 Heading into the final race of the season , two drivers were still in contention for the World Drivers ' Championship . Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher was leading with 78 points ; Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve was second with 77 points , one point behind Schumacher . Behind Schumacher and Villeneuve in the Drivers ' Championship , Heinz @-@ Harald Frentzen was third on 41 points in the other Williams , with Jean Alesi and David Coulthard on 36 and 30 points respectively . Villeneuve had won two more races than Schumacher during the season , meaning that in the event of a tie on points , the rules stated Villeneuve would be world champion . 
