Editing Damon Hill (section)

==Career==

===Motorcycling===
[[File:Damon Hill helmet.jpg|thumb|right|Hill's helmet]]
Hill started his motorsport career in [[motorcycle racing]] in 1981. He used the same simple, easily identifiable helmet design as his father: eight white oar blades arranged vertically around the upper surface of a dark blue helmet. The device and colours represent the [[London Rowing Club]] for which Graham Hill rowed in the early 1950s.{{sfnp|Henry|1994|p=8}} Although he won a 350&nbsp;cc clubman's championship at the [[Brands Hatch]] circuit,{{sfnp|Walker|Taylor|2005|p=126}} his racing budget came from working as a building labourer. He also worked as a dispatch rider for Apollo Despatch in London, then later Special Delivery, a London motorcycle dispatch company and was provided TZ350 racing bikes by them.{{sfnp|Henry|1994|p=32}} 

===Single-seaters===

His mother, who was concerned about the dangers of racing motorcycles, persuaded him to take a racing car course at the Winfield Racing School in France in 1983.{{sfnp|Hamilton|Hill|1994|p=9}} Although he showed "above-average aptitude",{{sfnp|Henry|1994|p=32}} Hill had only sporadic single-seater races until the end of 1984. He graduated through British [[Formula Ford]], winning six races driving a [[Van Diemen]] for Manadient Racing in 1985, his first full season in cars, and finishing third and fifth in the two UK national championships. He also took third place in the final of the 1985 [[Formula Ford Festival]], helping the UK to win the team prize.{{sfnp|Henry|1994|pp=29–36}}

====British F3====

For 1986, Hill planned to move up to the [[BRDC British Formula 3 Championship|British Formula Three Championship]] with title-winning team [[West Surrey Racing]]. The loss of sponsorship from Ricoh, and then the death of his proposed teammate Bertrand Fabi in a testing accident, ended Hill's proposed drive. Hill says "When Bert was killed, I took the conscious decision that I wasn't going to stop doing that sort of thing. It's not just competing, it's doing something more exciting. I'm at my fullest skiing, racing or whatever. And I'm more frightened of letting it all slip and reaching 60 and finding I've done nothing."{{sfnp|Henry|1994|pp=37–40}} Hill borrowed £100,000 to finance his racing thanks to a sponsorship deal with Cellnet, as he explained to the ''Fuelling Around'' podcast. The deal involved the sales expertise of David Hunt, brother of F1 driver [[James Hunt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/blog/2023/01/fuelling-around-podcast-damon-hill|title=Fuelling Around podcast: Damon Hill on Formula 1, sponsorship and his musical past|publisher=Adrian Flux|date=25 January 2023|access-date=25 June 2024|archive-date=25 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625150618/https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/blog/2023/01/fuelling-around-podcast-damon-hill/|url-status=live}}</ref> He had a steady first season for Murray Taylor Racing in 1986 before taking a brace of wins in each of the following years for Intersport. He finished third in the 1988 British F3 championship.{{sfnp|Henry|1994|pp=41–46}}

====Formula 3000====

Hill made his F3000 debut with [[Gary Ayles|GA Motorsport]] in the final two rounds of the [[1988 International Formula 3000 Championship|1988 International F3000 Season]].

In Europe in the 1990s, a successful driver would usually progress from Formula Three either directly to Formula One, the pinnacle of the sport, or to the [[International Formula 3000]] championship. However, for 1989, Hill did not have enough sponsorship available to fund a drive in F3000. He says "I ended up having to reappraise my career a bit. The first thing was to realise how lucky I was to be driving anything. I made the decision that whatever I drove I would do it to the best of my ability and see where it led."<ref name=GPcom>{{cite web |last=Saward |first=Joe |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00115.html |title=Interview: Damon Hill |work=GrandPrix.com |date=1 April 1992 |access-date=27 June 2006 |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318021807/http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00115.html |archive-date=18 March 2006}}</ref> He had a couple of outings with Cobra International in the lower level [[British Formula 3000|British F3000 championship]], securing a podium 3rd place at [[Oulton Park]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/drivers/damon-hill/ | title=Damon Hill • F1 career, 1996 title win & more &#124; Motorsport Database }}</ref> Midway through the season, an opportunity arose at the uncompetitive Mooncraft F3000 team. The team tested Hill and [[Perry McCarthy]]. Their performances were comparable but according to the team manager, John Wickham, the team sponsors preferred the Hill name.{{sfnp|Henry|1994|p=58}} Although his best result was a 14th place, Hill's race performances for Mooncraft led to an offer to drive a [[Lola Cars|Lola]] chassis for Middlebridge Racing in 1990. He took three pole positions and led five races in 1990, but did not win a race during his Formula 3000 career.<ref name=GPcom />

