Damon Hill

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hill is the son of two-time Formula One World Champion Graham Hill, and, along with Nico Rosberg, one of two sons of a Formula One World Champion to also win the title. He started racing on motorbikes in 1981. Hill became a test driver for Williams in 1992 and was promoted to the race team in 1993 after Riccardo Patrese's departure. He took his first victory at the 1993 Hungarian Grand Prix. During the mid-1990s, Hill was Michael Schumacher's main rival; their collision at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix resulted in both drivers retiring, and Schumacher's title was confirmed by the points gap. Hill became champion with eight wins, but Williams did not renew his contract for the following season. He later drove for Arrows and Jordan, giving Jordan their first win. Hill retired after leaving Jordan. In 2006, he became president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, stepping down in 2011. He later worked as part of the Sky Sports F1 broadcasting support team.

In Their Own Story

The 1993 Hungarian Grand Prix marked a turning point for Damon Hill at Williams. Starting his first full season with the team, he finally converted his potential into victory on the Hungaroring circuit. This win was just the beginning of a successful partnership that would see him challenge for the title against Michael Schumacher in subsequent years. The 1994 Australian Grand Prix remains a painful memory; a collision with Schumacher at Adelaide cost Hill the championship by a single point, handing the title to his rival. Despite this setback, Hill's resilience shone through in 1996. Driving the Williams FW18, he navigated a competitive field and internal pressure to claim the World Drivers' Championship with eight wins. His victory was celebrated as a personal triumph over years of near-misses and tragedy, proving he could stand tall under the weight of his father's legacy.

Reader's Guide

Hill started his motorsport career in motorcycle racing in 1981. He moved to single-seaters in 1983 after a racing car course in France. He graduated through British Formula Ford, winning six races in 1985. He competed in British Formula Three from 1986 to 1988, finishing third in the 1988 championship. He made his Formula 3000 debut in 1988 and raced in the series through 1990 without a win. He began his Formula One career as a test driver for Williams in 1991 while still in F3000. Midway through 1992, he broke into Grand Prix racing with the Brabham team, qualifying for two races. He joined Williams as a race driver in 1993, taking the number 0 on his car. He won the World Championship in 1996 with eight wins.

Did You Know?

• Hill is one of only two drivers to have carried the number 0 in Formula One history, and the only one to have carried it twice.
• He worked as a motorcycle courier and building labourer to fund his early racing career.
• Hill's father Graham Hill died in an aeroplane crash in 1975 when Damon was 15.
• Hill is a patron of the Down's Syndrome Association and of Disability Africa.