rights to the European Grand Prix had been revoked from the organisers of the race after an incident on the podium in 1997, and they refused to allow the Nürburgring to use the title. From 1999 on, the Nürburgring hosted its race under the title of the European Grand Prix.

History

1997

results: 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix

As it was, the Luxembourg Grand Prix provided a moment in history, as Renault powered cars took the first four places at the finish with Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault) taking first place. The race was also Villeneuve's final F1 victory.

For a long time it looked as if Mika Häkkinen would take his first F1 win as he pulled away at the front from his McLaren team-mate David Coulthard. However in the space of one lap both McLarens had pulled out of the race with blown engines allowing Villeneuve to move close to an eventual World Championship. Michael Schumacher's race was over by the end of the first lap after brother Ralf Schumacher collided with his team-mate at the first corner causing suspension damage and retirement to the Ferrari.

1998

results: 1998 Luxembourg Grand Prix

1998 saw Mika Häkkinen gain revenge for his engine failure at the previous race by taking victory at this one, with Michael Schumacher second despite qualifying on pole, and team-mate Coulthard third. Häkkinen went on to win the World Championship in the final race at Suzuka; interestingly, this means that every winner of the Luxembourg GP went on to win that year's World Championship.

Winners of the Luxembourg Grand Prix

Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.

Year	Driver	Constructor	Location	Report
1998	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Nürburgring GP-Strecke	Report
1997	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Renault		Report
1996 - 1953	Not held
1952	Les Leston [1]	Cooper	Findel	Report
1951	Alan Brown [2]	Cooper-Norton		Report
1950	Alberto Ascari [3]	Ferrari		Report
1949	Luigi Villoresi [4]	Findel		Report

References