1997 · TECHNICAL
1997 Technical Regulations
1997 carried the 3.0L atmospheric engine formula forward. The year's best-remembered technical controversy was 'brake steer' — independent left/right rear-brake actuation used by McLaren and Williams to rotate the car into corners. The FIA outlawed it mid-season. Bridgestone entered as a tyre supplier, beginning the Goodyear vs Bridgestone tyre war that ran through 1998. Jacques Villeneuve took the driver title with Williams-Renault, concluded by his infamous collision with Schumacher at the Jerez finale.
Brake-steer banned mid-season
McLaren and Williams used a third pedal or a hand-operated lever that applied brake force to one rear wheel independently, helping the car rotate into slow corners. The FIA ruled the device a driver aid and outlawed it via Technical Directive mid-season. The short-lived era remains a case study in the ambiguity of 'driver aid' definitions in the post-1994 ban.
Goodyear vs Bridgestone tyre war begins
Bridgestone entered F1 as a second tyre supplier alongside Goodyear. The tyre war pushed both suppliers to develop circuit-specific and team-specific compounds, producing large swings in qualifying pace depending on tyre choice. The war continued through 1998 before Goodyear withdrew at year-end.
Last updated: 2026-04-24
This summary is editorial material prepared by F1pedia for general F1 audiences. It is not a legal reference. For binding rule text, consult the official FIA document.