===Tin-tops===

====One-Make Racing====

During the 1987 season, he made the odd appearance in various one-make tin-top racing events, including [[Austin Metro|MG Metro]] Turbos,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/formula-three-driver-damon-hill-acquaints-himself-with-the-news-photo/2184513220 | title=Formula Three driver Damon Hill acquaints himself with the MG Metro | date=13 November 2024 }}</ref> (a press release photo depicted him posing with the #18 car,<ref>https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2184513266/photo/mg-metro-challenge.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=qXWeAn4O_LHKGYJoMcsfrEPonTq2SkHHmC14s5Gsq7w=</ref> that [[Barbara Cowell]] drove that year,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/trackside/49716362067/in/photostream/lightbox/ | title=Barbara Cowell - MG Metro Turbo }}</ref> but he actually substituted for [[Barry McGuigan]] in the #16 car,<ref >https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EY8gta8iy/</ref><ref>https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GbpabGXWwAAzR2V.jpg</ref> following the recent death of [[Pat McGuigan]].) [[Austin Maestro|MG Maestros]], [[Saab 900]] Turbos and a [[Ford Escort (Europe)|Ford Escort]] Celebrity race.

He finished 3rd at Silverstone in the Maestro series, after fighting for the lead with [[Gary Brabham]] early on. (Brabham won but neither were eligible for points as they were guest drivers.)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zJsa2RJnuE0 | title=MG Maestro Challenge 1987. Silverstone Race. Damon Hill in D129OOE | website=[[YouTube]] | date=21 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://flickr.com/photos/trackside/49734741467/ | title=Damon Hill - MG Maestro EFi - Silverstone 1987 | date=4 April 2020 }}</ref>

He won, and set fastest lap, at Brands Hatch in the Saab series as a substitute for [[Tiff Needell]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jFDiPLoWqtk | title=BARC: Saab Turbo Mobil Challenge | website=[[YouTube]] | date=10 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://motorsportwinners.com/defunct/saab-turbo-challenge/ | title=Saab Turbo Challenge (1986-1988) | date=30 October 2011 }}</ref>

He came 2nd in the Escort race at Brands Hatch that October, sharing with Peter Waller.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://forums.autosport.com/topic/227943-daley-thompson-ford-escort-1987/ | title=Daley Thompson Ford Escort 1987 - the Nostalgia Forum }}</ref>

====Le Mans====

In 1989, he shared a [[Porsche 962]] at [[1989 24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] for [[Richard Lloyd Racing]], where the engine failed after 228&nbsp;laps.{{sfnp|Henry|1994|p=54}} 

====British Touring Car Championship====

In 1990, he competed in a one hour Endurance race in the [[British Touring Car Championship]] at [[Donington Park]], co-driving the [[Ford Sierra|Ford Sierra RS500]] usually driven by Sean Walker, the pair finished 4th.<ref name=BTCCProfile>{{cite web| url=http://www.btcc.net/html/history_driver_detail.php?id=31&PHPSESSID=7a022d867dfed7e131167400c7c5fae1| title=BTCC Drivers/Damon Hill| publisher=BTCC.net| access-date=22 October 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210070135/http://www.btcc.net/html/history_driver_detail.php?id=31&PHPSESSID=7a022d867dfed7e131167400c7c5fae1| archive-date=10 February 2012}}</ref>

