Double French podium

Jean Alesi who finished in P3 in a Benetton-Renault and Olivier Panis who brought his Prost Mugen-Honda home in P2, congratulate each other (picture-below) after the race for this double podium finish for the French colours, at the 1997 Spanish Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmélo.

The race was won from pole position by Canadian Jacques Villeneuve driving a Williams-Renault. The win, Villeneuve’s third of the season, put him back in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship by three points from Michael Schumacher, who finished fourth in his Ferrari.

Prost Grand Prix had a decent 1997 season with two podiums in Brazil and Spain for Olivier Panis, until he broke his leg in an accident at the Canadian Grand Prix, and was replaced by Jarno Trulli. The team finished sixth in the final standings, a championship won by Williams and Jacques Villeneuve.