Damon Hill was the first son of a world champion (Graham Hill) to claim the title for himself, with Williams in 1996.
Hill made his F1 debut with the struggling Brabham team in 1992 but was already working as test driver for Williams. This meant he was in the right place at the right time to get a top-line drive alongside Alain Prost in 1993. Hill scored his first Grand Prix in Hungary and immediately followed it up with two further wins.
An extended apprenticeship alongside Ayrton Senna beckoned for 1994 but Senna’s tragic demise put paid to that. Nonetheless Hill put in a stoic championship bid that was only foiled when Michael Schumacher took him out at the final round.
After a dismal 1995 Hill took revenge – and the title – before being kicked out of Williams. He came within half a lap of giving Arrows their only win, but the following year did give that honour to Jordan in Belgium. He retired after a poor 1999 season, dissatisfied with how Formula One cars handled on the recently introduced grooved tyres.
Image © Williams/LAT