===Formula One===

====Brabham (1992)====
Hill started his Grand Prix career during the [[1991 Formula One World Championship|1991 season]] as a test driver with the championship-winning [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]] team while still competing in the F3000 series.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/news/drivers/dhill.html |title=Damon Hill |year=1999 |publisher=Atlas F1 |access-date=22 October 2008 |archive-date=15 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315091110/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/news/drivers/dhill.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, midway through {{F1|1992}} Hill broke into Grand Prix racing as a driver with the dying [[Brabham]] team. The formerly competitive team was in serious financial difficulties. Hill started the season only after three races, replacing [[Giovanna Amati]] after her sponsorship had failed to materialise.{{sfnp|Newman|2014|p=181}} Amati had been unable to get the car through qualifying but Hill matched his teammate, [[Eric van de Poele]], by qualifying for two races, the mid-season [[1992 British Grand Prix|British]] and [[1992 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungarian]] Grands Prix. Hill continued to test for the Williams team that year and the British Grand Prix saw [[Nigel Mansell]] win the race for Williams, while he finished last in the Brabham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/71/ |title=F1 Hall of Fame – Damon Hill |last=Donaldson |first=Gerald |publisher=Formula One Administration |work=Formula1.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129212358/http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/71/ |archive-date=29 November 2007| access-date=22 October 2008}}</ref> The Brabham team collapsed after the Hungarian Grand Prix and did not complete the season.{{sfnp|Henry|1994|pp=96–97}}

====Williams (1993–96)====
[[File:Williams FW16B and FW15C Donington Grand Prix Collection.jpg|thumb|right|Hill's [[Williams FW16|FW16]] (1994) and [[Williams FW15C|FW15C]] (1993); he is one of only two drivers to have carried the number "0" in the history of the F1 World Championship, and the only one to have carried it twice.]]

When Mansell's teammate [[Riccardo Patrese]] left Williams to drive for [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] in {{F1|1993}}, Hill was unexpectedly promoted to the race team alongside triple World Champion [[Alain Prost]] ahead of more experienced candidates such as [[Martin Brundle]] and [[Mika Häkkinen]].{{sfnp|Walker|Taylor|2005|p=25}} Traditionally, the reigning driver's World Champion carried the number "1" on his car and his teammate took the number "2". Because Mansell, the 1992 champion, was not racing in Formula One in 1993, Williams as Constructors' Champion were given numbers "0" and "2". As the junior partner to Prost, Hill took "0", the second man in Formula One history to do so, after [[Jody Scheckter]] in [[1973 Formula One season|1973]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Car Number: Car 0 |url=http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=0&type=N |work=ChicaneF1.com |access-date=7 November 2008 |archive-date=16 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116062610/http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=0&type=N |url-status=live }}</ref><!--As a result of the major difference in build between Hill and Prost, the Frenchman being a foot shorter, Williams eventually opted to build [[Williams_FW15C#The_Chassis|two slightly different FW15C tubs]]. This was also to accommodate Hill's size 12 feet, as he had repeatedly complained of cramp in the tight confines around the pedals.{{Fact|date=November 2008}} I can't find a ref for this anywhere. 4u1e-->

;1993
The season did not start well when Hill spun out of second place shortly after the start of the {{F1GP|1993|South African}} and failed to finish the race after colliding with [[Alex Zanardi|Alessandro Zanardi]] on lap 17.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr533.html|title=Grand Prix Results: South African GP, 1993|publisher=GrandPrix.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021024160135/http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr533.html|archive-date=24 October 2002|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> At the {{F1GP|1993|Brazilian}}, Hill qualified and spent the early stages of the race running second behind Prost, and then took the lead when Prost crashed, but was relegated back to second by another three-time World Champion, [[Ayrton Senna]]. Nevertheless, the race still gave Hill his first podium finish.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A170933569/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=1e0562cc|title=Motor Racing: Hill climbs high but Senna peaks late|last=Henry|first=Alan|date=29 March 1993|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 May 2019|page=15|via=General OneFile|url-access=subscription|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090215/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA170933569&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=1e0562cc|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the next round in [[1993 European Grand Prix|Europe]], Hill again finished second behind Senna and ahead of a lapped Prost. In his first full season, Hill benefited from the experience of his veteran French teammate.{{sfnp|Allsop|1994|p=188}} He continued to impress as the season went on, and in [[1993 San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino]] Hill took the lead at the start, though he was passed by Prost and Senna and ultimately retired with a spin due to a brake failure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr536.html|title=Grand Prix Results: San Marino GP, 1993|date=25 April 1993|publisher=GrandPrix.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021024160742/http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr536.html|archive-date=24 October 2002|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref> Mechanical problems returned in [[1993 Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]] where he kept pace with Prost for most of the race only for his engine to fail.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=June 1993|title=Wheel of fortune|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1993/18/wheel-fortune|journal=Motor Sport|volume=LXIIX|issue=6|bibcode=1993AmSci..81..114H|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090216/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1993/18/wheel-of-fortune|url-status=live|last1=Hayes|first1=Brian P.|page=114}}</ref>

