Damon Hill

Damon Hill was born in London in 1960, the son of two-time World Champion Graham Hill. His path to Formula 1 was far from straightforward; he began on motorcycles and reached Grand Prix racing later than most modern drivers. After testing for Williams and racing with Brabham, he earned a full-time Williams seat and suddenly found himself in one of the sport’s most competitive teams. Hill’s career was shaped by pressure, tragedy and resilience. After Ayrton Senna’s death in 1994, he became Williams’ lead figure and fought Michael Schumacher for the championship. He finally won the World Championship in 1996, becoming the first son of an F1 champion to take the title himself. His victory for Jordan at Spa in 1998 also remains one of that team’s greatest moments. After retiring, Hill became a respected broadcaster, commentator and former president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club. His career is sometimes judged through the strength of his cars, but that misses the mental burden he carried. He turned a late, unlikely route into racing into a world title and helped steady Williams through one of its most difficult periods.