Early Career and Path to Formula 1
Damon Hill, the 1996 FIA Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion, is one of the sport’s most respected figures, remembered for his intense battles with Michael Schumacher and for partnering the late Ayrton Senna at Williams in 1994.
The son of double Formula 1 World Champion Graham Hill, Damon began his racing career relatively late. Working as a dispatch rider to fund his ambitions, he started racing motorcycles in 1984, winning every event he entered that year. He then progressed from Formula Ford to Formula 3 and later Formula 3000. Despite the challenges, he also gained experience in the Saab Championship, which he won, the British Touring Car Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race.
Breakthrough with Williams
Damon’s persistence earned him a role as Williams’ test driver in 1991, followed by promotion to reserve driver in 1992. That same year, he made his Formula 1 debut with Brabham at the British Grand Prix.
In 1993, Damon joined Williams for his first full Formula 1 season, where he secured three wins, 10 podium finishes, and third place in the Drivers’ Championship. His success continued in 1994, with six race victories, including his home Grand Prix at Silverstone. These performances helped the team recover from the tragic loss of his teammate Ayrton Senna in that year’s San Marino Grand Prix.
At the end of an impressive season, Damon narrowly missed the 1994 Drivers’ Championship, losing by a single point after a controversial collision with Michael Schumacher at the Australian Grand Prix. In 1995, he claimed four wins, seven pole positions, and nine podiums, finishing second in the championship once again. By then, Damon was firmly established as one of Formula 1’s leading stars.
World Championship Glory
The pinnacle of Damon’s career came in 1996. Across 16 races, he achieved eight victories, nine pole positions, five fastest laps, and 10 podium finishes. At the Japanese Grand Prix, he clinched his final win of the season and with it, the FIA Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship. This win made Damon the only son of a world champion to also win the title.
Later Career and Historic Wins
In 1997, Damon moved to the Arrows team and then Jordan Grand Prix in 1998. At that year’s Belgian Grand Prix, he delivered Jordan’s first-ever Formula 1 victory, leading a record-breaking 1-2 finish with teammate Ralf Schumacher.
Over his career, Damon secured 22 Grand Prix wins, placing him among the top 15 winning drivers in Formula 1 history. He is one of only four people to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice and was awarded an OBE in the 1997 New Year’s Honors List.
Beyond Formula 1
After retiring from racing in 1999, Damon pursued various business ventures and succeeded Jackie Stewart as President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club. From 2012 to 2024, he was a key member of the Sky Sports F1 broadcasting team, and in 2025 he continues his broadcasting career with Australia’s Network 10.