After strong podiums in Monaco and Canada, Hill took his first career pole in [[1993 French Grand Prix|France]], finishing second to Prost after team orders prevented him from seriously challenging for the win.<ref name="prost_slowing_down">{{cite web |last=Saward |first=Joe |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00156.html |title=Is Alain Prost slowing down? |publisher=GrandPrix.com |date=1 August 1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202183616/http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00156.html |archive-date=2 February 2008 |access-date=16 October 2008}}</ref> He looked set to win the {{F1GP|1993|British}} before another engine failure put him out and led the {{F1GP|1993|German}} comfortably only to suffer a puncture with two laps left, handing the win to Prost.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A115932775/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=b7fde9ac|title=Brundle believes Williams should keep Hill; Motor Racing|last=Holt|first=Oliver|date=27 July 1993|work=The Times|access-date=1 May 2019|page=37|via=Academic OneFile|url-access=subscription|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090254/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA115932775&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=b7fde9ac|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the [[1993 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungarian]] race, Hill did take his first career win after leading from start to finish. In doing so he became the first son of a Formula One Grand Prix winner to take victory himself,{{sfnp|Henry|1994|p=8}} and he followed it with two more wins, first at [[1993 Belgian Grand Prix|Spa]] where he took the lead following a pit stop problem for Prost,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A163881012/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=c74bda99|title=Hill wins second F1 race in row|date=30 August 1993|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=1 May 2019|agency=Associated Press|page=D2|via=Biography in Context|url-access=subscription|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090216/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA163881012&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=c74bda99|url-status=live}}</ref> and then at the {{F1GP|1993|Italian}} where Prost's engine failed towards the end. His third consecutive win clinched the Constructors' Championship for Williams and moved him temporarily to second in the Drivers' standings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A170845733/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=3ca6bd18|title=Motor Racing: Third success for Hill as Prost's engine fails|last=Henry|first=Alan|date=13 September 1993|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 May 2019|page=15|via=General OneFile|url-access=subscription|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090255/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA170845733&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=3ca6bd18|url-status=live}}</ref> At the {{F1GP|1993|Portuguese}} Hill came from the back of the grid to third, having stalled on the warm up lap from pole.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A170847896/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=0afdd8a6|title=Motor Racing: Champion Prost finishes second best - Alan Henry at Estoril sees the canny Frenchman rewarded with a fourth world title as Damon Hill comes through too late to make a difference|last=Henry|first=Alan|date=27 September 1993|work=The Observer|access-date=1 May 2019|page=19|via=General OneFile|url-access=subscription|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090215/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA170847896&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=0afdd8a6|url-status=live}}</ref> He finished the season by finishing fourth in [[1993 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]] and third in [[1993 Australian Grand Prix|Australia]], though he lost second in the Drivers' Championship to Ayrton Senna, who passed Hill by winning the last two races.<ref name=MStatsOverview/>

