Date of birth : 18 May 1967
Birthplace : Mönchengladbach
Marital status : Married to Tanya, 1 child
Height : 170 cm
Weight : 68 kg

Wins : 3
Points scored : 161
Number of GP : 143
Pole Position : 2
Podiums : 17
First GP : 1994 (Interlagos)
Best result : 1




P R O F I L E

Heinz-Harald Frentzen began his Formula1 career with Sauber, before moving to Williams after three seasons. His time with the British team was not his most successful as he found he could not get on with the impersonal atmosphere there, despite winning his maiden Grand Prix at San Marino in 1997 and finishing second in the championship the same year, when Michael Schumacher was disqualified.

In 1998 he made the podium only once with third in the first race at Melbourne. When Williams let him go, Eddie Jordan was there to slot him into the position left vacant by the discontented Ralf Schumacher. It proved an inspired decision.

In 1999 he really came into his own, as the Irish team's lead driver, Damon Hill, was experiencing a dip in performance. Frentzen took over as number one and won two Grands Prix, in France and Italy, helping the outfit secure their best ever result of third place in the constructors' league.

He outpaced his World Champion teammate, Damon Hill all season and 2000 saw the 1996 champion retiring, his empty seat taken by Italian driver, Jarno Trulli. Together the du had hoped to retain that their place Heinz had fought so hard to achieve, however constant reliability problems saw them drop back to sixth in the constructors championship with Heinz finishing ninth in the drivers battle.

With the addition of works Honda engines for 2001, Heinz-Harald was hoping he would be back at the front of the grid again, fighting to reclaim the positions lost last year. However after some dismal performances and some heavy shunts that saw him sit out the Canadian Grand Prix, the German was let go in a shock sacking right before his home Grand Prix at Hockenheim in July. Sitting the race out, he was soon contracted to Prost for the remaining five races after Jean Alesi took up residence in the EJ11 for Jordan. Unfortunately Prost fell into the hands of the receivers at the end of 2001 due to their dire financial problems and despite wanting to remain with the French outfit, Heinz moved on to the Orange Arrows outfit to partner Enrique Bernoldi for the 2002 season. 

Once again his season was thrown into turmoil after financial problems plagued the Walkinshaw run outfit and he eventually walked away from the team after they continued to sit out the scheduled races. A off on appearance in the American Grand Prix after Sauber Petronas' regular driver Felipe Massa was to be penalized for an incident at the Italian Grand Prix, led to a position with the Swiss based squad in 2003. 




C A R E E R  H I G H L I G H T S