;1994
In {{F1|1994}}, Ayrton Senna joined Hill at Williams. As the reigning champion, this time Prost, was again no longer racing, Hill retained his number '0'. The pre-season betting was that Senna would coast to the title,<ref>''Formula One History: After Tamburello'' [http://www.f1-grandprix.com/history7.html F1-GrandPrix.com/History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617221156/http://f1-grandprix.com/history7.html |date=17 June 2006 }}. Retrieved 13 June 2006</ref> but the Benetton team and [[Michael Schumacher]] initially proved more competitive and won the first three races. At the {{F1 GP|1994|San Marino}} on 1 May, [[Death of Ayrton Senna|Senna died]] after his car crashed into a concrete barrier while he was leading. With the team undergoing investigation from the Italian authorities on manslaughter charges, Hill found himself team leader with only one season's experience in the top flight. It was widely reported at the time that the Williams car's steering column had failed, though Hill told BBC Sport in 2004 that he believed Senna simply took the corner too fast for the conditions, referring to the fact that the car had just restarted the race with cold tyres after being slowed down by a safety car.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/3641633.stm |title=Hill: Senna was at fault |work=BBC Sport |date=20 April 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020155752/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/3641633.stm |archive-date=20 October 2007 |access-date=9 June 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Damon Hill juillet 1995.jpg|thumb|right|Damon Hill at the 1995 French Grand Prix]]
Hill represented Williams alone at the next race, the {{F1GP|1994|Monaco}}. His race ended early in a collision involving several cars on the opening lap of the race. For the following race, the {{F1GP|1994|Spanish}}, Williams's test driver [[David Coulthard]] was promoted to the race team alongside Hill, who won the race just four weeks after Senna's death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00366.html |title=The Spanish Grand Prix – a history |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=14 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121045827/http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00366.html |archive-date=21 November 2008}}</ref>

Schumacher led by 66 points to 29 by the midpoint of the season. At the {{F1GP|1994|French}}, [[Frank Williams (Formula One)|Frank Williams]] brought back Nigel Mansell, for the French, European, Japanese and Australian Grands Prix with Coulthard doing the majority of the 1994 season. Mansell earned approximately £900,000 for each of his four races, while Hill was paid £300,000 for the entire season, though Hill's position as lead driver remained unquestioned.{{sfnp|Hamilton|1998|p=244}} Hill came back into contention for the title after winning the {{F1GP|1994|British}}, a race his father had never won.{{sfnp|Walker|Taylor|2005|p=127}} Schumacher was disqualified from that race and banned for two further races for overtaking Hill during the formation lap and ignoring the subsequent black flag.{{sfnp|Rendall|1997|p=354}} Four more victories for Hill, three of which were in races where Schumacher was excluded or disqualified, took the title battle to the final event at Adelaide. At Schumacher's first race since his ban, the {{F1GP|1994|European}}, he suggested that Hill (who was eight years his senior) was not a world-class driver. However, during the penultimate race at the {{F1GP|1994|Japanese}}, Hill took victory ahead of Schumacher in a rain-soaked event. This put Hill just one point behind the German before the last race of the season.<ref name=racingrivalry>{{cite news |url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/99/fra/preview/horton.html |title=Reflections on a Racing Rivalry |last=Horton |first=Roger |publisher=Haymarket Group |work=AtlasF1.com |access-date=11 October 2008 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720053701/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/99/fra/preview/horton.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Neither Hill nor Schumacher finished the season-closing {{F1GP|1994|Australian}}, after a controversial collision which gave the title to Schumacher. Schumacher ran off the track hitting the wall with the right-hand side of his Benetton while leading.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benson |first=Andrew |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/motorsport/formula_one/5024532.stm |title=Schumacher's chequered history |work=BBC Sport Online |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 May 2006 |access-date=2 October 2006 |archive-date=31 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831141514/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/motorsport/formula_one/5024532.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Coming into the sixth corner Hill moved to pass the Benetton and the two collided, breaking the Williams's front left [[Double wishbone suspension|suspension wishbone]], and forcing both drivers' retirement from the race.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr564.html |title=Grand Prix results: Australian GP, 1994 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=14 November 2008 |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304083402/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr564.html |url-status=live }}</ref> BBC Formula One commentator [[Murray Walker]], had often maintained that Schumacher did not cause the crash intentionally,{{sfnp|Walker|2002|p=136}} but Williams co-owner [[Patrick Head]] felt differently. In 2006 he said that at the time of the incident "Williams were already 100% certain that Michael was guilty of foul play" but did not protest Schumacher's title because the team was still dealing with the death of Ayrton Senna.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://motoring.iafrica.com/formulaone/561093.htm |title='Ruthless' Schumi blasted |access-date=23 October 2008 |date=19 July 2006 |work=Motoring.iAfrica.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013164119/http://motoring.iafrica.com/formulaone/561093.htm |archive-date=13 October 2007 }}</ref> In 2007, Hill explicitly accused Schumacher of causing the collision deliberately.<ref name="motorsport07">{{cite journal |last=Taylor |first=S. |year=2007 |title=Lunch with... Damon Hill |journal=Motor Sport |volume=LXXXIII/1 |page=38}}</ref>

[[File:Damon Hill 1995-2.jpg|thumb|right|Damon Hill driving for the [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] Formula One team in [[Canadian Grand Prix|Montreal]] in 1995]]

Hill's season earned him the 1994 [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC Sports Personality past winners: 1993–1997 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_2003/3222666.stm#2 |work=BBC Sport Online |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=27 November 2003 |access-date=15 October 2008 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_2003/3222666.stm#2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

;1995
Coming into the [[1995 Formula One season|1995 season]], Hill was one of the title favourites.<ref name=HillGPcom>{{cite web |title=Drivers:Damon Hill |url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-hildam.html |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=14 June 2006 |archive-date=16 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216103541/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-hildam.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Williams team were reigning Constructors' Champions, having beaten Benetton in 1994, and with young David Coulthard, who was embarking on his first full season in Formula One, as teammate, Hill was the clear number one driver. The year seemed to start well with pole position in Brazil, although a spin while in the lead due to a mechanical problem handed the lead to Schumacher.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr565.html |title=Grand Prix results: Brazilian GP, 1995 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422225923/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr565.html |url-status=live }}</ref> But wins in the next two races put him in the championship lead. However, Schumacher won seven of the next twelve races, and took his second title with two races to spare, while Benetton took the Constructors' Championship. Schumacher and Hill had several on-track incidents during the season, two of which led to suspended one-race bans for both. Schumacher's penalty was for blocking and forcing Hill off the road at the {{F1GP|1995|Belgian}};<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr575.html |title=Grand Prix Results: Belgian Grand Prix, 1995 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526041903/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr575.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hill's was for colliding with Schumacher under braking at the {{F1GP|1995|Italian}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr576.html |work=GrandPrix.com |title=Grand Prix results: Italian GP, 1995 |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-date=27 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627023943/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr576.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hill's season finished positively when he won the {{F1GP|1995|Australian}} by finishing two laps ahead of the runner-up, [[Olivier Panis]] in a [[Equipe Ligier|Ligier]].<ref name=HillGPcom />

[[File:Damon Hill Williams FW18 2010 Bahrain.jpg|thumb|right|Hill demonstrating his championship-winning [[Williams FW18]] car in 2010]]

;1996
In {{F1|1996}} the Williams car was clearly the quickest in Formula One and Hill went on to win the title ahead of his teammate, reigning Indycar champion [[Jacques Villeneuve]], becoming the first son of a Formula One champion to win the championship himself.{{sfnp|Walker|Taylor|2005|p=128}} Taking eight wins and never qualifying off the front row, Hill enjoyed by far his most successful season. At Monaco, where his father had won five times in the 1960s, he led until his engine failed, curtailing his race and allowing Olivier Panis to take his only Formula One win.<ref>{{cite web |title=Review of Year 1996 |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00244.html |work=GrandPrix.com |first=Joe |last=Saward |date=2 December 2006 |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=14 June 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409175501/http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00244.html |archive-date=9 April 2016}}</ref> Near the end of the season, Villeneuve began to mount a title challenge and took pole in the [[1996 Japanese Grand Prix|Japanese Grand Prix]], the final race of the year. However, Hill took the lead at the start and won both the race and the championship while the Canadian retired.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr597.html |title=Grand Prix results: Japanese GP, 1996 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1 |access-date=14 November 2008 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930231038/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr597.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hill equalled the record for starting all 16 races of the season from the front row, matching Ayrton Senna in {{F1|1989}} and Alain Prost in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lynch|first=Steven|title=Front row regulars|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/53088.html|publisher=ESPN|date=1 July 2011|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090244/http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/53088.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite winning the title, Hill learned before the season's close that he was to be dropped by Williams in favour of [[Heinz-Harald Frentzen]] for the following season.{{sfnp|Walker|Taylor|2005|p=128}} Hill left Williams as the team's second most successful driver in terms of race victories, with 21, second only to Mansell.<ref name="Autocourse Grand Prix Archive">{{cite web |url=http://www.autocoursegpa.com/team_entries.asp?teamsroot_id=8174&type=win |title=F1 statistics – Williams – wins |publisher=Crash Media Group |access-date=14 November 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707192047/http://www.autocoursegpa.com/team_entries.asp?teamsroot_id=8174&type=win |archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref> Hill's 1996 World Championship earned him his second [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award]], making him one of only five people to receive the award twice – the others being boxer [[Henry Cooper (boxer)|Henry Cooper]], [[Nigel Mansell]], [[Andy Murray]] and [[Lewis Hamilton]]. Hill was also awarded the [[Segrave Trophy]] by the [[Royal Automobile Club]]. The trophy is awarded to the British national who accomplishes the most outstanding demonstration of the possibilities of transport by land, sea, air, or water.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/Motoring/Trophies-and-Medals |title=Segrave Trophy |publisher=Royal Automobile Club |access-date=6 November 2008 |archive-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913145447/http://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/Motoring/Trophies-and-Medals |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Arrows (1997)====
[[File:Damon Hill 1997 Arrows.jpg|thumb|right|At the [[1997 British Grand Prix|British Grand Prix]], Hill scored his first point for the [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]] team.]]
[[File:Damon Hill 1997 Arrows Yamaha Hungary.jpg|thumb|left|Damon Hill's [[Arrows A18]] leading the [[1997 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungarian Grand Prix]].]]
Hill became the fourth driver in nine years to win the World Drivers' Championship for Williams and not drive for the team the following season, as occurred with [[Nelson Piquet]] ({{f1|1987}} champion – {{f1|1988}} driver for [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]), Nigel Mansell (1992 champion – 1993 driver in the US-based [[Champ Car|Indy Car World Series]] instead of F1) and Alain Prost (1993 champion – retired in 1994). As World Champion, Hill was in high demand and had offers for a race seat from [[McLaren]], Benetton and [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] but not adequately financially valued despite his status.<ref name=motorsport07 /> As a consequence, he opted to sign for [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]], a team which had never won a race in its 20-year history and had scored only a single point the previous year. Hill's title defence in {{F1|1997}} proved unsuccessful, getting off to a poor start when he only narrowly qualified for the {{F1GP|1997|Australian}} and then retired on the parade lap. The Arrows car, which used tyres from series debutant [[Bridgestone]] and previously unproven Yamaha engines, was generally uncompetitive, and Hill did not score his first point for the team until the {{F1GP|1997|British}} at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] in July. His best result for the year then came at the {{F1GP|1997|Hungarian}}. On a day when the Bridgestone tyres had a competitive edge over their [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] rivals, Hill qualified third in a car that had not previously placed higher than 9th on the grid. During the race, he passed his rival and new championship contender, Michael Schumacher, on the track and was leading late in the race, 35 seconds ahead of the eventual 1997 World Champion, Villeneuve, until a hydraulic problem drastically slowed the Arrows. Villeneuve thus passed Hill, who finished second.<ref>{{cite news |title=Race Summaries: 1997 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/formula_1/62492.stm#hungary |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 March 1998 |access-date=12 June 2006 |archive-date=25 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525190945/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/formula_1/62492.stm#hungary |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Jordan (1998–99)====
Only after one year with Arrows, Hill came close to signing a deal with Alain Prost's team, before deciding to instead sign up with the [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan team]] for the [[1998 Formula One season|1998 season]].{{sfnp|Nicholson|Hamilton|1999|pp=115–116}} His new teammate was [[Ralf Schumacher]], younger brother of Michael. In the first half of the season, the [[Jordan 198]] car was off the pace and unreliable{{sfnp|Nicholson|Hamilton|1999|p=51}} until improvements in performance from the {{F1GP|1998|Canadian}}. During that race, Hill progressed to second place as others retired or made pit stops for fuel. On lap 38, Michael Schumacher, who was delayed by a stop-and-go penalty after forcing Frentzen's Williams off the track, caught Hill on the home straight; Hill moved across the track three times to block Schumacher, who took the place by running over the kerbs at the last chicane. Hill then ran fourth after his only pit stop before retiring due to an electrical failure. After the race, Schumacher accused Hill of dangerous driving. Hill responded by stating that Schumacher "cannot claim anyone drives badly when you look at the things he's been up to in his career. He took Frentzen out completely."{{sfnp|Nicholson |Hamilton|1999|pp=115–116}} At the {{F1GP|1998|German}}, Hill scored his first point of the year and at the {{F1GP|1998|Belgian}}, in very wet conditions, he took the Jordan team's maiden win. At that race, Hill was leading late in the race, with teammate Schumacher closing rapidly, when he asked the team whether they would be allowed to race each other. Team principal Eddie Jordan ordered Ralf Schumacher to hold position instead of risking losing a 1–2 finish.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/44971582|title=Belgian GP: Why Spa 1998 remains one of the most remarkable F1 races ever|last=Emons|first=Michael|date=10 August 2018|work=BBC Sport|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090246/https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/44971582}}</ref> The victory was his first since being dropped by the Williams team. Hill finished the season with a last lap pass on Frentzen at the {{F1GP|1998|Japanese}}, which earned him fourth place in the race and Jordan fourth position in that year's Constructors' Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr630.html |title=Grand Prix results: Japanese GP, 1998 |work=Grandprix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |access-date=6 November 2008 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206211810/https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr630.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Damon Hill 1999 Britain.jpg|thumb|right|Hill driving for Jordan at the [[1999 British Grand Prix]]]]

Hopes were high for {{F1|1999}}, but Hill did not enjoy a good season. Struggling with the newly introduced four-grooved tyres, he was outpaced by his new teammate, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was Hill's replacement at Williams two years prior.{{sfnp|Walker|2002|p=303}} After a crash at the {{F1GP|1999|Canadian}}, Hill announced plans to retire from the sport at the end of the year, but after failing to finish the {{F1GP|1999|French}} that Frentzen won, he considered quitting the sport immediately.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/5390|title=Final fling for Damon at Silverstone|date=30 June 1999|website=Autosport|url-status=dead|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501071631/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/5390|archive-date=1 May 2019}}</ref>

Jordan persuaded Hill to at least stay for the {{F1GP|1999|British}}. Going into that race weekend, Hill announced he would retire after the Grand Prix, leading Jordan to test [[Jos Verstappen]] in case Hill had to be quickly replaced.<ref>{{cite news |title=Verstappen tries Hill's car for size |first=Alan |last=Henry |work=The Guardian |page=28 |date=30 June 1999 |publisher=Guardian News and Media}}</ref> Following a strong fifth place at his home event, however, Hill changed his mind and decided to see out the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02082.html |title=Hill to go on racing |date=19 July 1999 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=7 November 2008 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090301/https://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02082.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His best result for the remainder of the season was sixth place, which he achieved in both Hungary and Belgium. With three races of 1999 to go, there were rumours that the [[Prost Grand Prix]] team would release [[Jarno Trulli]] early after he signed for Jordan's {{F1|2000}} campaign as Hill's replacement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02056.html |title=Verstappen to replace Hill? |date=28 June 1999 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc. |access-date=7 November 2008 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116090301/https://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02056.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, his teammate, Frentzen, became a title contender going into the final few races of the season and, eventually, finished third in the championship. In so doing, both Hill and Frentzen helped Jordan to achieve its best-ever finish with a third position in the Constructors' Championship. Hill's last race was the {{F1GP|1999|Japanese}} where he spun off the track and pulled into the pit lane citing mental fatigue.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gordon|first=Ian|date=1 November 1999|title=Final summit proves too steep for Hill to climb Damon Hill's career ended tamely yesterday as he pulled out of theJapanese Grand Prix admitting he was only thinking about his family, writes Ian Gordon|page=28|work=[[Birmingham Post]]|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/326564287|url-access=subscription|access-date=23 November 2020|id={{ProQuest|326564287}}|via=[[ProQuest]]|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127042552/https://www.proquest.com/docview/326564287|url-status=live}}</ref>